View Filing Data

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information	Mar. 31, 2012 shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000021665
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	477,246,617
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Millions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2011

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]

Net sales

$ 4,200

$ 3,994

Cost of sales

1,763

1,663

Gross profit

2,437

2,331

Selling, general and administrative expenses

1,478

1,404

Other (income) expense, net

Operating profit

938

915

Interest expense, net

Income before income taxes

928

899

Provision for income taxes

295

292

Net income including noncontrolling interests

633

607

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company

$ 593

$ 576

Earnings per common share, basic (in dollars per share)

$ 1.24

$ 1.17

Earnings per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)

1.23

1.16

Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)

^[1]

$ 1.20

$ 1.11

[1]	Two dividends were declared in each period.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 633	$ 607
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Cumulative translation adjustment	179	121
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments	14	14
Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	10	40
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	5	0
Total Other comprehensive income, net of tax	208	175
Total Comprehensive income including noncontrolling interest	841	782
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	40	31
Less: Cumulative translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	1
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	42	32
Total Comprehensive income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 799	$ 750

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,044	$ 878
Receivables (net of allowances of $56 and $49, respectively)	1,827	1,675
Inventories	1,400	1,327
Other current assets	578	522
Total current assets	4,849	4,402
Property, plant and equipment:
Cost	7,509	7,324
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(3,807)	(3,656)
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,702	3,668
Goodwill, net	2,721	2,657
Other intangible assets, net	1,360	1,341
Deferred income taxes	87	115
Other assets	535	541
Total assets	13,254	12,724
Current Liabilities
Notes and loans payable	38	34
Current portion of long-term debt	334	346
Accounts payable	1,187	1,244
Accrued income taxes	436	392
Other accruals	2,112	1,700
Total current liabilities	4,107	3,716
Long-term debt	4,595	4,430
Deferred income taxes	248	252
Other liabilities	1,808	1,785
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock	733	733
Additional paid-in capital	1,346	1,336
Retained earnings	15,670	15,649
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,269)	(2,475)
Unearned compensation	(41)	(60)
Treasury stock, at cost	(13,149)	(12,808)
Total Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders' equity	2,290	2,375
Noncontrolling interests	206	166
Total shareholders' equity	2,496	2,541
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 13,254	$ 12,724

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current Assets
Receivables (net of allowances)	$ 56	$ 49

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating Activities
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 633	$ 607
Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	106	99
Restructuring and termination benefits, net of cash	(17)	(13)
Stock-based compensation expense	29	38
Deferred income taxes	22	8
Cash effects of changes in:
Receivables	(90)	(157)
Inventories	(38)	(85)
Accounts payable and other accruals	(35)	153
Other non-current assets and liabilities	52	30
Net cash provided by operations	662	680
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(60)	(78)
Purchases of marketable securities and investments	(51)	(49)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities and investments	32	36
Other	38	20
Net cash used in investing activities	(41)	(71)
Financing Activities
Principal payments on debt	(1,013)	(1,243)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	1,183	1,635
Dividends paid	(278)	(261)
Purchases of treasury shares	(463)	(580)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and excess tax benefits	106	32
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(465)	(417)
Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents	10	4
Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents	166	196
Cash and Cash Equivalents at beginning of the period	878	490
Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of the period	1,044	686
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Income taxes paid	$ 223	$ 144

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation	Mar. 31, 2012
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in management’s opinion, are necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods. Results of operations for interim periods may not be representative of results to be expected for a full year. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. For a complete set of financial notes, including the significant accounting policies of Colgate-Palmolive Company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Colgate”), refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 2-6
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Publisher AICPA
-Number 94-6
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Number 46R
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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+ Details

Use of Estimates	3 Months Ended
Use of Estimates	Mar. 31, 2012
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates Provision for certain expenses, including income taxes, media advertising and consumer promotion, are based on full year assumptions and are included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in proportion with estimated annual tax rates, the passage of time or estimated annual sales.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Mar. 31, 2012
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU No. 2011-05 eliminates the current option to disclose other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in equity. As permitted under ASU No. 2011-05, the Company has elected to present items of net income and other comprehensive income in two separate consecutive statements beginning in the first quarter of 2012.

Acquisitions and Divestitures

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Acquisitions and Divestitures

Sanex Acquisition

On June 20, 2011, the Company, Colgate-Palmolive Europe Sàrl, Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC (together with Unilever N.V., “Unilever”) finalized the Company’s acquisition from Unilever of the Sanex personal care business in accordance with a Business and Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) for an aggregate purchase price of €676 ($966), subject to certain post-closing purchase price adjustments. The acquisition was financed with available cash, proceeds from the sale of the Company’s Euro-denominated investment portfolio and the issuance of commercial paper.

Total purchase price consideration of $966 has been allocated to the net assets acquired based on their respective fair values at June 20, 2011, as follows:



Recognized amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Inventories	$	26
Property, plant and equipment, net	3
Other intangible assets, net	596
Goodwill, net	411
Accrued income taxes	(48		)
Long-term deferred income taxes	(18		)
Long-term other liabilities	(4		)
Fair value of net assets acquired	$	966

Other intangible assets acquired include trademarks of $403 with an indefinite useful life and customer relationships of $193 with useful lives ranging from 15 to 18 years.

Goodwill of $411 was allocated between the Europe/South Pacific segment (90%) and the Greater Asia/Africa segment (10%). The Company expects that substantially all of the goodwill will be deductible for tax purposes.

Pro forma results of operations have not been presented, as the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements is not material. For the year ended December 31, 2011, Other (income) expense, net included $12 in transaction costs related to the acquisition.

