1.           Operations and summary of significant accounting policies

A.         Nature of operations

We operate in three principal lines of business:

(1)                                                Machinery - A principal line of business which includes the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of construction, mining and forestry machinery—track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment and related parts. In addition, this line of business also includes Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc., (EMD), a manufacturer of diesel-electric locomotives, which we acquired in 2010.  Also includes the design, manufacture, remanufacture, maintenance and services of rail-related products and logistics services for other companies.

(2)                                              Engines - A principal line of business including the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of engines for Caterpillar machinery; electric power generation systems; marine, petroleum, construction, industrial, agricultural and other applications and related parts. Also includes remanufacturing of Caterpillar engines and a variety of Caterpillar machinery and engine components and remanufacturing services for other companies.  Reciprocating engines meet power needs ranging from 10 to 21,700 horsepower (8 to over 16 000 kilowatts).  Turbines range from 1,600 to 30,000 horsepower (1 200 to 22 000 kilowatts).

(3)                                                Financial Products - A principal line of business consisting primarily of Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial), Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc. (Cat Insurance) and their respective subsidiaries.  Cat Financial provides a wide range of financing alternatives to customers and dealers for Caterpillar machinery and engines, Solar gas turbines as well as other equipment and marine vessels.  Cat Financial also extends loans to customers and dealers.  Cat Insurance provides various forms of insurance to customers and dealers to help support the purchase and lease of our equipment.

Our Machinery and Engines operations are highly integrated. Throughout the Notes, Machinery and Engines represents the aggregate total of these principal lines of business.

Our products are sold primarily under the brands “Caterpillar,” “CAT,” design versions of “CAT” and “Caterpillar,” “Electro-Motive,” “FG Wilson,” “MaK,” “Olympian,” “Perkins,” “Progress Rail” and “Solar Turbines”.

We conduct operations in our Machinery and Engines lines of business under highly competitive conditions, including intense price competition. We place great emphasis on the high quality and performance of our products and our dealers’ service support. Although no one competitor is believed to produce all of the same types of machines and engines that we do, there are numerous companies, large and small, which compete with us in the sale of each of our products.

Machines are distributed principally through a worldwide organization of dealers (dealer network), 50 located in the United States and 138 located outside the United States. Worldwide, these dealers serve 182 countries and operate 3,475 places of business, including 1,341 dealer rental outlets.  Reciprocating engines are sold principally through the dealer network and to other manufacturers for use in products manufactured by them. Some of the reciprocating engines manufactured by Perkins are also sold through a worldwide network of 142 distributors located in 183 countries. The FG Wilson branded electric power generation systems are sold through a worldwide network of 154 distributors located in 179 countries.  Some of the large, medium speed reciprocating engines are also sold under the MaK brand through a worldwide network of 19 distributors located in 130 countries.  Our dealers do not deal exclusively with our products; however, in most cases sales and servicing of our products are the dealers’ principal business. Turbines are sold through sales forces employed by the company. At times, these employees are assisted by independent sales representatives.

Manufacturing activities of the Machinery and Engines lines of business are conducted in 94 plants in the United States; 16 in the United Kingdom; nine each in Italy and Mexico; eight in China; six in Canada; five in France; four each in Australia, Brazil and India; three in Poland; two each in Germany, Indonesia, Japan and the Netherlands; and one each in Belgium, Hungary, Malaysia, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland and Tunisia. Twelve parts distribution centers are located in the United States and 17 are located outside the United States.

The Financial Products line of business also conducts operations under highly competitive conditions. Financing for users of Caterpillar products is available through a variety of competitive sources, principally commercial banks and finance and leasing companies. We emphasize prompt and responsive service to meet customer requirements and offer various financing plans designed to increase the opportunity for sales of our products and generate financing income for our company. Financial Products activity is conducted primarily in the United States, with additional offices in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

B.         Basis of consolidation

The financial statements include the accounts of Caterpillar Inc. and its subsidiaries.  Investments in companies that are owned 20% to 50% or are less than 20% owned and for which we have significant influence are accounted for by the equity method.  See Note 9 for further discussion.

