Form of 5.500% Senior Note due 2055

EXHIBIT 4.2

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREON, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

CATERPILLAR INC.

5.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2055

CUSIP: 149123 CM1
ISIN: US149123CM17

CATERPILLAR INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporations under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ($ ) on May 15, 2055, subject to advancement as provided in Annex A hereto, and to pay interest thereon from May 15, 2025, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing November 15, 2025, at the rate of 5.500% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at the rate per annum borne by this Security on any overdue principal and on any overdue installment of interest. If an Interest Payment Date or maturity date is not a Business Day, interest or principal will be paid on the next Business Day. However, interest on the payments will not accrue for the period from the original payment date to the date the payment is made. Interest will be calculated based on a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on May 1 or November 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day). Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

Payment of the principal of and interest on this Security due at Maturity in United States dollars will be made in immediately available funds to the depository or its nominee, provided that this Security is presented to the Trustee in time for the Trustee to make such payment in accordance with its normal procedures. Payment of interest (other than interest payable at Maturity) on this Security in United States dollars will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to the depository or its nominee.

This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by or on behalf of the Trustee under the Indenture.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”) , issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1987 (as supplemented, the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to Citibank, N.A., as successor to First National Bank of Chicago), as trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited initially in aggregate principal amount to $300,000,000.

The Company may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of the Securities, create and issue an unlimited amount of additional Securities having the same terms as the Securities in all respects (except for the issue date, issue price, payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such Securities and, in some cases, the initial interest payment date of such Securities), so that such additional securities may be consolidated and form a single series with the Securities and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Securities. If the additional securities are not fungible with the previously outstanding Securities for United States federal income tax purposes, such additional securities will have a separate CUSIP number.

The Securities shall have the redemption features summarized in Annex A to this Global Security.

The provisions for defeasance and covenant defeasance set forth in Sections 1302 and 1303 of the Indenture, respectively, will apply to the Securities of this series.

If any Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein and herein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

This Security is a Global Security and shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in the names of Persons other than the depository with respect to this Global Security or its nominee only if (a) such depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for this Global Security or at any time ceases to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that this Global Security shall be exchangeable or (c) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Securities. If this Global Security is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence, it shall be exchangeable for Securities issuable in a minimum denomination of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, registered in such names as such depository shall direct.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons and when not represented by one or more Global Securities, (a) will be issuable in a minimum denomination of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and (b) as provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, will be exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

This Security shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

*        *        *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated: May 15, 2025

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

ANNEX A TO GLOBAL SECURITY

Optional Redemption

Prior to November 15, 2054 (six months prior to the maturity date of such Securities) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Securities at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities to the redemption date.

On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. The Trustee shall have no duty to verify such determinations.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to holders of the Securities to be redeemed (with a copy to the Trustee), except that notice may be given more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance, covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge. The notice of redemption will specify, among other items, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, the redemption date and the redemption price or the manner of calculating the redemption price (in which case no redemption price need be specified).

Any notice of any redemption of Securities may, at the Company’s discretion, be given subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a corporate transaction that is pending (such as an equity or equity-linked offering, an incurrence of indebtedness or an acquisition or other strategic transaction involving a change of control in the Company or another entity). If such redemption is so subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, without the requirement of an additional notice period to the holders, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed.

Any notice of redemption may provide that payment of the redemption price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another person.

In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Securities for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Securities of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Security will state the portion of the principal amount of the Security to be redeemed.

A new Security in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security will be issued in the name of the holder of the Security upon surrender for cancellation of the original Security. For so long as the Securities are held by DTC (or another depositary), the redemption of the Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.

Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption and the only remaining right of the holders of such Securities will be to receive payment of the redemption price.

Definitions

“Business Day” means any calendar day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in New York, New York and on which commercial banks are open for business in New York, New York.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by us after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) — H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities —  Treasury constant maturities — Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields — one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life — and shall interpolate to the applicable Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on such Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from such Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding such Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following such Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding such Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on such Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.