Sale of Detergent Business in Colombia

In connection with the Sanex acquisition, Colgate sold its laundry detergent business in Colombia to Unilever for $215. The detergent sale closed on July 29, 2011 and, as a result of the sale, the Company recognized a pretax gain of $207 ($135 aftertax gain) in the third quarter of 2011. These operations were not material to the Company's annual Net sales, Net income or Earnings per share.

Sale of Land in Mexico

On September 13, 2011, the Company’s Mexican subsidiary entered into an agreement to sell to the United States of America the Mexico City site on which its commercial operations, technology center and soap production facility are located. The sale price is payable in three installments, with the final installment due upon the transfer of the property, which is expected to occur in 2014. During the third quarter of 2011, the Company received the first installment of $24 upon signing the agreement. The Company intends to re-invest these payments to relocate its soap production to a new state-of-the-art facility to be constructed at its Mission Hills, Mexico site, to relocate its commercial and technology operations within Mexico City and to prepare the existing site for transfer. As a result, the Company expects to make capital improvements and incur costs to exit the site through 2014. These exit costs will primarily be related to staff leaving indemnities, accelerated depreciation and demolition. In 2011, the Company recorded $13 of pretax costs ($9 of aftertax costs) related to the sale. In the first quarter of 2012, the Company incurred an additional $7 of pretax costs ($5 of aftertax costs) related to the sale.

Inventories

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Inventory, Net [Abstract]

Inventories

Inventories by major class are as follows:



	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
Raw materials and supplies	$	326	$	319
Work-in-process	67		54
Finished goods	1,007		954
Total Inventories	$	1,400	$	1,327

Shareholders' Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders’ Equity

Changes in the components of Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are as follows:



	Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity
	Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital			Unearned Compensation			Treasury Stock			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Noncontrolling Interests
Balance, December 31, 2011	$	733	$	1,336		$	(60	)	$	(12,808	)	$	15,649		$	(2,475	)	$	166
Net income												593						40
Other comprehensive income, net of tax															206			2
Dividends												(572		)				(2		)
Stock-based compensation expense			29
Shares issued for stock options			22						80
Shares issued for restricted stock awards			(42		)				42
Treasury stock acquired									(463		)
Other			1			19
Balance, March 31, 2012	$	733	$	1,346		$	(41	)	$	(13,149	)	$	15,670		$	(2,269	)	$	206

Accumulated Other comprehensive income (loss), as reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, primarily consists of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments and unrecognized pension and other retiree benefit costs.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for shareholders' equity, comprised of portions attributable to the parent entity and noncontrolling interest, if any, including other comprehensive income (as applicable). Including, but not limited to: (1) balances of common stock, preferred stock, additional paid-in capital, other capital and retained earnings; (2) accumulated balance for each classification of other comprehensive income and total amount of comprehensive income; (3) amount and nature of changes in separate accounts, including the number of shares authorized and outstanding, number of shares issued upon exercise and conversion, and for other comprehensive income, the adjustments for reclassifications to net income; (4) rights and privileges of each class of stock authorized; (5) basis of treasury stock, if other than cost, and amounts paid and accounting treatment for treasury stock purchased significantly in excess of market; (6) dividends paid or payable per share and in the aggregate for each class of stock for each period presented; (7) dividend restrictions and accumulated preferred dividends in arrears (in aggregate and per share amount); (8) retained earnings appropriations or restrictions, such as dividend restrictions; (9) impact of change in accounting principle, initial adoption of new accounting principle and correction of an error in previously issued financial statements; (10) shares held in trust for Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP); (11) deferred compensation related to issuance of capital stock; (12) note received for issuance of stock; (13) unamortized discount on shares; (14) description, terms, and number of warrants or rights outstanding; (15) shares under subscription and subscription receivables, effective date of new retained earnings after quasi-reorganization and deficit eliminated by quasi-reorganization and, for a period of at least ten years after the effective date, the point in time from which the new retained dates; and (16) retroactive effective of subsequent change in capital structure.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Chapter 1
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-Paragraph 7, 11A
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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+ Details

Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share



	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2012					March 31, 2011
	Income		Shares (millions)	Per Share		Income		Shares (millions)	Per Share
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$	593				$	576
Basic EPS	593		480.1	$	1.24	576		493.4	$	1.17
Stock options and restricted stock			3.8					3.2
Diluted EPS	$	593	483.9	$	1.23	$	576	496.6	$	1.16

As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, the average number of stock options that were anti-dilutive and not included in diluted earnings per share calculations were 2,987,600 and 4,214,263, respectively.

Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits

Components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:



	Pension Benefits												Other Retiree Benefits
	United States						International
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost	$	7		$	7		$	5		$	5		$	3		$	3
Interest cost	25			26			9			9			11			11
Annual ESOP allocation	—			—			—			—			—			(1		)
Expected return on plan assets	(28		)	(28		)	(6		)	(7		)	(1		)	(1		)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	2			2			—			1			1			2
Amortization of actuarial loss	15			11			2			2			4			5
Net periodic benefit cost	$	21		$	18		$	10		$	10		$	18		$	19

- Definition

The entire disclosure for pension and other postretirement benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph m
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 106
-Paragraph 518
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 264
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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-Number 03-2
-Paragraph 8
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Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Number 30
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Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

Contingencies

As a global company serving consumers in more than 200 countries and territories, the Company is routinely subject to a wide variety of legal proceedings. These include disputes relating to intellectual property, contracts, product liability, marketing, advertising, foreign exchange controls, antitrust and trade regulation, as well as labor and employment, environmental and tax matters. Management proactively reviews and monitors the Company’s exposure to, and the impact of, environmental matters. The Company is party to various environmental matters and, as such, may be responsible for all or a portion of the cleanup, restoration and post-closure monitoring of several sites.

