Caterpillar Inc. Maintains Dividend Rate

"Team Caterpillar's remarkable performance and rapid response to the global economic downturn over the last year has been a fundamental factor in our ability to maintain an attractive dividend," said Caterpillar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Owens. "Our financial strength during this recession enables Caterpillar to continue a long tradition of rewarding stockholders. In fact, over the last 10 years, our total stockholder return (stock appreciation plus dividends) is more than 200 percent."

The $0.42 dividend maintains the dividend rate from the previous quarter. Including the announcement today, Caterpillar has paid a cash dividend every year since the company was formed in 1925 and its cash dividend has nearly tripled since 1998.

About Caterpillar:

For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2008 sales and revenues of $51.324 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at http://www.cat.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

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 "will," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "should" 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, (i) adverse change in general economic conditions; (ii) adverse change in the industries Caterpillar serves including construction, infrastructure, mining, energy, marine and electric power generation; (iii) Caterpillar's ability to manage material, including steel, and freight costs; (iv) Caterpillar's ability to generate cash from operations, secure external funding for its operations and manage its liquidity needs; (v) material adverse change in customers' access to liquidity and capital; (vi) currency exchange or interest rates changes; (vii) political stability; (viii) market acceptance of the company's products and services; (ix) significant changes in the competitive environment; (x) epidemic diseases; (xi) severe change in weather conditions negatively impacting operations; (xii) changes in law, regulations and tax rates; and (xiii) other general economic, business and financing conditions and factors described in more detail in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" in Part II of our Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on July 31, 2009 for the 2nd quarter 2009. The filing is available on our website at www.cat.com/sec_filings. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.