We consolidate all variable interest entities (VIEs) where Caterpillar Inc. is the primary beneficiary.  For VIEs, we assess whether we are the primary beneficiary as prescribed by the accounting guidance on the consolidation of VIEs.  The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.  We adopted the consolidation of variable interest entities guidance issued in June 2009 effective January 1, 2010.  See Note 1K for additional information.

Certain amounts for prior years have been reclassified to conform with the current-year financial statement presentation.

Shipping and handling costs are included in Cost of goods sold in Statement 1.  Other operating (income) expenses primarily include Cat Financial’s depreciation of equipment leased to others, Cat Insurance’s underwriting expenses, gains (losses) on disposal of long-lived assets, long-lived asset impairment charges, employee separation charges and benefit plan curtailment, settlement and special termination benefits.

Prepaid expenses and other current assets in Statement 2 include prepaid rent, prepaid insurance and other prepaid items.  In addition, at December 31, 2008, this line included a security deposit of  $232 million related to a deposit obligation due in 2009.  See Note 14 for further discussion.

C.         Sales and revenue recognition

Sales of Machinery and Engines are generally recognized when title transfers and the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to customers or independently owned and operated dealers.  Typically, where product is produced and sold in the same country, title and risk of ownership transfer when the product is shipped.  Products that are exported from a country for sale typically pass title and risk of ownership at the border of the destination country.

Sales of certain turbine machinery units are recognized under accounting for construction-type contracts, primarily using the percentage-of-completion method.  Revenue is recognized based upon progress towards completion, which is estimated and continually updated over the course of construction.  We provide for any loss that we expect to incur on these contracts when that loss is probable.

No right of return exists on sales of equipment.  Replacement part returns are estimable and accrued at the time a sale is recognized.

We provide discounts to dealers through merchandising programs.  We have numerous programs that are designed to promote the sale of our products.  The most common dealer programs provide a discount when the dealer sells a product to a targeted end user.  The cost of these discounts is estimated based on historical experience and known changes in merchandising programs and is reported as a reduction to sales when the product sale is recognized.

Our standard invoice terms are established by marketing region. When a sale is made to a dealer, the dealer is responsible for payment even if the product is not sold to an end customer and must make payment within the standard terms to avoid interest costs. Interest at or above prevailing market rates is charged on any past due balance. Our policy is to not forgive this interest.  In 2010, terms were extended to not more than one year for  $221 million of receivables, which represents less than 1% of consolidated sales.  In 2009 and 2008, terms were extended to not more than one year for  $312 million and  $544 million of receivables, respectively, which represent approximately 1% of consolidated sales.

We establish a bad debt allowance for Machinery and Engines receivables when it becomes probable that the receivable will not be collected.  Our allowance for bad debts is not significant.

Revenues of Financial Products primarily represent the following Cat Financial revenues:

·                  Retail (end-customer) finance revenue on finance leases and installment sale contracts is recognized over the term of the contract at a constant rate of return on the scheduled outstanding principal balance.  Revenue on retail notes is recognized based on the daily balance of retail receivables outstanding and the applicable effective interest rate.

·                  Operating lease revenue is recorded on a straight-line basis in the period earned over the life of the contract.

·                  Wholesale (dealer) finance revenue on installment contracts and finance leases is recognized over the term of the contract at a constant rate of return on the scheduled outstanding principal balance.  Revenue on wholesale notes is recognized based on the daily balance of wholesale receivables outstanding and the applicable effective interest rate.

·                  Loan origination and commitment fees are deferred and then amortized to revenue using the interest method over the life of the finance receivables.

Recognition of income is suspended when collection of future income is not probable. Accrual is resumed, and previously suspended income is recognized, when the receivable becomes contractually current and/or collection doubts are removed. Cat Financial provides wholesale inventory financing to dealers. See Note 6 for more information.

