Cat Financial Announces Third-Quarter 2009 Results
October 20 2009 - 6:31AM
PR Newswire (US)
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cat Financial reported
third-quarter revenues of $676 million, a decrease of $84 million,
or 11 percent, compared with the third quarter of 2008.
Third-quarter profit was $76 million, a $42 million, or 36 percent,
decrease from the third quarter of 2008. The decrease in revenues
was principally due to a $77 million impact from a decrease in
earning assets (finance receivables and operating leases at
constant interest rates) and a $23 million impact from returned or
repossessed equipment, partially offset by a $20 million impact
from higher interest rates on new and existing finance receivables.
Profit before income taxes was $80 million, a $79 million, or 50
percent, decrease over the third quarter of 2008. The decrease was
principally due to a $33 million impact from net currency exchange
gains and losses, a $29 million increase in the provision for
credit losses, a $29 million unfavorable impact from lower average
earning assets and a $23 million impact from returned or
repossessed equipment. These decreases in pre-tax profit were
partially offset by a $21 million decrease in general, operating
and administrative expense and a $13 million impact from increased
net yield on average earning assets. Provision for income taxes
decreased $38 million compared with the third quarter of 2008. The
decrease was primarily attributable to lower pre-tax results and
income tax benefits related to the conclusion of two separate prior
years' income tax examinations. New retail financing was $1.8
billion, a decrease of $2.6 billion, or 59 percent, from the third
quarter of 2008. The decrease occurred across all Cat Financial
operating segments. At the end of the third quarter 2009, past dues
were 5.79 percent compared with 5.53 percent at the end of the
second quarter. At the end of the third quarter 2008, past dues
were 3.64 percent. During the third quarter 2009, there were
increases in North America and Europe, with decreases in Latin
America and Asia. Write-offs, net of recoveries, were $65 million
for the third quarter of 2009, up from $55 million in the second
quarter of 2009, and more significantly up from $22 million for the
third quarter of 2008. The $43 million year-over-year increase was
driven by adverse economic conditions primarily in North America
and, to a lesser extent, in Europe. Year-to-date annualized losses
are 0.90 percent of the year-to-date average retail portfolio
compared to 0.32 percent in the same period last year. The rate of
write-offs is higher than the most recent period of economic
weakness in 2001 and 2002, which was 0.65 and 0.69 percent,
respectively. Cat Financial's allowance for credit losses totaled
$381 million as of September 30, 2009, compared to $390 million as
of September 30, 2008, which is 1.62 percent of net finance
receivables as of September 30, 2009, compared with 1.41 percent as
of September 30, 2008. The decrease of $9 million in allowance for
credit losses resulted from a $58 million decrease due to a
reduction in the overall net finance receivable portfolio,
partially offset by a $49 million increase in the allowance rate.
"Despite the challenging economic conditions, capital markets have
improved and our access to liquidity and our liquidity position
remain strong. As customers continue to report challenging times,
past dues and losses have increased to historically high levels,
but remain within our expectations. We are also continuing to
realize the benefits of the cost reduction actions implemented in
the first quarter," said Kent Adams, Cat Financial president and
vice president of Caterpillar Inc. "Cat Financial continues to be a
reliable source of financing for Caterpillar customers and
dealers." For over 25 years, Cat Financial, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., has been providing a wide range of
financing alternatives to customers and Caterpillar dealers for
Caterpillar machinery and engines, SolarĀ® gas turbines and other
equipment and marine vessels. Cat Financial has offices and
subsidiaries located throughout the Americas, Asia, Australia and
Europe, with headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. STATISTICAL
HIGHLIGHTS: THIRD QUARTER 2009 VS. THIRD QUARTER 2008 (ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30) (Millions of dollars) 2009 2008 CHANGE Revenues* $676
$760 (11%) Profit Before Income Taxes* $80 $159 (50%) Profit $76
$118 (36%) New Retail Financing $1,778 $4,380 (59%) Total Assets
$30,937 $32,735 ( 5%) NINE MONTHS 2009 VS. NINE MONTHS 2008 (ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30) (Millions of dollars) 2009 2008 CHANGE Revenues*
$2,057 $2,324 (11%) Profit Before Income Taxes* $273 $526 (48%)
Profit $216 $372 (42%) New Retail Financing $5,194 $12,451 (58%) *
Certain amounts for the third quarter 2008 and the nine months
ended 2008 have been reclassified to conform to the current
presentation. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this earnings release
may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements may relate to
future events or our future financial performance, which may
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors
that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance
or achievement to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by any forward-looking statements. In this context, words
such as "believes," "expects," "estimates," "anticipates," "will,"
"should" and similar words or phrases often identify
forward-looking statements made on behalf of Cat Financial. These
statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may
differ materially due to factors that affect international
businesses, including changes in economic conditions, laws and
regulations and political stability, as well as factors specific to
Cat Financial and the markets we serve, including the market's
acceptance of the Company's products and services, the
creditworthiness of customers, interest rate and currency rate
fluctuations and estimated residual values of leased equipment.
Those risk factors may not be exhaustive. We operate in a
continually changing business environment, and new risk factors
emerge from time to time. We cannot predict these new risk factors,
nor can we assess the impact, if any, of these new risk factors on
our businesses or the extent to which any factor, or combination of
factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly,
forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a
prediction of actual results. Moreover, we do not assume
responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of those
statements. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in
their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under the
captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our annual
report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008,
and similar sections in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that
describe risks and factors that could cause results to differ
materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.
DATASOURCE: Cat Financial CONTACT: Kate Kenny, Corporate Public
Affairs of Cat Financial, +1-309-636-5253, mobile, +1-309-361-9333,
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