UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 11-K
FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS
AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One)
| ý | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
OR
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the transition period from to
Commission File No.: 001-04171
| A. | FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN AND THE ADDRESS OF THE PLAN, IF DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE ISSUER NAMED BELOW: | ||||
WK Kellogg Co Savings and Investment Plan
| B. | NAME OF ISSUER OF THE SECURITIES HELD PURSUANT TO THE PLAN AND THE ADDRESS OF ITS PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE: | ||||
WK Kellogg Co
One Kellogg Square
Battle Creek, MI 49016
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule
December 31, 2023
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Index
| Page(s) | |||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 3 | ||||
Financial Statements | |||||
| Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits | |||||
December 31, 2023 | |||||
| Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits | |||||
Period Ended December 31, 2023 | |||||
| Notes to Financial Statements | 6 - 15 | ||||
| Supplemental Schedule | |||||
| Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) | |||||
| December 31, 2023 | 16 | ||||
| Signature Page | 17 | ||||
| Exhibit Index - Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 18 | ||||
Note: Other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To Plan Participants and ERISA Finance Committee of
WK Kellogg Co Savings and Investment Plan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of the WK Kellogg Co Savings and Investment Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2023, the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the period August 4, 2023 to December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively, the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2023, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the period August 4, 2023 to December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Plan’s management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Supplemental Information
The supplemental information in the accompanying Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2023, has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental information is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but included supplemental information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
/s/ BDO USA, P.C.
We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 2024.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
June 27, 2024
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2023
| Assets | ||||||||
Plan interest in WKKC Master S&I Trust, at fair value | $ | 260,087,903 | ||||||
Plan interest in WKKC Master S&I Trust, at contract value | 12,449,175 | |||||||
| Self-directed brokerage accounts | 9,146,239 | |||||||
| 281,683,317 | ||||||||
| Receivables | ||||||||
| Notes receivable from participants | 2,369,772 | |||||||
| Total assets | 284,053,089 | |||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses | 99,085 | |||||||
| Net assets available for benefits | $ | 283,954,004 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
4
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Period Ended December 31, 2023
| Additions | ||||||||
| Investment income | ||||||||
Change in Plan interest in WKKC Master S&I Trust | $ | 15,577,177 | ||||||
| Net appreciation in fair value of self directed brokerage accounts | 423,222 | |||||||
| Total investment income | 16,000,399 | |||||||
| Interest income on notes receivable from participants | 61,968 | |||||||
| Contributions | ||||||||
| Employer | 4,249,491 | |||||||
| Participant | 4,339,541 | |||||||
| Rollovers | 1,043,279 | |||||||
| Total contributions | 9,632,311 | |||||||
| Total additions | 25,694,678 | |||||||
| Deductions | ||||||||
| Benefits paid to participants | 2,335,422 | |||||||
| Administrative expenses | 158,805 | |||||||
| 2,494,227 | ||||||||
| Net increase before transfers | 23,200,451 | |||||||
| Transfers from other plan | 260,753,553 | |||||||
| Net increase | 283,954,004 | |||||||
| Net assets available for benefits | ||||||||
| Beginning of year | — | |||||||
| End of year | $ | 283,954,004 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
5
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
1.Description of the Plan
The following description of the Plan is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more comprehensive description of the Plan’s provisions. The WK Kellogg Co Savings and Investment Plan (the Plan), originally effective August 4, 2023, operates as a qualified defined contribution plan with a 401K feature and was established under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
On October 2, 2023, the Spin-Off of WK Kellogg Co from the former parent was completed, resulting in two independent companies, WK Kellogg Co and Kellanova.
Effective August 4, 2023, the portion of the Kellogg Company Savings and Investment Plan (now Kellanova Plan) attributable to employees of WK Kellogg Co (the Company) and the other participating employers was spun off and transferred into the Plan. The Company also established the WK Kellogg Co Master Savings and Investment Trust (WKKC Master S&I Trust) effective August 4, 2023.
