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Fair Value Disclosures

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Fair value disclosures

A. Fair value measurements

The guidance on fair value measurements defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. This guidance also specifies a fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of inputs used in valuation techniques. Observable inputs (highest level) reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs (lowest level) reflect internally developed market assumptions. In accordance with this guidance, fair value measurements are classified under the following hierarchy:

•Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

•Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs or significant value-drivers are observable in active markets.

•Level 3 – Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value-drivers are unobservable.

When available, we use quoted market prices to determine fair value, and we classify such measurements within Level 1. In some cases where market prices are not available, we make use of observable market based inputs to calculate fair value, in which case the measurements are classified within Level 2. If quoted or observable market prices are not available, fair value is based upon valuations in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable, including internally developed models that use, where possible, current market-based parameters such as interest rates, yield curves and currency rates. These measurements are classified within Level 3.

We classify fair value measurements according to the lowest level input or value-driver that is significant to the valuation. We may therefore classify a measurement within Level 3 even though there may be significant inputs that are readily observable.

Fair value measurement includes the consideration of nonperformance risk. Nonperformance risk refers to the risk that an obligation (either by a counterparty or Caterpillar) will not be fulfilled. For financial assets traded in an active market (Level 1 and certain Level 2), the nonperformance risk is included in the market price. For certain other financial assets and liabilities (certain Level 2 and Level 3), our fair value calculations have been adjusted accordingly.

Investments in debt and equity securities

We have investments in certain debt and equity securities, primarily at Insurance Services, that are recorded at fair value. Fair values for our U.S. treasury bonds and large capitalization value and smaller company growth equity securities are based upon valuations for identical instruments in active markets. Fair values for other government bonds, corporate bonds and mortgage-backed debt securities are based upon models that take into consideration such market-based factors as recent sales, risk-free yield curves and prices of similarly rated bonds.

In addition, Insurance Services has an equity investment in a real estate investment trust (REIT) which is recorded at fair value based on the net asset value (NAV) of the investment and is not classified within the fair value hierarchy.

See Note 8 for additional information on our investments in debt and equity securities.

Derivative financial instruments

The fair value of interest rate contracts is primarily based on a standard industry accepted valuation model that utilizes the appropriate market-based forward swap curves and zero-coupon interest rates to determine discounted cash flows. The fair value of foreign currency and commodity forward, option and cross currency contracts is based on standard industry accepted valuation models that discount cash flows resulting from the differential between the contract price and the market-based forward rate.

Assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis at fair value, primarily related to Financial Products, included in our Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were as follows:


	March 31, 2021
(Millions of dollars)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Measured at NAV		Total Assets / Liabilities, at Fair Value
Assets
Debt securities
Government debt
U.S. treasury bonds	$	10	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	10
Other U.S. and non-U.S. government bonds	—		59		—		—		59
Corporate bonds
Corporate bonds	—		1,032		—		—		1,032
Asset-backed securities	—		152		—		—		152
Mortgage-backed debt securities
U.S. governmental agency	—		359		—		—		359
Residential	—		5		—		—		5
Commercial	—		77		—		—		77
Total debt securities	10		1,684		—		—		1,694
Equity securities
Large capitalization value	218		—		—		—		218
Smaller company growth	63		—		—		—		63
REIT	—		—		—		149		149
Total equity securities	281		—		—		149		430

Derivative financial instruments, net	—		142		—		—		142
Total assets	$	291	$	1,826	$	—	$	149	$	2,266


	December 31, 2020
(Millions of dollars)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Measured at NAV		Total Assets / Liabilities, at Fair Value
Assets
Debt securities
Government debt
U.S. treasury bonds	$	10	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	10
Other U.S. and non-U.S. government bonds	—		59		—		—		59
Corporate bonds
Corporate bonds	—		1,012		—		—		1,012
Asset-backed securities	—		159		—		—		159
Mortgage-backed debt securities
U.S. governmental agency	—		374		—		—		374
Residential	—		5		—		—		5
Commercial	—		64		—		—		64
Total debt securities	10		1,673		—		—		1,683
Equity securities
Large capitalization value	199		—		—		—		199
Smaller company growth	58		—		—		—		58
REIT	—		—		—		148		148
Total equity securities	257		—		—		148		405


Total assets	$	267	$	1,673	$	—	$	148	$	2,088
Liabilities
Derivative financial instruments, net	$	—	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	17
Total liabilities	$	—	$	17	$	—	$	—	$	17

In addition to the amounts above, certain Cat Financial loans are subject to measurement at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and are classified as Level 3 measurements. A loan is measured at fair value when management determines that collection of contractual amounts due is not probable and the loan is individually evaluated. In these cases, an allowance for credit losses may be established based either on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the receivables’ effective interest rate, the fair value of the collateral for collateral-dependent receivables, or the observable market price of the receivable. In determining collateral value, Cat Financial estimates the current fair market value of the collateral less selling costs. Cat Financial had loans carried at fair value of $232 million and $243 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

B. Fair values of financial instruments

In addition to the methods and assumptions we use to record the fair value of financial instruments as discussed in the Fair value measurements section above, we use the following methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of our financial instruments:

Cash and short-term investments

Carrying amount approximates fair value.

Restricted cash and short-term investments

Carrying amount approximates fair value. We include restricted cash and short-term investments in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

Finance receivables

We estimate fair value by discounting the future cash flows using current rates, representative of receivables with similar remaining maturities.

Wholesale inventory receivables

We estimate fair value by discounting the future cash flows using current rates, representative of receivables with similar remaining maturities.

Short-term borrowings

Carrying amount approximates fair value.

Long-term debt

We estimate fair value for fixed and floating rate debt based on quoted market prices.

Guarantees

The fair value of guarantees is based upon our estimate of the premium a market participant would require to issue the same guarantee in a stand-alone arms-length transaction with an unrelated party. If quoted or observable market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that utilize current market-based assumptions.

Fair values of our financial instruments were as follows:


	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	March 31, 2021				December 31, 2020
(Millions of dollars)	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Fair Value Levels	Reference
Assets
Cash and short-term investments	$	11,342	$	11,342	$	9,352	$	9,352	1
Restricted cash and short-term investments	9		9		14		14		1
Investments in debt and equity securities	2,124		2,124		2,088		2,088		1 & 2	Note 8
Finance receivables – net (excluding finance leases 1)	13,687		13,968		14,028		14,357		3	Note 17
Wholesale inventory receivables – net (excluding finance leases 1)	832		815		929		911		3
Foreign currency contracts – net	70		70		—		—		2	Note 5
Interest rate contracts – net	31		31		58		58		2	Note 5
Commodity contracts – net	41		41		37		37		2	Note 5

Liabilities
Short-term borrowings	3,625		3,625		2,015		2,015		1
Long-term debt (including amounts due within one year)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation	11,052		13,339		11,169		14,549		2
Financial Products	23,503		23,960		23,979		24,614		2
Foreign currency contracts – net	—		—		112		112		2	Note 5


Guarantees	4		4		5		5		3	Note 11

1 Represents finance leases and failed sale leasebacks of $7,895 million and $7,961 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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