As a matter of course, the Company is regularly audited by the IRS and other tax authorities around the world in countries where it conducts business. In this regard, all U.S. federal income tax returns through December 31, 2007 have been audited by the IRS and there are limited matters in administrative appeals for years 2002 through 2007, the settlement of which is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S., state and local income tax examinations for the years prior to 2007. In addition, the Company has subsidiaries in various foreign jurisdictions that have statutes of limitations for tax audits generally ranging from three to six years. Estimated incremental tax payments related to potential disallowances for subsequent periods are not expected to be material.

The Company establishes accruals for loss contingencies when it has determined that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss, or range of loss, can be reasonably estimated. Any such accruals are adjusted thereafter as appropriate to reflect changes in circumstances.

The Company also determines estimates of reasonably possible losses or ranges of reasonably possible losses in excess of related accrued liabilities, if any, when it has determined that a loss is reasonably possible and it is able to determine such estimates. For those matters disclosed below, the Company currently estimates that the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of any accrued liabilities is $0 to approximately $200 (based on current exchange rates). The estimates included in this amount are based on the Company’s analysis of currently available information and, as new information is obtained, these estimates may change. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and the unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, any amounts accrued or included in this aggregate amount may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company from the matters in question. Thus, the Company’s exposure and ultimate losses may be higher or lower, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued or the range disclosed above.

Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of loss contingencies arising from the matters discussed herein will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or its ongoing results of operations or cash flows. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties noted above, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarter or year.

Brazilian Matters

In 2001, the Central Bank of Brazil sought to impose a substantial fine on the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary based on alleged foreign exchange violations in connection with the financing of the Company’s 1995 acquisition of the Kolynos oral care business from Wyeth (formerly American Home Products) (the Seller), as described in the Company’s Form 8-K dated January 10, 1995. The Company appealed the imposition of the fine to the Brazilian Monetary System Appeals Council (the Council) and, on January 30, 2007, the Council decided the appeal in the Company’s favor, dismissing the fine entirely. However, certain tax and civil proceedings that began as a result of this Central Bank matter are still outstanding as described below.

The Brazilian internal revenue authority has disallowed interest deductions and foreign exchange losses taken by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary for certain years in connection with the financing of the Kolynos acquisition. The tax assessments with interest, at the current exchange rate, approximate $117. The Company has been disputing the disallowances by appealing the assessments within the internal revenue authority’s appellate process with the following results to date:


▪	In June 2005, the First Board of Taxpayers ruled in the Company’s favor and allowed all of the previously claimed deductions for 1996 through 1998. In March 2007, the First Board of Taxpayers ruled in the Company’s favor and allowed all of the previously claimed deductions for 1999 through 2001. The tax authorities appealed these decisions to the next administrative level.


▪	In August 2009, the First Taxpayers’ Council (the next and final administrative level of appeal) overruled the decisions of the First Board of Taxpayers, upholding the majority of the assessments, disallowing a portion of the assessments and remanding a portion of the assessments for further consideration by the First Board of Taxpayers.

The Company has filed a motion for clarification with a special appeals chamber of the Taxpayers’ Council and further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts. The Company intends to challenge these assessments vigorously. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel and other advisors, that the disallowances are without merit and that the Company should ultimately prevail on appeal, if necessary, in the Brazilian federal courts.

In 2002, the Brazilian Federal Public Attorney filed a civil action against the federal government of Brazil, Laboratorios Wyeth-Whitehall Ltda. (the Brazilian subsidiary of the Seller) and the Company, as represented by its Brazilian subsidiary, seeking to annul an April 2000 decision by the Brazilian Board of Tax Appeals that found in favor of the Seller’s Brazilian subsidiary on the issue of whether it had incurred taxable capital gains as a result of the divestiture of Kolynos. The action seeks to make the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary jointly and severally liable for any tax due from the Seller’s Brazilian subsidiary. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the Company should ultimately prevail in this action. The Company intends to challenge this action vigorously.

In December 2005, the Brazilian internal revenue authority issued to the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary a tax assessment with interest and penalties of approximately $69, at the current exchange rate, based on a claim that certain purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by the subsidiary and their subsequent disposition during the period 2000 to 2001 were subject to a tax on foreign exchange transactions. The Company is disputing the assessment within the internal revenue authority’s administrative appeals process. In October 2007, the Second Board of Taxpayers, which has jurisdiction over these matters, ruled in favor of the internal revenue authority. In January 2008, the Company appealed this decision, and in January 2012, a special appeals chamber of the Taxpayers’ Council denied the Company’s appeal. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the advice of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the tax assessment is without merit and that the Company should prevail on appeal, if not at the administrative level, in the Brazilian federal courts. The Company intends to challenge this assessment vigorously.

European Competition Matters

Since February 2006, the Company has learned that investigations relating to potential competition law violations involving the Company’s subsidiaries had been commenced by governmental authorities in a number of European countries and by the European Commission. The Company understands that substantially all of these investigations also involve other consumer goods companies and/or retail customers. The status of the various pending matters is discussed below.

Fines have been imposed on the Company in the following matters, although, as noted below, the Company is appealing or intends to appeal these fines:


▪	In December 2009, the Swiss competition law authority imposed a fine of $5 on the Company’s GABA subsidiary for alleged violations of restrictions on parallel imports into Switzerland. The Company is appealing the fine in the Swiss courts.