Sales and revenues are presented net of sales and other related taxes.

D.         Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is principally determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. The value of inventories on the LIFO basis represented about 70% of total inventories at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

If the FIFO (first-in, first-out) method had been in use, inventories would have been  $2,575 million,  $3,022 million and  $3,216 million higher than reported at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

E.           Securitized receivables

Cat Financial periodically transfers certain finance receivables relating to retail installment sale contracts and finance leases to special purpose entities (SPEs) as part of their asset-backed securitization program.  When finance receivables are securitized, Cat Financial retains interests in the receivables in the form of subordinated certificates, an interest in future cash flows (excess), reserve accounts and servicing rights. In accordance with the new consolidation accounting guidance adopted January 1, 2010, these SPEs were concluded to be VIEs.  Cat Financial determined that it was the primary beneficiary based on its power to direct activities through its role as servicer and its obligation to absorb losses and right to receive benefits and therefore consolidated the entities using the carrying amounts of the SPEs’ assets and liabilities. Prior to January 1, 2010, the retained interests were recorded in Other assets at fair value. Cat Financial estimated fair value and cash flows using a valuation model and key assumptions for credit losses, prepayment rates and discount rates. See Note 6 and Note 17 for more information.

F.           Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation of plant and equipment is computed principally using accelerated methods. Depreciation on equipment leased to others, primarily for Financial Products, is computed using the straight-line method over the term of the lease. The depreciable basis is the original cost of the equipment less the estimated residual value of the equipment at the end of the lease term. In 2010, 2009 and 2008, Cat Financial depreciation on equipment leased to others was  $690 million,  $713 million and  $724 million, respectively, and was included in Other operating (income) expenses in Statement 1. In 2010, 2009 and 2008, consolidated depreciation expense was  $2,202 million,  $2,254 million and  $1,907 million, respectively. Amortization of purchased finite-lived intangibles is computed principally using the straight-line method, generally not to exceed a period of 20 years.

G.         Foreign currency translation

The functional currency for most of our Machinery and Engines consolidated companies is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency for most of our Financial Products and affiliates accounted for under the equity method is the respective local currency.  Gains and losses resulting from the translation of foreign currency amounts to the functional currency are included in Other income (expense) in Statement 1. Gains and losses resulting from translating assets and liabilities from the functional currency to U.S. dollars are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in Statement 2.

H.         Derivative financial instruments

Our earnings and cash flow are subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices.  Our Risk Management Policy (policy) allows for the use of derivative financial instruments to prudently manage foreign currency exchange rate, interest rate, commodity price and Caterpillar stock price exposures and not for the purpose of creating speculative positions.  Derivatives that we use are primarily foreign currency forward and option contracts, interest rate swaps, commodity forward and option contracts and stock repurchase contracts. All derivatives are recorded at fair value.  See Note 3 for more information.

I.              Income taxes

The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach.  Tax laws require items to be included in tax filings at different times than the items are reflected in the financial statements.  A current liability is recognized for the estimated taxes payable for the current year.  Deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid.  Deferred taxes are adjusted for enacted changes in tax rates and tax laws.  Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

J.           Estimates in financial statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. The more significant estimates include: residual values for leased assets, fair values for goodwill impairment tests, impairment of available-for-sale securities, warranty liability, stock-based compensation and reserves for product liability and insurance losses, postretirement benefits, post-sale discounts, credit losses and income taxes.

K.         New accounting guidance

Fair value measurements - In September 2006, the FASB issued accounting guidance on fair value measurements, which provides a common definition of fair value and a framework for measuring assets and liabilities at fair values when a particular standard prescribes it. In addition, this guidance expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In February 2008, the FASB issued additional guidance that (1) deferred the effective date of the original guidance for one year for certain nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities and (2) removed certain leasing transactions from the scope of the original guidance.  We applied this new guidance to financial assets and liabilities effective January 1, 2008 and nonfinancial assets and liabilities effective January 1, 2009. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.  See Note 17 for additional information.

