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. Our Risk Management Policy (policy) allows for the use of derivative financial instruments to prudently manage foreign currency exchange rate, interest rate and commodity price exposures. Our policy specifies that derivatives are not to be used for speculative purposes. Derivatives that we use are primarily foreign currency forward, option and cross currency contracts, interest rate contracts and commodity forward and option 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 on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at their fair value. On the date the derivative contract is entered into, 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 (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 recognized 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), to the extent effective, on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 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 flows from designated derivative financial instruments are classified within the same category as the item being hedged on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow. Cash flows from undesignated derivative financial instruments are included in the investing category on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow.

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 on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 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.

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, Energy & Transportation 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. As of September 30, 2016, the maximum term of these outstanding contracts was approximately 51 months.

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, Norwegian krona, Singapore dollar, Swiss franc or Thailand baht 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, Energy & Transportation foreign currency contracts are undesignated.

As of September 30, 2016, $19 million of deferred net losses, net of tax, included in equity (AOCI in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position), are expected to be reclassified to current earnings (Other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statement of Results of Operations) 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, and future transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Our policy allows the use of foreign currency forward, option and cross currency contracts to offset the risk of currency mismatch between our assets and liabilities, and exchange rate risk associated with future transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Our foreign currency forward, option and cross currency contracts are primarily undesignated. We designate fixed-to-fixed cross currency contracts as cash flow hedges to protect against movements in exchange rates on foreign currency fixed rate assets and liabilities.

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 contracts to manage our exposure to interest rate changes.

Our Machinery, Energy & Transportation 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 contracts and forward rate agreements to meet that objective. We designate fixed-to-floating interest rate contracts as fair value hedges at inception of the contract, and we designate certain forward rate agreements as cash flow hedges at inception of the contract.

As of September 30, 2016, $4 million of deferred net losses, net of tax, included in equity (AOCI in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position), related to Machinery, Energy & Transportation forward rate agreements, are expected to be reclassified to current earnings (Interest expense excluding Financial Products in the Consolidated Statement of Results of Operations) over the next twelve months.

Financial Products operations has 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 matched 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 contracts to meet the match-funding objective. We designate fixed-to-floating interest rate contracts 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 contracts as cash flow hedges to protect against the variability of cash flows due to changes in the benchmark interest rate.

As of September 30, 2016, less than $1 million of deferred net gains, net of tax, included in equity (AOCI in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position), related to Financial Products floating-to-fixed interest rate contracts, are expected to be reclassified to current earnings (Interest expense of Financial Products in the Consolidated Statement of Results of Operations) 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 interest rate contracts at both Machinery, Energy & Transportation and Financial Products. The gains or losses associated with these contracts at the time of liquidation are amortized into earnings over the original term of the previously designated hedged item.

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, Energy & Transportation operations purchase base and precious metals 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 subject to price changes on energy products such as 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 the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position are as follows:




(Millions of dollars)	Consolidated Statement of Financial	Asset (Liability) Fair Value
	Position Location	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
Designated derivatives
Foreign exchange contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Receivables – trade and other	$	24		$	12
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Long-term receivables – trade and other	1			—
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Accrued expenses	(55		)	(25		)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Other liabilities	(18		)	—
Financial Products	Long-term receivables – trade and other	4			—
Financial Products	Accrued expenses	(15		)	—
Interest rate contracts
Financial Products	Receivables – trade and other	—			1
Financial Products	Long-term receivables – trade and other	5			51
Financial Products	Accrued expenses	(2		)	(4		)
		$	(56	)	$	35
Undesignated derivatives
Foreign exchange contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Receivables – trade and other	$	3		$	2
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Accrued expenses	(7		)	(9		)
Financial Products	Receivables – trade and other	2			3
Financial Products	Long-term receivables – trade and other	28			36
Financial Products	Accrued expenses	(5		)	(6		)
Commodity contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Receivables – trade and other	6			—
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Accrued expenses	—			(12		)
		$	27		$	14

The total notional amounts of the derivative instruments are as follows:




(Millions of dollars)	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015

Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	2,200	$	2,040
Financial Products	$	2,909	$	3,539

The notional amounts of the derivative financial instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties. The amounts exchanged by the parties are calculated by reference to the notional amounts and by other terms of the derivatives, such as foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates or commodity prices.

The effect of derivatives designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Results of Operations is as follows:



Fair Value Hedges
		Three Months Ended September 30, 2016					Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
(Millions of dollars)	Classification	Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Gains (Losses) on Borrowings		Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Gains (Losses) on Borrowings
Interest rate contracts
Financial Products	Other income (expense)	$	(11	)	$	11	$	3		$	(3	)
		$	(11	)	$	11	$	3		$	(3	)

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016					Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
	Classification	Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Gains (Losses) on Borrowings		Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Gains (Losses) on Borrowings
Interest rate contracts
Financial Products	Other income (expense)	$	(11	)	$	10	$	(11	)	$	10
		$	(11	)	$	10	$	(11	)	$	10