▪	In January 2010, the Spanish competition law authority found that four suppliers of shower gel had entered into an agreement regarding product down-sizing, for which Colgate’s Spanish subsidiary was fined $3. The Company is appealing the fine in the Spanish courts.


▪	In December 2010, the Italian competition law authority found that 16 consumer goods companies, including the Company’s Italian subsidiary, exchanged competitively sensitive information in the cosmetics sector, for which the Company’s Italian subsidiary was fined $3. The Company is appealing the fine in the Italian courts.


▪	In December 2011, the French competition law authority found that four consumer goods companies had entered into agreements on pricing and promotion of heavy duty detergents for which Colgate’s French subsidiary was fined $46 in connection with a divested business. The Company is appealing the fine in the French courts.


▪	In March 2012, the French competition law authority found that three pet food producers, including the Company’s Hill’s France subsidiary, had violated the competition law, for which it imposed a fine of $6 on the Company’s Hill’s France subsidiary for alleged restrictions on exports from France. The Company intends to appeal the fine in the French courts.

In addition, the German competition law authority has issued a formal claim of violations alleging that 17 branded goods companies, including the Company’s German subsidiary, exchanged sensitive information related to the German market. The Company has responded to this formal claim of violations.

Investigations are ongoing in Belgium, Denmark, France and Greece, but no formal claims of violations have been filed in these jurisdictions except in the two French matters noted above.

The Company’s policy is to comply with antitrust and competition laws and, if a violation of any such laws is found, to take appropriate remedial action and to cooperate fully with any related governmental inquiry. The Company has undertaken a comprehensive review of its selling practices and related competition law compliance in Europe and elsewhere and, where the Company has identified a lack of compliance, it has undertaken remedial action. Competition and antitrust law investigations often continue for several years and can result in substantial fines for violations that are found. While the Company cannot predict the final financial impact of these competition law issues as these matters may change, the Company evaluates developments in these matters quarterly and accrues liabilities as and when appropriate.

ERISA Matters

In October 2007, a putative class action claiming that certain aspects of the cash balance portion of the Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan (the Plan) do not comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act was filed against the Plan and the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Specifically, Proesel, et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan, et al. alleges improper calculation of lump sum distributions, age discrimination and failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, thereby resulting in the underpayment of benefits to Plan participants. Two other putative class actions filed earlier in 2007, Abelman, et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan, et al., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and Caufield v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, both alleging improper calculation of lump sum distributions and, in the case of Abelman, claims for failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, were transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with Proesel into one action, In re Colgate-Palmolive ERISA Litigation. The complaint in the consolidated action alleges improper calculation of lump sum distributions and failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, but does not include a claim for age discrimination. The relief sought includes recalculation of benefits in unspecified amounts, pre- and post-judgment interest, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees. This action has not been certified as a class action as yet. The parties are in discussions via non-binding mediation to determine whether the action can be settled. The Company and the Plan intend to contest this action vigorously should the parties be unable to reach a settlement.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 14
-Paragraph 3
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+ Details

Segment Information

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Segment Information

The Company evaluates segment performance based on several factors, including Operating profit. The Company uses Operating profit as a measure of the operating segment performance because it excludes the impact of corporate-driven decisions related to interest expense and income taxes. Corporate operations include stock-based compensation related to stock options and restricted stock awards, research and development costs, Corporate overhead costs, restructuring and related implementation costs and gains and losses on sales of non-core product lines and assets. The Company reports these items within Corporate operations as they relate to Corporate-based responsibilities and decisions and are not included in the internal measures of segment operating performance used by the Company in order to measure the underlying performance of the business segments.

Net sales and Operating profit by segment were as follows:



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Net sales
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	755		$	718
Latin America	1,170			1,097
Europe/South Pacific	854			832
Greater Asia/Africa	879			813
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	3,658			3,460
Pet Nutrition	542			534
Total Net sales	$	4,200		$	3,994

Operating profit
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	183		$	192
Latin America	344			326
Europe/South Pacific	183			185
Greater Asia/Africa	220			203
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	930			906
Pet Nutrition	148			141
Corporate	(140		)	(132		)
Total Operating profit	$	938		$	915

For the three months ended March 31, 2012, Corporate Operating profit includes costs of $5 associated with various business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives and costs of $7 related to the sale of land in Mexico. The various business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives include the integration of Sanex, the right-sizing of the Colombia business and the closing of an oral care facility in Mississauga, Canada and a Hill’s facility in Los Angeles, California. For further information regarding the sale of land in Mexico, refer to Note 4.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

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+ Details

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments

The Company uses available market information and other valuation methodologies in assessing the fair value of financial instruments. Judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value and, accordingly, changes in assumptions or the estimation methodologies may affect the fair value estimates. The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to financial instrument contracts; however, nonperformance is considered unlikely as it is the Company’s policy to contract only with diverse, highly rated counterparties.

The Company is exposed to market risk from foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity price fluctuations. Volatility relating to these exposures is managed on a global basis by utilizing a number of techniques, including working capital management, supplier agreements, selling price increases, selective borrowings in local currencies and entering into selective derivative instrument transactions, issued with standard features, in accordance with the Company’s treasury and risk management policies, which prohibit the use of derivatives for speculative purposes and leveraged derivatives for any purpose. It is the Company’s policy to enter into derivative instrument contracts with terms that match the underlying exposure being hedged. Hedge ineffectiveness, if any, is not material for any period presented.