Plan Administration
The Plan is administered by the ERISA Finance Committee and the ERISA Administrative Committee appointed by the Company. The ERISA Finance Committee has appointed Fidelity Investments to provide recordkeeping and financial advisory services to the Plan and participants.
Plan Participation and Contributions
Generally, all full time, non-union employees of the Company and its U.S. subsidiaries including Puerto Rico are eligible to participate in the Plan on the date of hire. The Plan includes an auto-enrollment provision whereby all newly eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan unless they affirmatively elect not to participate in the Plan. Automatically enrolled participants have their pretax deferral rate set at 5% of eligible compensation and their contributions invested in a designated until changed by the participant. Annual re-enrollment will occur if the participant contributes less than 5% of their pretax eligible wages. Participants may opt-out of the annual re-enrollment before January 31 of any given year.
Participants may contribute up to 50% of their eligible compensation, as defined by the Plan, as pretax or Roth contributions, up to the maximum allowed under the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"). Participants who have attained age 50 before the end of the year are eligible to make catch-up contributions. Participants may also contribute rollover amounts representing distributions from other qualified plans.
The Company makes safe harbor matching contributions at 100% of deferrals on the first 3% of eligible compensation and 50% of deferrals on the next 2% of eligible compensation. Each year, the Company may make a Special Employer Contribution at their discretion in terms of dollars, a percentage of profits percentage of compensation or any other terms determined by the employer. In addition, the Company may, at its discretion, periodically make a Retirement Contribution. The Retirement Contribution is paid to eligible employees each pay period, and is based on the employee’s years of service with the Company, as follows:
•3% of base pay for service up to 10 years
• 5% of base pay for service of 10 years up to 20 years
• 7% of base pay for service of 20 years or more
6
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
Participant Accounts
Plan participants may elect to invest all contributions to their account and their existing account balances into the various investment options offered by the Plan, including Company common stock. Contributions held in Company common stock can be transferred by a participant at any time to any other investment fund available under the Plan, except for transfers prohibited under the Company's Insider Trading Policy. Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution, the Company’s contribution and Plan earnings, and charged with an allocation of Plan expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings, specific participant transactions, or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account.
On October 2, 2023, the Spin-Off of WK Kellogg Co from the former parent was completed through Kellanova's distribution of one share of WK Kellogg Co common stock for every four shares of Kellanova common stock to Kellanova’s share owners as of the close of business on the record date of September 21, 2023.
Former Kellogg Company common stock held by participants were exchanged for shares of WK Kellogg Co Company stock and Kellanova stock. No additional purchases of Kellanova stock are permitted in WK Kellogg Co plans and all Kellanova stock held by participants must be sold as of the third business day following the first date on which Kellanova releases earnings after August 4, 2024, subject to certain daily trading volume limits. Any dividends on Kellanova stock after August 4, 2023 are invested according to the participant's investment elections for current contributions. Effective January 1, 2024, no more than 20% of the value of a participant's account may be invested in the Company stock account, and no more than 20% of the participant's ongoing contributions may be invested in the Company stock account.
Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in their contributions, Company safe harbor matching contributions, and Special Employer Contributions, plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company’s Retirement Contribution portion of their accounts is based on years of continuous service. The vesting schedule provides for 100% vesting of employer contributions after 3 years of credited service.
Forfeited Accounts
At December 31, 2023, forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $31,770. These accounts may be used to reduce future employer contributions or to pay plan administrative expenses. During 2023, no forfeitures were used to reduce employer contributions or to pay plan administrative expenses.
Notes Receivable From Participants
Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their account balance. Participants may have only one loan outstanding at any time. The loans are secured by the vested balance in the participant's account and bear interest at a rate of 1% above the prime interest rate in the month the loan begins. Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions. Loans uncollectible are deemed distributed and recorded as participant withdrawals. These loans are subject to certain restrictions as defined by the Plan document and applicable restrictions under the IRC.