In January 2010, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that requires the gross presentation of activity within the Level 3 fair value measurement roll forward and details of transfers in and out of Level 1 and 2 fair value measurements.  It also clarifies existing disclosure requirements regarding the level of disaggregation of fair value measurements and disclosures on inputs.  We adopted this new accounting guidance for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.  See Note 17 for additional information.

Employers’ accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans - In September 2006, the FASB issued accounting guidance on employers’ accounting for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. This guidance requires recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans on the balance sheet.  Under this guidance, gains and losses, prior service costs and credits and any remaining transition amounts under previous guidance that have not yet been recognized through net periodic benefit cost are recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax effects, until they are amortized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. Also, the measurement date — the date at which the benefit obligation and plan assets are measured — is required to be the company’s fiscal year-end.

We adopted the balance sheet recognition provisions at December 31, 2006. We adopted the year-end measurement date effective January 1, 2008 using the “one measurement” approach.  Under the one measurement approach, net periodic benefit cost for the period between any early measurement date and the end of the fiscal year that the measurement provisions are applied is allocated proportionately between amounts to be recognized as an adjustment of Profit employed in the business and net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year.  Previously, we used a November 30th measurement date for our U.S. pension and other postretirement benefit plans and September 30th for our non-U.S. plans.  The following summarizes the effect of adopting the year-end measurement date provisions as of January 1, 2008.  See Note 12 for additional information.

Adoption of postretirement benefit year-end measurement date

Business combinations and noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements - In December 2007, the FASB issued accounting guidance on business combinations and noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements.  The guidance on business combinations requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Further, it changes the accounting for acquired in-process research and development assets, contingent consideration, partial acquisitions and transaction costs.  Under the guidance on noncontrolling interests, all entities are required to report noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries as equity in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests are treated as equity transactions.  We adopted this new guidance on January 1, 2009.  As required, the guidance on noncontrolling interests was adopted through retrospective application, and all prior period information has been adjusted accordingly. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.  See Note 23 for further details.

Disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities - In March 2008, the FASB issued accounting guidance on disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities.  This guidance expands disclosures for derivative instruments by requiring entities to disclose the fair value of derivative instruments and their gains or losses in tabular format.  It also requires disclosure of information about credit risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements, counterparty credit risk, and strategies and objectives for using derivative instruments.  We adopted this new guidance on January 1, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.  See Note 3 for additional information.

Employers’ disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets - In December 2008, the FASB issued accounting guidance on employers’ disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets. This guidance expands the disclosure set forth in previous guidance by adding required disclosures about (1) how investment allocation decisions are made by management, (2) major categories of plan assets, and (3) significant concentration of risk. Additionally, this guidance requires an employer to disclose information about the valuation of plan assets similar to that required under the accounting guidance on fair value measurements.  We adopted this guidance for our financial statements for the annual period ended December 31, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements. See Note 12 for additional information.

Recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments - In April 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance on the recognition and presentation of other-than-temporary impairments.  This new guidance amends the existing impairment guidance relating to certain debt securities and requires a company to assess the likelihood of selling the security prior to recovering its cost basis.  When a security meets the criteria for impairment, the impairment charges related to credit losses would be recognized in earnings, while noncredit losses would be reflected in other comprehensive income.  Additionally, it requires a more detailed, risk-oriented breakdown of major security types and related information. We adopted this guidance on April 1, 2009.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.  See Notes 6 and 11 for additional information.