The Company’s derivative instruments include interest rate swap contracts, foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts. The Company utilizes interest rate swap contracts to manage its targeted mix of fixed and floating rate debt, and these swaps are valued using observable benchmark rates (Level 2 valuation). Foreign currency contracts consist of forward, option and swap contracts utilized to hedge a portion of the Company’s foreign currency purchases, assets and liabilities arising in the normal course of business as well as the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries. These contracts are valued using observable market rates (Level 2 valuation). Commodity futures contracts are utilized to hedge the purchases of raw materials used in the Company’s operations. These contracts are measured using quoted commodity exchange prices (Level 1 valuation). The duration of foreign currency and commodity contracts generally does not exceed 12 months.

The following summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments and other financial instruments at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:



	Assets					Liabilities
	Account	Fair Value				Account	Fair Value
Designated derivative instruments		3/31/12		12/31/11			3/31/12		12/31/11
Interest rate swap contracts	Other current assets	$	—	$	2	Other accruals	$	—	$	—
Interest rate swap contracts	Other assets	38		40		Other liabilities	—		2
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets	11		8		Other accruals	6		6
Foreign currency contracts	Other assets	8		28		Other liabilities	—		—
Commodity contracts	Other current assets	2		—		Other accruals	—		1
Total designated		$	59	$	78		$	6	$	9

Derivatives not designated
Foreign currency contracts	Other assets	$	—	$	3	Other accruals	$	—	$	—
Total not designated		$	—	$	3		$	—	$	—

Total derivative instruments		$	59	$	81		$	6	$	9

Other financial instruments
Marketable securities	Other current assets	$	82	$	72
Available-for-sale securities	Other assets	261		236
Total other financial instruments		$	343	$	308

The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable and short-term debt approximated fair value as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, including the current portion, as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, was $5,292 and $5,121, respectively, and the related carrying value was $4,929 and $4,776, respectively. The estimated fair value of long-term debt was derived principally from quoted prices on the Company’s outstanding fixed-term notes (Level 2 valuation).

Fair value hedges

The Company has designated all interest rate swap contracts and certain foreign currency forward and option contracts as fair value hedges, for which the gain or loss on the derivative and the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item are recognized in current earnings. The impact of foreign currency contracts is recognized in Selling, general and administrative expenses and the impact of interest rate swap contracts is recognized in Interest expense, net.

Activity related to fair value hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:



	2012									2011
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	674		$	1,668		$	2,342		$	917		$	788		$	1,705
Gain (loss) on derivative	1			(2		)	(1		)	6			(3		)	3
Gain (loss) on hedged items	(1		)	2			1			(6		)	3			(3		)

Cash flow hedges

All of the Company’s commodity contracts and certain foreign currency forward contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges, for which the effective portion of the gain or loss is reported as a component of Other comprehensive income (OCI) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

Activity related to cash flow hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:



	2012							2011
	Foreign Currency Contracts		Commodity Contracts			Total		Foreign Currency Contracts			Commodity Contracts		Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	474	$	27		$	501	$	359		$	26	$	385
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	6		2			8		(3		)	2		(1		)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	1		(1		)	—		(4		)	3		(1		)

The net gain (loss) recognized in OCI for both foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts is expected to be recognized in Cost of sales within the next twelve months.

Net investment hedges

The Company has designated certain foreign currency forward and option contracts and certain foreign currency-denominated debt as net investment hedges, for which the gain or loss on the instrument is reported as a component of Currency translation adjustments within OCI, along with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged items.

Activity related to net investment hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:



	2012									2011
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	537		$	251		$	788		$	218		$	312		$	530
Gain (loss) on instruments	(19		)	(6		)	(25		)	(7		)	(14		)	(21		)
Gain (loss) on hedged items	14			6			20			7			14			21

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for each period consist of a cross-currency swap that serves as an economic hedge of a foreign currency deposit, for which the gain or loss on the instrument and the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item are recognized in Other (income) expense, net for each period. The cross-currency swap outstanding at December 31, 2010 was settled during the second quarter of 2011, resulting in a realized loss of $6 which was offset by a corresponding gain on an underlying deposit. A new cross-currency swap with similar terms and an underlying foreign currency deposit was entered into during June 2011.

Activity related to these contracts during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:



	2012			2011
	Cross-currency Swap			Cross-currency Swap
Notional Value at March 31,	$	96		$	90
Gain (loss) on instrument	(3		)	(4		)
Gain (loss) on hedged item	3			4

Other Financial Instruments

Marketable securities primarily consist of bank deposits with original maturities greater than 90 days (Level 1 valuation).

Available-for-sale securities consist of the fixed income investments discussed below.

Through its subsidiary in Venezuela, the Company is invested in U.S. dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds issued by the Venezuelan government. These bonds are actively traded and, therefore, are considered Level 2 as their value is determined based upon observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. As of March 31, 2012, these investments have a fair market value of $251.

In January 2012, through its subsidiary in Venezuela, the Company also invested $9 in fixed interest rate bonds issued by the Venezuelan government that are actively traded and, therefore, are considered Level 2 as their value is determined based upon observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. As of March 31, 2012, these investments have a fair market value of $10.

The following table presents a reconciliation of the Venezuelan investments at fair value for the three months ended March 31:



	2012		2011
Beginning balance as of January 1	$	236	$	96
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment	16		62
Purchases and sales during the period	9		44
Ending balance as of March 31	$	261	$	202

As a result of the Venezuelan government’s elimination of the two-tier exchange rate structure effective January 1, 2011, the U.S. dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds revalued and the Company recorded an unrealized gain of $62 in the first quarter of 2011. For further information regarding Venezuela, refer to Note 12 below.

