Ct Automotive Regulatory News (CTA)

14 Dec 2006 07:00

Caterpillar Inc13 December 2006 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 aquarterly 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 businessJanuary 22, 2007. Caterpillar stockholders have benefited from the company's strongfinancial performance, with the quarterly dividend increasing 71 percent overthe past five years and tripling over the past 10 years. The 30 cent dividendmaintains the rate for the previous quarter and is 20 percent higher than a yearago. "The Caterpillar story is a positive one and has enabled the company topay 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 growthand the third consecutive year of record sales and profit. Caterpillarstockholders expect a good return on their investment, and we're proudthat the company's continued profitable growth and earnings stabilityhave delivered on that expectation." For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible anddriving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2005 sales andrevenues of $36.339 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leadingmanufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gasengines, industrial gas turbines and a wide and growing offering of relatedservices. More information is available at http://www.cat.com. SAFE HARBORCertain statements in this release relate to future events and expectations andas such constitute forward-looking statements involving known and unknownfactors that may cause actual results of Caterpillar Inc. to be different fromthose expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. In this context,words such as "will" and "expect" or other similar words and phrases oftenidentify forward-looking statements made on behalf of Caterpillar. It isimportant to note that actual results of the company may differ materially fromthose described or implied in such forward-looking statements based on a numberof factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in economicconditions, currency exchange rates or political stability; market acceptance ofthe company's products and services; significant changes in the competitiveenvironment; changes in law, regulations and tax rates; and other generaleconomic, business and financing conditions and factors described in more detailin the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, includingthe Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2,2006. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange