Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions ECM S.p.A. On January 2, 2018, we acquired 100 percent of the equity in privately held ECM S.p.A. (ECM). Headquartered in Pistoia, Italy, ECM designs, manufactures, sells and services advanced signal systems for the rail industry. The ECM acquisition was executed to expand our presence in the international freight and transit industries through a combination of broad product offerings and strong reputation in the signaling market. The purchase price for the acquisition was $225 million, consisting of $249 million paid at closing, net of $25 million of cash acquired and $1 million of debt assumed. The transaction was financed with available cash. Tangible assets as of the acquisition date were $109 million, recorded at their fair values, and primarily included cash of $25 million, receivables of $28 million, inventories of $29 million, and property, plant and equipment of $17 million. Finite-lived intangible assets acquired of $112 million included customer relationships, developed technology and trade names. The finite lived intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a weighted-average amortization period of approximately 13 years. Liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date were $79 million, recorded at their fair values, and primarily included accounts payable of $38 million and net deferred tax liabilities of $29 million. Goodwill of $109 million, non-deductible for income tax purposes, represented the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represented the estimated future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill include ECM’s strategic fit into our rail product portfolio, the opportunity to provide a complete line-up of signaling and train control systems and the acquired assembled workforce. The results of the acquired business for the period from the acquisition date are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and reported in the Energy & Transportation segment in Note 23. Assuming this transaction had been made at the beginning of any period presented, the consolidated pro forma results would not be materially different from reported results. Downer Freight Rail On January 2, 2018, we completed the acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of the Downer Freight Rail business (Downer Freight Rail). Headquartered in North Ryde, Australia, Downer Freight Rail provides a full suite of rolling stock, aftermarket parts and services throughout Australia. The acquisition was executed to strengthen our existing Rail footprint in Australia, which currently includes rolling stock maintenance facilities, as well as infrastructure and signaling facilities. The purchase price for the acquisition was $97 million. The transaction was financed with available cash. Tangible assets as of the acquisition date were $86 million, recorded at their fair values, and primarily included receivables of $23 million, inventories of $40 million, and property, plant and equipment of $15 million. Finite-lived customer relationship intangible assets acquired were $6 million. The finite lived intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over an amortization period of 15 years. Liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date were $14 million, which represented their fair values. Goodwill of $18 million, not expected to be deducted for income tax purposes, represented the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represented the estimated future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill include Downer Freight Rail’s strategic fit into our rail product portfolio, the opportunity to expand our aftermarket parts and maintenance service portfolio in Australia and the acquired assembled workforce. The results of the acquired business for the period from the acquisition date are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and reported in the Energy & Transportation segment in Note 23. Assuming this transaction had been made at the beginning of any period presented, the consolidated pro forma results would not be materially different from reported results. Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp. On December 15, 2016, we acquired 100 percent of the equity in privately held Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp. (Kemper). Kemper is headquartered in Island Lake, Illinois and designs, manufactures, sells, and services high pressure flow iron to the well service segment of the Oil & Gas industry. This acquisition provides Caterpillar with a new product offering which complements its existing products in the Oil & Gas industry. The purchase price, net of $12 million of acquired cash, consisted of $92 million paid at closing, $1 million paid in 2017, and $8 million paid in 2018. In addition, there is contingent consideration with a fair value of $38 million as of the acquisition date which is comprised of two components: 1) our expected use of a charitable contribution carry forward for U.S. tax purposes acquired from Kemper which has an estimated maximum payment of $20 million and 2) a specified industry performance index price target during the period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 which is capped at $20 million per year. As of December 31, 2018, $10 million was paid related to the use of the charitable contribution carry forward for U.S. tax purposes with an additional $10 million paid in January of 2019. No amounts were paid through 2018 for the contingent consideration related to the specified industry performance index price target, which continues to be remeasured each reporting period at its estimated fair value with any adjustment included in Other operating (income) expenses in Statement 1. The transaction was financed with available cash. Tangible assets as of the acquisition date were $147 million, recorded at their fair values, and included cash of $12 million, receivables of $7 million, short term investments of $3 million, net deferred tax assets of $21 million, inventories of $63 million, and property, plant and equipment of $41 million. Finite-lived intangible assets acquired of $8 million included customer relationships, developed technology and trade names. The finite lived intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over an amortization period of 10 years. Liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date were $6 million, which represented their fair values. Goodwill of $1 million, non-deductible for income tax purposes, represented the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represented the estimated future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The results of the acquired business for the period from the acquisition date are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and reported in the Energy & Transportation segment in Note 23. Assuming this transaction had been made at the beginning of any period presented, the consolidated pro forma results would not be materially different from reported results.

Acquisitions

ECM S.p.A.