Accounting for transfers of financial assets - In June 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance on accounting for transfers of financial assets.  This guidance amends previous guidance by including: the elimination of the qualifying special-purpose entity (QSPE) concept; a new participating interest definition that must be met for transfers of portions of financial assets to be eligible for sale accounting; clarifications and changes to the derecognition criteria for a transfer to be accounted for as a sale; and a change to the amount of recognized gain or loss on a transfer of financial assets accounted for as a sale when beneficial interests are received by the transferor.  Additionally, the guidance requires extensive new disclosures regarding an entity’s involvement in a transfer of financial assets.  Finally, existing QSPEs (prior to the effective date of this guidance) must be evaluated for consolidation by reporting entities in accordance with the applicable consolidation guidance upon the elimination of this concept.  We adopted this new guidance on January 1, 2010.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

Consolidation of variable-interest entities - In June 2009, the FASB issued accounting guidance on the consolidation of VIEs.  This new guidance revises previous guidance by eliminating the exemption for qualifying special purpose entities, by establishing a new approach for determining who should consolidate a VIE and by changing when it is necessary to reassess who should consolidate a VIE.  We adopted this new guidance on January 1, 2010.  The adoption of this guidance resulted in the consolidation of QSPEs related to Cat Financial’s asset-backed securitization program that were previously not recorded on our consolidated financial statements.  The restricted assets (Receivables-finance, Long-term receivables-finance, Prepaid expenses and other current assets, and Other assets) of the consolidated QSPEs totaled  $324 million at January 1, 2010.  The liabilities (Accrued expenses, Long-term debt due within one year-Financial Products and Long-term debt due after one year-Financial Products) of the consolidated QSPEs totaled  $327 million at January 1, 2010.  See Note 6 for additional information.

Disclosures about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses — In July 2010, the FASB issued accounting guidance on disclosures about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses.  The guidance expands disclosures for the allowance for credit losses and financing receivables by requiring entities to disclose information at disaggregated levels.  It also requires disclosure of credit quality indicators, past due information and modifications of financing receivables.  For end of period balances, the new disclosures were effective December 31, 2010 and did not have a material impact on our financial statements.  For activity during a reporting period, the disclosures will be effective January 1, 2011 and we do not expect the adoption to have a material impact on our financial statements.   See Note 6 for additional information.

L.          Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of a business combination over the fair value of the net assets acquired.  We are required to test goodwill for impairment, at the reporting unit level, annually and when events or circumstances indicate the fair value of a reporting unit may be below its carrying value.  A reporting unit is an operating segment or sub-segment to which goodwill is assigned when initially recorded. We assign goodwill to reporting units based on our integration plans and the expected synergies resulting from the business combination.   Because Caterpillar is a highly integrated company, the businesses we acquire are sometimes combined with or integrated into existing reporting units.  When changes occur in the composition of our operating segments or reporting units, goodwill is reassigned to the affected reporting units based on their relative fair values.

We test goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred.  We perform our annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1 and monitor for interim triggering events on an ongoing basis.  Goodwill is reviewed for impairment utilizing a two-step process.  The first step requires us to compare the fair value of each reporting unit, which we primarily determine using an income approach based on the present value of discounted cash flows, to the respective carrying value, which includes goodwill.  If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, the goodwill is not considered impaired.  If the carrying value is higher than the fair value, there is an indication that an impairment may exist and the second step is required.  In step two, the implied fair value of goodwill is calculated as the excess of the fair value of a reporting unit over the fair values assigned to its assets and liabilities.  If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, the difference is recognized as an impairment loss.  See Note 10 for further details.

M.       Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) and its components are presented in Statement 3.  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, consisted of the following at December 31:

N.         Cash flow revision

The Company has revised previously reported cash flows from operating and investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 in this Form 10-K to adjust for the impact of accrued but unpaid capital expenditures for each period.

Cash provided by operating activities increased from amounts previously reported by  $156 million in 2009 and decreased by  $125 million in 2008; while cash provided by investing activities decreased by  $156 million in 2009, and cash used for investing activities was reduced by  $125 million in 2008.