Venezuela	3 Months Ended
Venezuela	Mar. 31, 2012
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Venezuela	Venezuela Effective January 1, 2010, Venezuela was designated as hyperinflationary and therefore the functional currency for the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary (CP Venezuela) became the U.S. dollar. As a result, the impact of Venezuelan currency fluctuations is reported in income. The change in the reporting currency from the Venezuelan bolivar fuerte to the U.S. dollar resulted in a one-time charge of $271 recorded within Other (income) expense, net in the first quarter of 2010. On January 8, 2010, the Venezuelan government announced its decision to devalue its currency and implement a two-tier exchange rate structure. As a result, the official exchange rate changed from 2.15 to 2.60 for essential goods and 4.30 for non-essential goods. The devaluation resulted in a one-time pretax gain of $46 recorded in Other (income) expense and an aftertax gain of $59 in the first quarter of 2010. In December 2010, the Venezuelan government announced that, effective January 1, 2011, the 2.60 exchange rate for essential goods would be abolished. As a result, CP Venezuela incurred an aftertax loss of $36 in the fourth quarter of 2010. The Company remeasures the financial statements of CP Venezuela at the rate at which it expects to remit future dividends, which currently is 4.30. For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, CP Venezuela represented approximately 5% of the Company’s consolidated Net sales. At March 31, 2012, CP Venezuela’s bolivar fuerte-denominated net monetary asset position was approximately $370. This amount does not include $251 of devaluation-protected bonds issued by the Venezuelan government, as these bonds provide protection against devaluations by adjusting the amount of bolivares fuerte received at maturity for any devaluation subsequent to issuance. As described in Note 11, these bonds are considered a Level 2 investment.

Acquisitions and Divestitures (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Acquisition purchase price allocation

Total purchase price consideration of $966 has been allocated to the net assets acquired based on their respective fair values at June 20, 2011, as follows:



Recognized amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Inventories	$	26
Property, plant and equipment, net	3
Other intangible assets, net	596
Goodwill, net	411
Accrued income taxes	(48		)
Long-term deferred income taxes	(18		)
Long-term other liabilities	(4		)
Fair value of net assets acquired	$	966

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of a material business combination completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. This table does not include leveraged buyouts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 52
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 68
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Appendix F
-Paragraph F4
-Subparagraph e

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6972119&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6972119&loc=d3e1486-128463

+ Details

Inventories (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Inventory, Net [Abstract]

Inventories By Major Class

Inventories by major class are as follows:



	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
Raw materials and supplies	$	326	$	319
Work-in-process	67		54
Finished goods	1,007		954
Total Inventories	$	1,400	$	1,327

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

Changes in the components of Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are as follows:



	Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity
	Common Stock		Additional Paid-in Capital			Unearned Compensation			Treasury Stock			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Noncontrolling Interests
Balance, December 31, 2011	$	733	$	1,336		$	(60	)	$	(12,808	)	$	15,649		$	(2,475	)	$	166
Net income												593						40
Other comprehensive income, net of tax															206			2
Dividends												(572		)				(2		)
Stock-based compensation expense			29
Shares issued for stock options			22						80
Shares issued for restricted stock awards			(42		)				42
Treasury stock acquired									(463		)
Other			1			19
Balance, March 31, 2012	$	733	$	1,346		$	(41	)	$	(13,149	)	$	15,670		$	(2,269	)	$	206

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]



	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2012					March 31, 2011
	Income		Shares (millions)	Per Share		Income		Shares (millions)	Per Share
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$	593				$	576
Basic EPS	593		480.1	$	1.24	576		493.4	$	1.17
Stock options and restricted stock			3.8					3.2
Diluted EPS	$	593	483.9	$	1.23	$	576	496.6	$	1.16

As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, the average number of stock options that were anti-dilutive and not included in diluted earnings per share calculations were 2,987,600 and 4,214,263, respectively.

Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:



	Pension Benefits												Other Retiree Benefits
	United States						International
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost	$	7		$	7		$	5		$	5		$	3		$	3
Interest cost	25			26			9			9			11			11
Annual ESOP allocation	—			—			—			—			—			(1		)
Expected return on plan assets	(28		)	(28		)	(6		)	(7		)	(1		)	(1		)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	2			2			—			1			1			2
Amortization of actuarial loss	15			11			2			2			4			5
Net periodic benefit cost	$	21		$	18		$	10		$	10		$	18		$	19

Segment Information (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Net Sales and Operating Profit by Segment

Net sales and Operating profit by segment were as follows:



	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Net sales
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	755		$	718
Latin America	1,170			1,097
Europe/South Pacific	854			832
Greater Asia/Africa	879			813
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	3,658			3,460
Pet Nutrition	542			534
Total Net sales	$	4,200		$	3,994

Operating profit
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	183		$	192
Latin America	344			326
Europe/South Pacific	183			185
Greater Asia/Africa	220			203
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	930			906
Pet Nutrition	148			141
Corporate	(140		)	(132		)
Total Operating profit	$	938		$	915

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the profit or loss and total assets for each reportable segment. An entity discloses certain information on each reportable segment if the amounts (a) are included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) are otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.

