Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
We are subject to numerous lawsuits and claims arising out of the ordinary course of our business, including actions related to product liability; personal injury; the use and performance of our products; warranty matters; patent, trademark or other intellectual property infringement; contractual liability; the conduct of our business; tax reporting in foreign jurisdictions; distributor termination; workplace safety; and environmental matters. We also have been identified as a potentially responsible party at multiple waste disposal sites under U.S. federal and related state environmental statutes and regulations and may have joint and several liability for any investigation and remediation costs incurred with respect to such sites.  We have denied liability with respect to many of these lawsuits, claims and proceedings and are vigorously defending such lawsuits, claims and proceedings.  We carry various forms of commercial, property and casualty, product liability and other forms of insurance; however, such insurance may not be applicable or adequate to cover the costs associated with a judgment against us with respect to these lawsuits, claims and proceedings.  We do not believe that these lawsuits are material individually or in the aggregate.  While we believe we have also established adequate accruals for our expected future liability with respect to pending lawsuits, claims and proceedings, where the nature and extent of any such liability can be reasonably estimated based upon then presently available information, there can be no assurance that the final resolution of any existing or future lawsuits, claims or proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
We conduct significant business operations in Brazil that are subject to the Brazilian federal, state and local labor, social security, tax and customs laws.  While we believe we comply with such laws, they are complex, subject to varying interpretations and we are often engaged in litigation regarding the application of these laws to particular circumstances.
In June 2008, four of our sites in Southern Indiana, including our Technical Center, experienced extensive flood damage. In October 2011, we received $40 million from our insurance carriers to settle all outstanding 2008 flood claims. As a result, we recognized a gain of approximately $38 million ($24 million after-tax), net of any remaining flood related expenses, in "Other operating income (expense), net" in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
U.S. Distributor Commitments
Our distribution agreements with independent and partially-owned distributors generally have a renewable three-year term and are restricted to specified territories.  Our distributors develop and maintain a network of dealers with which we have no direct relationship.  Our distributors are permitted to sell other, noncompetitive products only with our consent.  We license all of our distributors to use our name and logo in connection with the sale and service of our products, with no right to assign or sublicense the trademarks, except to authorized dealers, without our consent.  Products are sold to the distributors at standard domestic or international distributor net prices, as applicable.  Net prices are wholesale prices we establish to permit our distributors an adequate margin on their sales.  Subject to local laws, we can generally refuse to renew these agreements upon expiration or terminate them upon written notice for inadequate sales, change in principal ownership and certain other reasons.  Distributors also have the right to terminate the agreements upon 60-day notice without cause, or 30-day notice for cause.  Upon termination or failure to renew, we are required to purchase the distributor’s current inventory, signage and special tools and may, at our option purchase other assets of the distributor, but are under no obligation to do so.
Other Guarantees and Commitments
In addition to the matters discussed above, from time to time we periodically enter into other guarantee arrangements, including guarantees of non-U.S. distributor financing, residual value guarantees on equipment under operating leases and other miscellaneous guarantees of third-party obligations.  As of December 31, 2013, the maximum potential loss related to these other guarantees was $6 million. The liability related to these guarantees was less than $1 million.
We have arrangements with certain suppliers that require us to purchase minimum volumes or be subject to monetary penalties.  The penalty amounts are less than our purchase commitments and essentially allow the supplier to recover their tooling costs in most instances.  As of December 31, 2013, if we were to stop purchasing from each of these suppliers, the aggregate amount of the penalty would be approximately $107 million, of which $62 million relates to a contract with an engine parts supplier that extends to 2016.  These arrangements enable us to secure critical components.  We do not currently anticipate paying any penalties under these contracts.
We have guarantees with certain customers that require us to satisfactorily honor contractual or regulatory obligations, or compensate for monetary losses related to nonperformance.  These performance bonds and other performance-related guarantees were $66 million and $70 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Indemnifications
Periodically, we enter into various contractual arrangements where we agree to indemnify a third-party against certain types of losses.  Common types of indemnities include:
product liability and license, patent or trademark indemnifications.
asset sale agreements where we agree to indemnify the purchaser against future environmental exposures related to the asset sold and
any contractual agreement where we agree to indemnify the counter-party for losses suffered as a result of a misrepresentation in the contract.
We regularly evaluate the probability of having to incur costs associated with these indemnities and accrue for expected losses that are probable.  Because the indemnifications are not related to specified known liabilities and due to their uncertain nature, we are unable to estimate the maximum amount of the potential loss associated with these indemnifications.
Joint Venture Commitments
As of December 31, 2013, we have committed to invest an additional $52 million in existing joint ventures, of which the entire$52 million is expected to be funded in 2014.
Leases
We lease certain manufacturing equipment, facilities, warehouses, office space and equipment, aircraft and automobiles for varying periods under lease agreements. Most of the leases are non-cancelable operating leases with fixed rental payments, expire over the next 10 years and contain renewal provisions. Rent expense under these leases was as follows:
 
 
December 31,
In millions
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Rent expense
 
$
186

 
$
176

 
$
166


The following is a summary of the leased property under capital leases by major classes:
 
 
Asset balances at December 31,
In millions
 
2013
 
2012
Building
 
$
103

 
$
66

Equipment
 
97

 
110

Other
 
16

 
15

Less: Accumulated depreciation
 
(96
)
 
(103
)
Total
 
$
120

 
$
88


Following is a summary of the future minimum lease payments due under capital and operating leases, including leases in our rental business, with terms of more than one year at December 31, 2013, together with the net present value of the minimum payments due under capital leases:
In millions
 
Capital Leases
 
Operating Leases
2014
 
$
20

 
$
171

2015
 
20

 
111

2016
 
18

 
78

2017
 
11

 
57

2018
 
9

 
41

After 2018
 
48

 
111

Total minimum lease payments
 
$
126

 
$
569

Interest
 
(34
)
 
 

Present value of net minimum lease payments
 
$
92

 
 


In addition, we have subleased certain facilities under operating leases to third parties. The future minimum lease payments due from lessees under those arrangements are $1 million per year for the years 2014 through 2016.