Unaudited cash flows from operating activities were increased by  $165 million,  $168 million and  $115 million for the three, six and nine month periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2010 respectively, and cash flows from investing activities were decreased by the same amounts for the respective periods. These amounts will be revised in future quarterly filings.

Management has concluded that the impact was not material to any annual or quarterly period.

2.  Stock-based compensation

Our stock-based compensation plans primarily provide for the granting of stock options, stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SARs) and restricted stock units (RSUs) to Officers and other key employees, as well as non-employee Directors. Stock options permit a holder to buy Caterpillar stock at the stock’s price when the option was granted. SARs permit a holder the right to receive the value in shares of the appreciation in Caterpillar stock that occurred from the date the right was granted up to the date of exercise.  A restricted stock unit (RSU) is an agreement to issue shares of Caterpillar stock at the time of vesting.

Our long-standing practices and policies specify all stock-based compensation awards are approved by the Compensation Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors on the date of grant.  The stock-based award approval process specifies the number of awards granted, the terms of the award and the grant date.  The same terms and conditions are consistently applied to all employee grants, including Officers. The Committee approves all individual Officer grants.  The number of stock-based compensation awards included in an individual’s award is determined based on the methodology approved by the Committee.  In 2007, under the terms of the Caterpillar Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (approved by stockholders in June of 2006), the Compensation Committee approved the exercise price methodology to be the closing price of the Company stock on the date of the grant.

Common stock issued from Treasury stock under the plans totaled 12,612,514 for 2010, 3,571,268 for 2009 and 4,807,533 for 2008.

The 2010, 2009 and 2008 awards generally vest three years after the date of grant.  At grant, SARs and option awards have a term life of ten years.  Upon separation from service, if the participant is 55 years of age or older with more than ten years of service, the participant meets the criteria for a “Long Service Separation.”  If the “Long Service Separation” criteria are met, the vested options/SARs will have a life that is the lesser of 10 years from the original grant date or five years from the separation date.

Our stock-based compensation plans allow for the immediate vesting upon separation for employees who meet the criteria for a “Long Service Separation” and who have fulfilled the requisite service period of six months.  Compensation expense is recognized over the period from the grant date to the end date of the requisite service period for employees who meet the immediate vesting upon retirement requirements.  For those employees who become eligible for immediate vesting upon retirement subsequent to the requisite service period and prior to the completion of the vesting period, compensation expense is recognized over the period from grant date to the date eligibility is achieved.

Accounting guidance on share-based payments requires companies to estimate the fair value of options/SARs on the date of grant using an option-pricing model.  The fair value of the option/SAR grant was estimated using a lattice-based option-pricing model.  The lattice-based option-pricing model considers a range of assumptions related to volatility, risk-free interest rate and historical employee behavior.  Expected volatility was based on historical and current implied volatilities from traded options on our stock. The risk-free rate was based on U.S. Treasury security yields at the time of grant.  The weighted-average dividend yield was based on historical information.  The expected life was determined from the lattice-based model. The lattice-based model incorporated exercise and post vesting forfeiture assumptions based on analysis of historical data. The following table provides the assumptions used in determining the fair value of the stock-based awards for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The fair value of the RSU grant was determined by reducing the stock price on the day of grant by the present value of the estimated dividends to be paid during the vesting period.  The estimated dividends are based on Caterpillar’s weighted-average dividend yield.

The amount of stock-based compensation expense capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

At December 31, 2010, there was  $134 million of total unrecognized compensation cost from stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the plans, which is related to non-vested stock-based awards.  The compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.9 years.

Please refer to Tables I and II below for additional information on our stock-based awards.

TABLE I—Financial Information Related to Stock-based Compensation

Stock options/SARs outstanding and exercisable:

The computations of weighted-average exercise prices and aggregate intrinsic values are not applicable to RSUs since an RSU represents an agreement to issue shares of stock at the time of vesting.  At December 31, 2010, there were 4,650,241 outstanding RSUs with a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.2 years.

