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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 (Date of earliest event reported):
October 19, 2005
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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
I.D. 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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Page
1
Item
8.01
Other Events
The
following release was issued by Caterpillar on October 19,
2005.
*
* * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October
19, 2005
General
Motors Europe and Caterpillar Logistics Services enter into a Joint
Venture
Joint
management of parts and accessories distribution centers in Germany and
Italy
will
lead to
higher performance
Peoria,
IL and
Zurich, Switzerland - General Motors Europe (GME) and Caterpillar Logistics
Services, Inc. (Cat Logistics), a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc.,
have reached a ten-year agreement to form Caterpillar Logistics Supply Chain
Services GmbH, a joint venture company.
This
project is
part of GME’s comprehensive restructuring program announced last
fall.
Serving
as a third
party logistics provider, the joint venture will implement Cat Logistics’
industry best practices to deliver aftersales warehouse productivity increases,
ultimately having a positive impact on service levels and the financial
performance of GME’s supply chain.
The
joint venture
will be responsible for operations at GME’s parts and accessories distribution
facilities in Bochum and Rüsselsheim, Germany, and Rome, Italy. By December
1st,
2005,
approximately 100 employees from GME’s Italian warehouse will transition to the
joint venture. By February 1st,
2006, another
1,100 employees from GME’s German facilities will follow.
“Cat
Logistics has
long been recognized for its ability to provide clients with service parts
operational excellence and I am delighted that we have the opportunity to expand
our relationship with General Motors Europe through the formation of this joint
venture, ” said Dave Hoffman, President of Caterpillar Logistics EAME
Region.
"We
are confident
that teaming up with Cat Logistics will take our European logistics performance
to a new level, providing an even more reliable service to our retailers and
customers. The joint venture will make a significant contribution towards
improving our overall competitiveness in Europe," said Jonathan
Browning,
Vice President Sales, Marketing and Aftersales of General Motors
Europe.
The
150,000 m²
Bochum, Germany facility currently stores over 100,000 different parts and
components, and will have responsibility for replenishing 11 European Parts
Distribution Centers as well as providing parts to non-European customers.
Around 2,500 German, Swiss and Austrian customers will be served from the
120,000 m² facility at Rüsselsheim, Germany. The 15,000 m² parts distribution
centre in Rome, Italy will continue to serve the 400 Italian and Greek
customers.
Page
2
About
Caterpillar Logistics Services, Inc.
Caterpillar
Logistics Services, Inc. provides world-class supply chain solutions and
services to its parent company, Caterpillar Inc., and more than 50 other leading
corporations throughout the world. Headquartered in Morton, Illinois,
Caterpillar Logistics operates more than 100 offices and facilities in 25
countries on six continents. Caterpillar Logistics provides its full service
capabilities to companies in market sectors, which include automotive service
parts, industrial service parts, consumer durables, technology and electronics,
manufacturing logistics, and aerospace service parts. More information is
available at www.catlogistics.com.
About
Caterpillar Inc.
For
80 years,
Caterpillar Inc. has been building the world's infrastructure and, in
partnership with its worldwide dealer network, is driving positive and
sustainable change on every continent. With 2004 sales and revenues of $30.25
billion, Caterpillar is a technology leader and the world's leading manufacturer
of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and
industrial gas turbines. More information is available at
www.cat.com
About
General Motors Europe
General
Motors
Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry
sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 317,000 people
around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its
vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars
and
trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company’s
history. In Europe, GM sells its Opel, Vauxhall, Saab, Chevrolet, Cadillac,
Corvette and Hummer ranges in over 30 markets. It operates 11 production and
assembly facilities in eight countries and employs around 60,000
people.
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
“expects,”“anticipates,”“intends,”“plans,”“believes,”“seeks,”“will,” 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 in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking
statements.
Page
3
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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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October
19,
2005
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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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