Cash Flow Hedges
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
				Recognized in Earnings
(Millions of dollars)	Amount of Gains (Losses) Recognized in AOCI (Effective Portion)			Classification of Gains (Losses)	Amount of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from AOCI to Earnings			Recognized in Earnings (Ineffective Portion)
Foreign exchange contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	(29	)	Other income (expense)	$	4		$	—
Financial Products	(17		)	Other income (expense)	(10		)	—
Interest rate contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	—			Interest expense excluding Financial Products	(2		)	—
Financial Products	2			Interest expense of Financial Products	—			—
	$	(44	)		$	(8	)	$	—



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
				Recognized in Earnings
	Amount of Gains (Losses) Recognized in AOCI (Effective Portion)			Classification of Gains (Losses)	Amount of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from AOCI to Earnings			Recognized in Earnings (Ineffective Portion)
Foreign exchange contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	(18	)	Other income (expense)	$	(29	)	$	—
Interest rate contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	—			Interest expense excluding Financial Products	(1		)	—
Financial Products	(1		)	Interest expense of Financial Products	(1		)	—
	$	(19	)		$	(31	)	$	—




	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
				Recognized in Earnings
	Amount of Gains (Losses) Recognized in AOCI (Effective Portion)			Classification of Gains (Losses)	Amount of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from AOCI to Earnings			Recognized in Earnings (Ineffective Portion)
Foreign exchange contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	(35	)	Other income (expense)	$	—		$	—
Financial Products	(23		)	Other income (expense)	(16		)	—
Interest rate contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	—			Interest expense excluding Financial Products	(5		)	—
Financial Products	—			Interest expense of Financial Products	(3		)	—
	$	(58	)		$	(24	)	$	—

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
				Recognized in Earnings
	Amount of Gains (Losses) Recognized in AOCI (Effective Portion)			Classification of Gains (Losses)	Amount of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from AOCI to Earnings			Recognized in Earnings (Ineffective Portion)
Foreign exchange contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	(25	)	Other income (expense)	$	(101	)	$	—
Interest rate contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	—			Interest expense excluding Financial Products	(4		)	—
Financial Products	1			Interest expense of Financial Products	(4		)	—
	$	(24	)		$	(109	)	$	—

The effect of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Results of Operations is as follows:




(Millions of dollars)	Classification of Gains (Losses)	Three Months Ended September 30, 2016			Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
Foreign exchange contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Other income (expense)	$	2		$	7
Financial Products	Other income (expense)	(5		)	6
Commodity contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Other income (expense)	3			(8		)
		$	—		$	5

	Classification of Gains (Losses)	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Foreign exchange contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Other income (expense)	$	24		$	(22	)
Financial Products	Other income (expense)	(33		)	(18		)
Commodity contracts
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	Other income (expense)	9			(15		)
		$	—		$	(55	)

We enter into International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) master netting agreements within Machinery, Energy & Transportation and Financial Products that permit the net settlement of amounts owed under their respective derivative contracts. Under these master netting agreements, net settlement generally permits the company or the counterparty to determine the net amount payable for contracts due on the same date and in the same currency for similar types of derivative transactions. The master netting agreements generally also provide for net settlement of all outstanding contracts with a counterparty in the case of an event of default or a termination event.

Collateral is generally not required of the counterparties or of our company under the master netting agreements. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, no cash collateral was received or pledged under the master netting agreements.

The effect of the net settlement provisions of the master netting agreements on our derivative balances upon an event of default or termination event is as follows:




September 30, 2016							Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
(Millions of dollars)	Gross Amount of Recognized Assets		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position		Net Amount of Assets Presented in the Statement of Financial Position		Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral Received		Net Amount of Assets
Derivatives
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	34	$	—	$	34	$	(33	)	$	—	$	1
Financial Products	39		—		39		(3		)	—		36
Total	$	73	$	—	$	73	$	(36	)	$	—	$	37



September 30, 2016									Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
(Millions of dollars)	Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities			Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position		Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Financial Position			Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Pledged		Net Amount of Liabilities
Derivatives
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	(80	)	$	—	$	(80	)	$	33	$	—	$	(47	)
Financial Products	(22		)	—		(22		)	3		—		(19		)
Total	$	(102	)	$	—	$	(102	)	$	36	$	—	$	(66	)



December 31, 2015							Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
(Millions of dollars)	Gross Amount of Recognized Assets		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position		Net Amount of Assets Presented in the Statement of Financial Position		Financial Instruments			Cash Collateral Received		Net Amount of Assets
Derivatives
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	14	$	—	$	14	$	(14	)	$	—	$	—
Financial Products	91		—		91		(5		)	—		86
Total	$	105	$	—	$	105	$	(19	)	$	—	$	86



December 31, 2015									Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of Financial Position
(Millions of dollars)	Gross Amount of Recognized Liabilities			Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position		Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in the Statement of Financial Position			Financial Instruments		Cash Collateral Pledged		Net Amount of Liabilities
Derivatives
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	$	(46	)	$	—	$	(46	)	$	14	$	—	$	(32	)
Financial Products	(10		)	—		(10		)	5		—		(5		)
Total	$	(56	)	$	—	$	(56	)	$	19	$	—	$	(37	)