TABLE II— Additional Stock-based Award Information

Before tax, stock-based compensation expense for 2010, 2009 and 2008 was  $226 million,  $132 million and  $194 million, respectively, with a corresponding income tax benefit of  $73 million,  $42 million and  $62 million, respectively. Included in the 2010 pre-tax stock-based compensation expense was  $19 million relating to the modification of awards resulting from separations due to the streamlining of our corporate structure as announced in the second quarter.

In accordance with guidance on share-based payments, we classify stock-based compensation within cost of goods sold, selling, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses corresponding to the same line item as the cash compensation paid to respective employees, officers and non-employee directors.

We currently use shares in treasury stock to satisfy share award exercises.

The cash tax benefits realized from stock awards exercised for December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were  $188 million,  $26 million and  $60 million, respectively. We use the direct only method and tax law ordering approach to calculate the tax effects of stock-based compensation.  In certain jurisdictions, tax deductions for exercises of stock-based awards did not generate a cash benefit.  A tax benefit of approximately  $30 million will be recorded in APIC when these deductions reduce our future income taxes payable.

3.  Derivative financial instruments and risk management

Our earnings and cash flow are subject to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices.  In addition, the amount of Caterpillar stock that can be repurchased under our stock repurchase program is impacted by movements in the price of the stock.  Our Risk Management Policy (policy) allows for the use of derivative financial instruments to prudently manage foreign currency exchange rate, interest rate, commodity price and Caterpillar stock price exposures.  Our policy specifies that derivatives are not to be used for speculative purposes.  Derivatives that we use are primarily foreign currency forward and option contracts, interest rate swaps, commodity forward and option contracts, and stock repurchase contracts.  Our derivative activities are subject to the management, direction and control of our senior financial officers.  Risk management practices, including the use of financial derivative instruments, are presented to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors at least annually.

All derivatives are recognized in Statement 2 at their fair value. On the date the derivative contract is entered, we designate the derivative as (1) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability (fair value hedge), (2) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flow to be paid (cash flow hedge), or (3) an undesignated instrument. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in current earnings. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a cash flow hedge are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) in Statement 2 until they are reclassified to earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.  Changes in the fair value of undesignated derivative instruments and the ineffective portion of designated derivative instruments are reported in current earnings. Cash flow from designated derivative financial instruments are classified within the same category as the item being hedged on Statement 4.  Cash flow from undesignated derivative financial instruments are included in the investing category on Statement 4.

We formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions.  This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges to specific assets and liabilities in Statement 2 and linking cash flow hedges to specific forecasted transactions or variability of cash flow.

We also formally assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the designated derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flow of hedged items.  When a derivative is determined not to be highly effective as a hedge or the underlying hedged transaction is no longer probable, we discontinue hedge accounting prospectively, in accordance with the derecognition criteria for hedge accounting.

A.            Foreign currency exchange rate risk

Foreign currency exchange rate movements create a degree of risk by affecting the U.S. dollar value of sales made and costs incurred in foreign currencies. Movements in foreign currency rates also affect our competitive position as these changes may affect business practices and/or pricing strategies of non-U.S.-based competitors. Additionally, we have balance sheet positions denominated in foreign currencies, thereby creating exposure to movements in exchange rates.

Our Machinery and Engines operations purchase, manufacture and sell products in many locations around the world. As we have a diversified revenue and cost base, we manage our future foreign currency cash flow exposure on a net basis. We use foreign currency forward and option contracts to manage unmatched foreign currency cash inflow and outflow. Our objective is to minimize the risk of exchange rate movements that would reduce the U.S. dollar value of our foreign currency cash flow. Our policy allows for managing anticipated foreign currency cash flow for up to five years.