On January 2, 2018, we acquired 100 percent of the equity in privately held ECM S.p.A. (ECM). Headquartered in Pistoia, Italy, ECM designs, manufactures, sells and services advanced signal systems for the rail industry. The ECM acquisition was executed to expand our presence in the international freight and transit industries through a combination of broad product offerings and strong reputation in the signaling market. The purchase price for the acquisition was $225 million, consisting of $249 million paid at closing, net of $25 million of cash acquired and $1 million of debt assumed.

The transaction was financed with available cash. Tangible assets as of the acquisition date were $109 million, recorded at their fair values, and primarily included cash of $25 million, receivables of $28 million, inventories of $29 million, and property, plant and equipment of $17 million. Finite-lived intangible assets acquired of $112 million included customer relationships, developed technology and trade names. The finite lived intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a weighted-average amortization period of approximately 13 years. Liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date were $79 million, recorded at their fair values, and primarily included accounts payable of $38 million and net deferred tax liabilities of $29 million. Goodwill of $109 million, non-deductible for income tax purposes, represented the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represented the estimated future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill include ECM’s strategic fit into our rail product portfolio, the opportunity to provide a complete line-up of signaling and train control systems and the acquired assembled workforce. The results of the acquired business for the period from the acquisition date are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and reported in the Energy & Transportation segment in Note 23. Assuming this transaction had been made at the beginning of any period presented, the consolidated pro forma results would not be materially different from reported results.

Downer Freight Rail

On January 2, 2018, we completed the acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of the Downer Freight Rail business (Downer Freight Rail). Headquartered in North Ryde, Australia, Downer Freight Rail provides a full suite of rolling stock, aftermarket parts and services throughout Australia. The acquisition was executed to strengthen our existing Rail footprint in Australia, which currently includes rolling stock maintenance facilities, as well as infrastructure and signaling facilities. The purchase price for the acquisition was $97 million.

The transaction was financed with available cash. Tangible assets as of the acquisition date were $86 million, recorded at their fair values, and primarily included receivables of $23 million, inventories of $40 million, and property, plant and equipment of $15 million. Finite-lived customer relationship intangible assets acquired were $6 million. The finite lived intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over an amortization period of 15 years. Liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date were $14 million, which represented their fair values. Goodwill of $18 million, not expected to be deducted for income tax purposes, represented the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represented the estimated future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill include Downer Freight Rail’s strategic fit into our rail product portfolio, the opportunity to expand our aftermarket parts and maintenance service portfolio in Australia and the acquired assembled workforce. The results of the acquired business for the period from the acquisition date are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and reported in the Energy & Transportation segment in Note 23. Assuming this transaction had been made at the beginning of any period presented, the consolidated pro forma results would not be materially different from reported results.

Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp.

On December 15, 2016, we acquired 100 percent of the equity in privately held Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp. (Kemper). Kemper is headquartered in Island Lake, Illinois and designs, manufactures, sells, and services high pressure flow iron to the well service segment of the Oil & Gas industry. This acquisition provides Caterpillar with a new product offering which complements its existing products in the Oil & Gas industry. The purchase price, net of $12 million of acquired cash, consisted of $92 million paid at closing, $1 million paid in 2017, and $8 million paid in 2018. In addition, there is contingent consideration with a fair value of $38 million as of the acquisition date which is comprised of two components: 1) our expected use of a charitable contribution carry forward for U.S. tax purposes acquired from Kemper which has an estimated maximum payment of $20 million and 2) a specified industry performance index price target during the period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 which is capped at $20 million per year. As of December 31, 2018, $10 million was paid related to the use of the charitable contribution carry forward for U.S. tax purposes with an additional $10 million paid in January of 2019. No amounts were paid through 2018 for the contingent consideration related to the specified industry performance index price target, which continues to be remeasured each reporting period at its estimated fair value with any adjustment included in Other operating (income) expenses in Statement 1.

The transaction was financed with available cash. Tangible assets as of the acquisition date were $147 million, recorded at their fair values, and included cash of $12 million, receivables of $7 million, short term investments of $3 million, net deferred tax assets of $21 million, inventories of $63 million, and property, plant and equipment of $41 million. Finite-lived intangible assets acquired of $8 million included customer relationships, developed technology and trade names. The finite lived intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over an amortization period of 10 years. Liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date were $6 million, which represented their fair values. Goodwill of $1 million, non-deductible for income tax purposes, represented the excess of the consideration transferred over the net assets recognized and represented the estimated future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The results of the acquired business for the period from the acquisition date are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and reported in the Energy & Transportation segment in Note 23. Assuming this transaction had been made at the beginning of any period presented, the consolidated pro forma results would not be materially different from reported results.