+ References + Details

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of derivative instruments

The following summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments and other financial instruments at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011:



	Assets					Liabilities
	Account	Fair Value				Account	Fair Value
Designated derivative instruments		3/31/12		12/31/11			3/31/12		12/31/11
Interest rate swap contracts	Other current assets	$	—	$	2	Other accruals	$	—	$	—
Interest rate swap contracts	Other assets	38		40		Other liabilities	—		2
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets	11		8		Other accruals	6		6
Foreign currency contracts	Other assets	8		28		Other liabilities	—		—
Commodity contracts	Other current assets	2		—		Other accruals	—		1
Total designated		$	59	$	78		$	6	$	9

Derivatives not designated
Foreign currency contracts	Other assets	$	—	$	3	Other accruals	$	—	$	—
Total not designated		$	—	$	3		$	—	$	—

Total derivative instruments		$	59	$	81		$	6	$	9

Other financial instruments
Marketable securities	Other current assets	$	82	$	72
Available-for-sale securities	Other assets	261		236
Total other financial instruments		$	343	$	308

Activity related to fair value hedges

Activity related to fair value hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:



	2012									2011
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	674		$	1,668		$	2,342		$	917		$	788		$	1,705
Gain (loss) on derivative	1			(2		)	(1		)	6			(3		)	3
Gain (loss) on hedged items	(1		)	2			1			(6		)	3			(3		)

Activity related to cash flow hedges

Activity related to cash flow hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:



	2012							2011
	Foreign Currency Contracts		Commodity Contracts			Total		Foreign Currency Contracts			Commodity Contracts		Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	474	$	27		$	501	$	359		$	26	$	385
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	6		2			8		(3		)	2		(1		)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	1		(1		)	—		(4		)	3		(1		)

Activity related to net investment hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:



	2012									2011
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	537		$	251		$	788		$	218		$	312		$	530
Gain (loss) on instruments	(19		)	(6		)	(25		)	(7		)	(14		)	(21		)
Gain (loss) on hedged items	14			6			20			7			14			21

Activity related to these contracts during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was as follows:



	2012			2011
	Cross-currency Swap			Cross-currency Swap
Notional Value at March 31,	$	96		$	90
Gain (loss) on instrument	(3		)	(4		)
Gain (loss) on hedged item	3			4

Reconciliation of the Venezuelan investments at fair value

The following table presents a reconciliation of the Venezuelan investments at fair value for the three months ended March 31:



	2012		2011
Beginning balance as of January 1	$	236	$	96
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment	16		62
Purchases and sales during the period	9		44
Ending balance as of March 31	$	261	$	202

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the fair value measurement of assets using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances, separately presenting changes during the period attributable to the following: (1) total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), segregating those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets) and gains or losses recognized in other comprehensive income, and a description of where those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets) are reported in the statement of income (or activities); (2) purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (each type disclosed separately); and (3) transfers in and transfers out of Level 3 (for example, transfers due to changes in the observability of significant inputs), by class of asset.

+ References + Details

Acquisitions and Divestitures (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 years	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 20, 2011 EUR (€)	Jun. 20, 2011 USD ($)
Sale of Land in Mexico [Abstract]
First Installment received from the sale of land in Mexico		$ 24
Pretax costs related to sale of land	$ 7			$ 13
Aftertax costs related to sale of land	$ 5			9
Sale of brands [Abstract]
Proceeds from sales of assets		215
Gain before tax on sales of non-core product lines		207
Gain after tax on sales of non core products		$ 135
Recognized amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed [Abstract]
Transaction Costs				$ 12
Sanex Personal Care Business [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price					€ 676	$ 966
Recognized amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed [Abstract]
Inventories						26
Property, plant and equipment, net						3
Other intangible assets, net						596
Goodwill, net						411
Accrued income taxes						(48)
Long-term deferred income taxes						(18)
Long-term other liabilities						(4)
Fair value of net assets acquired						966
Sanex Personal Care Business [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Recognized amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed [Abstract]
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets						193
Useful lives, lower range (in years) \| years			15
Useful lives, higher range (in years) \| years			18
Sanex Personal Care Business [Member] \| Trademarks [Member]
Recognized amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed [Abstract]
Acquired indefinite-lived intangible assets						$ 403

Acquisitions and Divestitures (Details 1)	Jun. 20, 2011
Europe/South Pacific [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Segment [Line Items]
Allocation of goodwill (in hundreths)	90.00%
Greater Asia/Africa [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Segment [Line Items]
Allocation of goodwill (in hundreths)	10.00%

Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Raw materials and supplies	$ 326	$ 319
Work-in-process	67	54
Finished Goods	1,007	954
Total Inventory	$ 1,400	$ 1,327

Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 2,541
Net income	633	$ 607
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	208	$ 175
Ending balance	2,496
Common Stock [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	733
Ending balance	733
Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,336
Stock-based compensation expense	29
Shares issued for stock options	22
Stock issued for restricted stock awards	(42)
Other	1
Ending balance	1,346
Unearned Compensation [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(60)
Other	19
Ending balance	(41)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(12,808)
Shares issued for stock options	80
Stock issued for restricted stock awards	42
Treasury stock acquired	(463)
Ending balance	(13,149)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	15,649
Net income	593
Dividends	(572)
Ending balance	15,670
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,475)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	206
Ending balance	(2,269)
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	166
Net income	40
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	2
Dividends	(2)
Ending balance	$ 206

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Income [Abstract]
Net income (Loss) attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 593	$ 576
Basic EPS	593	576
Diluted EPS	$ 593	$ 576
Shares [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in shares)	480,100,000	493,400,000
Stock options and restricted stock (in shares)	3,800,000	3,200,000
Diluted EPS (in shares)	483,900,000	496,600,000
Per Share [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.24	$ 1.17
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.23	$ 1.16
Average number of anti-dilutive shares (in shares)	2,987,600	4,214,263

Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
United States Pension Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service Cost	$ 7	$ 7
Interest cost	25	26
Annual ESOP allocation	0	0
Expected return on plan assets	(28)	(28)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	2	2
Amortization of actuarial loss	15	11
Net periodic benefit cost	21	18
International Pension Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service Cost	5	5
Interest cost	9	9
Annual ESOP allocation	0	0
Expected return on plan assets	(6)	(7)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	0	1
Amortization of actuarial loss	2	2
Net periodic benefit cost	10	10
Other Retiree Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service Cost	3	3
Interest cost	11	11
Annual ESOP allocation	0	(1)
Expected return on plan assets	(1)	(1)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	1	2
Amortization of actuarial loss	4	5
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 18	$ 19

Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Contingencies [Abstract]
Range of reasonably possible losses, minimum	$ 0
Range of reasonably possible losses, maximum	200
Brazilian internal revenue authority, matter 1	117
Brazilian internal revenue authority, matter 2	69
European competition matters - Swiss competition law authority	5
European competition matters - Spanish competition law authority	3
European competition matters - Italian competition law authority	3
European competition matters-French competition law authority	46
European competition matters- Hill's France Subsidiary	$ 6

Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	$ 4,200	$ 3,994
Total Operating profit	938	915
Pretax costs related to sale of land	7		$ 13
Costs before tax associated with various Business Realignment and other cost-saving initiatives	5
Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	3,658	3,460
Total Operating profit	930	906
Pet Nutrition [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	542	534
Total Operating profit	148	141
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Operating profit	(140)	(132)
North America [Member] \| Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	755	718
Total Operating profit	183	192
Latin America [Member] \| Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	1,170	1,097
Total Operating profit	344	326
Europe/South Pacific [Member] \| Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	854	832
Total Operating profit	183	185
Greater Asia/Africa [Member] \| Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	879	813
Total Operating profit	$ 220	$ 203

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative and Financial Instruments, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total assets derivatives	$ 59	$ 81
Total liabilities derivatives	6	9
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Assets	59	78
Derivative Liabilities	6	9
Derivative not designated
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Asset, at Fair Value	0	3
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	0	0
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]
Total other financial instruments	343	308
Marketable securities \| Financial Instruments Recorded In Other Current Assets [Member]
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]
Marketable Securities Fair Value Disclosure	82	72
Available-for-sale securities \| Financial Instruments Recorded In Other Assets [Member]
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	261	236
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] \| Other Current Assets [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Assets	0	2
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] \| Other Assets [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Assets	38	40
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] \| Other Accruals [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Liabilities	0	0
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] \| Other Liabilities [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Liabilities	0	2
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] \| Other Current Assets [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Assets	11	8
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] \| Other Assets [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Assets	8	28
Derivative not designated
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Asset, at Fair Value	0	3
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] \| Other Accruals [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Liabilities	6	6
Derivative not designated
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	0	0
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] \| Other Liabilities [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Liabilities	0	0
Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Other Current Assets [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Assets	2	0
Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Other Accruals [Member]
Designated derivative instruments
Derivative Liabilities	$ 0	$ 1

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Carrying Value [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 4,929	$ 4,776
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 5,292	$ 5,121

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011
Activity related to fair value hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	$ 2,342		$ 1,705
Gain (loss) on derivative	(1)		3
Gain (loss) on hedged items	1		(3)
Activity related to cash flow hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	501		385
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	8		(1)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	0		(1)
Activity related to net investment hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	788		530
Gain (loss) on instruments	(25)		(21)
Gain (loss) on hedged items	20		21
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
Activity related to fair value hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	674		917
Gain (loss) on derivative	1		6
Gain (loss) on hedged items	(1)		(6)
Activity related to cash flow hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	474		359
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	6		(3)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	1		(4)
Activity related to net investment hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	537		218
Gain (loss) on instruments	(19)		(7)
Gain (loss) on hedged items	14		7
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member]
Activity related to fair value hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	1,668		788
Gain (loss) on derivative	(2)		(3)
Gain (loss) on hedged items	2		3
Commodity Contracts [Member]
Activity related to cash flow hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	27		26
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	2		2
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	(1)		3
Foreign Currency Denominated Debt [Member]
Activity related to net investment hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value	251		312
Gain (loss) on instruments	(6)		(14)
Gain (loss) on hedged items	6		14
Cross-Currency Swap [Member]
Activity related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Abstract]
Notional Value	96		90
Gain (loss) on instrument	(3)		(4)
Gain (loss) on hedged item	$ 3		$ 4
Net realized loss of a cross-currency swap		$ (6)

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value of U.S. dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds	$ 251
Fair Value of fixed interest rate bonds	10
Unrealized gain on investment		$ 62
US Dollar-Linked, Devaluation-Protected Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]
Venezuelan Investments [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	236	96
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment	16	62
Purchases and sales during the period	9	44
Ending balance	$ 261	$ 202

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References + Details

Venezuela (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Venezuela (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Jan. 08, 2010 / $
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge		$ 271
Official currency exchange rate for Venezuela prior to devaluation \| / $				2.15
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for essential goods beginning January 8, 2010 \| / $				2.60
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods beginning January 8, 2010 \| / $				4.30
One-time pretax gain due to Venezuela currency devaluation		46
One-time aftertax gain due to currency devaluation		$ 59
Aftertax loss related to remeasurement			$ 36
Percentage of consolidated Net sales represented by CP Venezuela (in hundredths)	5.00%
CP Venezuela's bolivar fuerte-denominated monetary net asset position	$ 370
US Dollar-Linked, Devaluation-Protected Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair value	$ 251