UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2016

Commission file no: 1-4121

DEERE  &  COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

One John Deere Place

Moline, Illinois 61265

(Address of principal executive offices)

Telephone Number:  (309) 765-8000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes    X    No          

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes    X    No          

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes           No    X   

At April 30, 2016, 314,258,886 shares of common stock, $1 par value, of the registrant were outstanding.

Index to Exhibits: Page 51

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.

Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(1)  The information in the notes and related commentary are presented in a format which includes data grouped as follows:

Equipment Operations - Includes the Company’s agriculture and turf operations and construction and forestry operations with financial services reflected on the equity basis.

Financial Services - Includes primarily the Company’s financing operations.

Consolidated - Represents the consolidation of the equipment operations and financial services. References to "Deere & Company" or "the Company" refer to the entire enterprise.

The Company uses a 52/53 week fiscal year with quarters ending on the last Sunday in the reporting period. The second quarter ends for fiscal year 2016 and 2015 were May 1, 2016 and May 3, 2015, respectively. Both periods contained 13 weeks. For ease of presentation, the consolidated financial statements and notes continue to be dated April 30.

(2)  The interim consolidated financial statements of Deere & Company have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. have been condensed or omitted as permitted by such rules and regulations. All adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, have been included. Management believes that the disclosures are adequate to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented. It is suggested that these interim consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those to be expected for the fiscal year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash Flow Information

All cash flows from the changes in trade accounts and notes receivable are classified as operating activities in the Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows as these receivables arise from sales to the Company’s customers. Cash flows from financing receivables that are related to sales to the Company’s customers are also included in operating activities. The remaining financing receivables are related to the financing of equipment sold by independent dealers and are included in investing activities.

The Company had the following non-cash operating and investing activities that were not included in the Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows. The Company transferred inventory to equipment on operating leases of approximately $269 million and $276 million in the first six months of 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company also had accounts payable related to purchases of property and equipment of approximately $33 million and $39 million at April 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

(3)  New accounting standard adopted is as follows:

In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update, (ASU) No. 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 805, Business Combinations. This ASU requires that acquiring entities recognize measurement period adjustments in the reporting period the amounts are determined, including earnings adjustments that would have been recorded in previous periods if the adjustments were known at the acquisition date. Acquiring entities are no longer required to retrospectively adjust amounts in comparative periods. The adjustment amounts and reasons are still disclosed. The Company early adopted this ASU in the second quarter of 2016. The adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

New accounting standards to be adopted are as follows:

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Deferral of the Effective Date, which amends ASU No. 2014-09. As a result, the effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 with early adoption permitted in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), which amends ASU 2014-09. ASU No. 2016-08 provides additional guidance for revenue transactions that involve a third party in providing goods or services to a customer. The reporting entity must determine if the obligation to the customer is to provide the goods or services, i.e., as the principal, or to arrange for a third party to provide the goods or services, i.e., as the agent. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, which amends ASU 2014-09. ASU No. 2016-10 clarifies that goods or services that are immaterial in the context of the contract are not required to be identified as separate performance obligations. In addition, the ASU provides an accounting policy election to treat shipping and handling activities as a fulfillment cost and not part of the revenue transaction. The ASU also provides guidance regarding licensing arrangements to determine whether the license grants the right to use functional or symbolic intellectual property. Revenue for licenses of functional intellectual property, such as software, is generally recognized at a point in time, while revenue for licenses of symbolic intellectual property, such as tradenames, is generally recognized over time. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which amends ASU 2014-09. This ASU clarifies the requirement to assess collectability of contract consideration, clarifies the treatment of noncash consideration and provides a policy election to exclude from revenue amounts collected from customers for sales and similar taxes. The adoption will use one of two retrospective application methods. The Company is evaluating the potential effects on the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period, which amends ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. This ASU requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. Therefore, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. Compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the period(s) for which the requisite service has already been rendered. The total compensation cost recognized during and after the requisite service period should reflect the number of awards that are expected to vest and should be adjusted to reflect those awards that ultimately vest. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. The adoption will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which amends ASC 835-30, Interest - Imputation of Interest. This ASU requires that debt issuance costs related to borrowings be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the borrowing. This treatment is consistent with debt discounts. The ASU does not affect the amount or timing of expenses for debt issuance costs. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 and will be applied retrospectively. The adoption will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which amends ASC 350-40, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software. This ASU provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If an arrangement includes a software license, the accounting for the license will be consistent with licenses of other intangible assets. If the arrangement does not include a license, the arrangement will be accounted for as a service contract. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 and will be adopted prospectively. The adoption will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-09, Disclosures about Short-Duration Contracts, which amends ASC 944, Financial Services - Insurance. This ASU requires disclosure of additional information

about unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses, including a rollforward of the liability of the claims adjustment liability. The effective date will be the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. The adoption will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which amends ASC 330, Inventory. This ASU simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventory by using only the lower of cost or net realizable value. The ASU does not apply to inventory measured using last-in, first-out method. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 with early adoption permitted. The adoption will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements, which amends ASC 835-30, Interest - Imputation of Interest. This ASU clarifies the presentation and subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs associated with lines of credit. These costs may be presented as an asset and amortized ratably over the term of the line of credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are outstanding borrowings on the arrangement. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 and will be applied retrospectively. The adoption will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which amends ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments - Overall. This ASU changes the treatment for available for sale equity investments by recognizing unrealized fair value changes directly in net income, and no longer in other comprehensive income. In addition, the impairment assessment of equity securities without readily determinable fair values is simplified by allowing a qualitative assessment. The ASU eliminates the disclosure requirement of methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. Additional disclosure of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form is also required. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. Early adoption of the provisions affecting the Company is not permitted. The amendment will be adopted with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet in the year of adoption. The Company is evaluating the potential effects on the consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes ASC 840, Leases. The ASU does not significantly change the lessees’ recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows from the previous accounting standard. The ASU’s primary change is the requirement for lessee entities to recognize a lease liability for payments and a right of use asset representing the right to use the leased asset during the term on operating lease arrangements. Lessees are permitted to make an accounting policy election to not recognize the asset and liability for leases with a term of twelve months or less. Lessors’ accounting under the ASC is largely unchanged from the previous accounting standard. In addition, the ASU expands the disclosure requirements of lease arrangements. Lessees and lessors will use a modified retrospective transition approach. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential effects on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07, Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting, which amends ASC 323 Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures. This ASU eliminates the requirement to retroactively restate the investment, results of operations and retained earnings on a step by step basis when an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in ownership or degree of influence. The ASU requires that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional ownership interest to the current basis of the entity’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of that date. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, with early adoption permitted, and will be adopted prospectively. The adoption will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. This ASU simplifies the treatment of share based payment transactions by recognizing the impact of excess tax benefits or deficiencies related to exercised or vested awards in income tax expense in the period of exercise or vesting. The ASU also modifies the diluted earnings per share calculation using the treasury stock method by eliminating the excess tax benefits or deficiencies from the calculation. These changes will be recognized prospectively. The presentation of excess tax benefits in the statement of consolidated cash flows is also modified to be included with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity. The change can be adopted using a prospective or retrospective transition method. The ASU also provides an accounting policy

election to account for award forfeitures in compensation cost when the forfeitures occur. The requirement for an award to qualify for equity classification was also modified by the ASU to permit withholding up to maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdictions. The modification regarding award forfeitures and withholding rates are adopted by a cumulative effect adjustment to equity at the beginning of the period adopted. The ASU clarifies that cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax withholding purposes should be presented as a financing activity in the statement of consolidated cash flows and should be applied retrospectively. The effective date will be the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential effects on the consolidated financial statements.

(4)  The after-tax changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in millions of dollars follow:

Following are amounts recorded in and reclassifications out of other comprehensive income (loss), and the income tax effects, in millions of dollars:

* These accumulated other comprehensive income amounts are included in net periodic postretirement costs. See Note 7 for additional detail.