We generally designate as cash flow hedges at inception of the contract any Australian dollar, Brazilian real, British pound, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan, euro, Indian rupee, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, Singapore dollar, or Swiss franc forward or option contracts that meet the requirements for hedge accounting and the maturity extends beyond the current quarter-end. Designation is performed on a specific exposure basis to support hedge accounting. The remainder of Machinery and Engines foreign currency contracts are undesignated, including any designed to protect our competitive exposure.

As of December 31, 2010,  $40 million of deferred net gains, net of tax, included in equity (Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in Statement 2), are expected to be reclassified to current earnings (Other income (expense) in Statement 1) over the next twelve months when earnings are affected by the hedged transactions.  The actual amount recorded in Other income (expense) will vary based on exchange rates at the time the hedged transactions impact earnings.

In managing foreign currency risk for our Financial Products operations, our objective is to minimize earnings volatility resulting from conversion and the remeasurement of net foreign currency balance sheet positions. Our policy allows the use of foreign currency forward and option contracts to offset the risk of currency mismatch between our receivables and debt. All such foreign currency forward and option contracts are undesignated.

B.  Interest rate risk

Interest rate movements create a degree of risk by affecting the amount of our interest payments and the value of our fixed-rate debt. Our practice is to use interest rate derivatives to manage our exposure to interest rate changes and, in some cases, lower the cost of borrowed funds.

Machinery and Engines operations generally use fixed rate debt as a source of funding.  Our objective is to minimize the cost of borrowed funds.  Our policy allows us to enter into fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps and forward rate agreements to meet that objective with the intent to designate as fair value hedges at inception of the contract all fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps.  Designation as a hedge of the fair value of our fixed rate debt is performed to support hedge accounting.

Financial Products operations have a match-funding policy that addresses interest rate risk by aligning the interest rate profile (fixed or floating rate) of Cat Financial’s debt portfolio with the interest rate profile of their receivables portfolio within predetermined ranges on an ongoing basis. In connection with that policy, we use interest rate derivative instruments to modify the debt structure to match assets within the receivables portfolio. This match-funding reduces the volatility of margins between interest-bearing assets and interest-bearing liabilities, regardless of which direction interest rates move.

Our policy allows us to use fixed-to-floating, floating-to-fixed, and floating-to-floating interest rate swaps to meet the match-funding objective.  We designate fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps as fair value hedges to protect debt against changes in fair value due to changes in the benchmark interest rate.  We designate most floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges to protect against the variability of cash flows due to changes in the benchmark interest rate.

As of December 31, 2010,  $12 million of deferred net losses, net of tax, included in equity (Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in Statement 2), related to Financial Products floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, are expected to be reclassified to current earnings (Interest expense of Financial Products in Statement 1) over the next twelve months.  The actual amount recorded in Interest expense of Financial Products will vary based on interest rates at the time the hedged transactions impact earnings.

We have, at certain times, liquidated fixed-to-floating and floating-to-fixed swaps at both Machinery and Engines and Financial Products.  The gains or losses associated with these swaps at the time of liquidation are amortized into earnings over the original term of the underlying hedged item.

C.  Commodity price risk

Commodity price movements create a degree of risk by affecting the price we must pay for certain raw material. Our policy is to use commodity forward and option contracts to manage the commodity risk and reduce the cost of purchased materials.

Our Machinery and Engines operations purchase aluminum, copper, lead, nickel and rolled coil steel embedded in the components we purchase from suppliers.  Our suppliers pass on to us price changes in the commodity portion of the component cost. In addition, we are also subject to price changes on natural gas and diesel fuel purchased for operational use.

Our objective is to minimize volatility in the price of these commodities. Our policy allows us to enter into commodity forward and option contracts to lock in the purchase price of a portion of these commodities within a five-year horizon. All such commodity forward and option contracts are undesignated.

The location and fair value of derivative instruments reported in Statement 2 are as follows:

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position Location

The effect of derivatives designated as hedging instruments on Statement 1 is as follows:

Fair Value Hedges