7
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
Payment of Benefits
On termination of service, participants may elect to receive payment of their account balances as a lump sum, a partial distribution, or installment payments, if the account balance is over $5,000. Account balances equal to $5,000 or less are paid as a lump sum. Participants with investments in Company common stock may elect to receive that portion of their distribution in shares. Participants over 59 1/2 may request an in-service withdrawal of all or a portion of certain types of contributions under standard in-service withdrawal rules. Withdrawals may also be made when a participant demonstrates financial hardship.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The Plan’s financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires the Plan’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets and liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
The investments of the Plan are reported at fair value (except for fully benefit responsive investment contracts, which are reported at contract value). The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price). Contract value is the relevant measure for the portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants normally would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. See Note 3 for discussion of fair value measurements.
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation includes the Plan's gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.
Plan Interest in Master Trust
The assets of the Plan are held in the WK Kellogg Co Master Savings and Investment Trust (WKKC Master S&I Trust) and are co-invested with the assets of other defined contribution plans sponsored by the Company. The Northern Trust Company (Northern Trust) is the Trustee for the WKKC Master S&I Trust.
The Plan’s allocated share of the WKKC Master S&I Trust's net assets and investment activities is based upon the total of each individual participant’s share of the WKKC Master S&I Trust. The fair value and contract value of the Plan's interest in the WKKC Master S&I Trust as of December 31, 2023 reflects the Plan's interest in the fair value and contract value of the underlying net assets of the WKKC Master S&I Trust. The Plan presents in its statement of changes in net assets available for benefits an allocation of the WKKC Master S&I Trust's net income (loss) for the period which consists of realized gains or losses, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and interest and dividend income.
8
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
Self Directed Brokerage Account
A self directed brokerage account was established with Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Investments is the custodian of all funds held within the brokerage account. Due to these investments being held by a separate custodian, funds held within a participant's self directed brokerage account are presented as a separate plan investment on the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits. Investments earnings related to the self directed brokerage account are included in net appreciation/(depreciation) in fair value of investments.
Notes Receivable From Participants
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Related fees are recorded as administrative expenses and are expensed when they are incurred. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2023. Loans determined to be uncollectible are deemed distributed and recorded as participant withdrawals.
Expenses of Administration
Certain expenses of maintaining the Plan are paid directly by the Plan Sponsor and are excluded from these financial statements. Expenses that are charged to participant accounts include loan fees, withdrawal fees and plan administrative fees. Certain investment related expenses are included in net appreciation in fair value of investments.
Payment of Benefits
Benefits are recorded when paid.
Transfer from other Plan
Effective August 4, 2023, the portion of the Kellanova Plan attributable to employees of the Company and the other participating employers was spun off and transferred into the Plan. Transferred account balances consisted of approximately $259 million of investments and $2 million of notes receivable from participants.
3. Fair Value Measurements
The Plan’s assets are categorized using a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2 Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
•Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
• Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
• Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
9
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
• Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3 Inputs to the valuation methodology are prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
The asset or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value.
• Cash equivalents: Consist of units of a short-term investment collective fund with underlying investments of high-quality money market instruments with short term maturities. Valued at the net asset value ("NAV") of units of the collective fund, as provided by the trustee of the collective fund. The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund less its liabilities. Redemptions are allowed on every business day.
• Common stocks: Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded. Shares of WK Kellogg Co common stock and Kellanova common stock held at December 31, 2023 are held in a unitized fund with units of a short-term investment collective fund to allow for liquidity and daily trades. Values of each reflected in these financial statements are the values of the common stock only.
• Mutual funds: Valued at the published daily net asset value ("NAV") as reported by the fund. Mutual funds held by the Plan are open-end mutual funds that are registered with the SEC. These funds are required to publish their daily NAV and to transact at that price. The mutual funds held by the Plan are deemed to be actively traded.
• Commingled/Collective trusts (CCT): Valued at the net asset value ("NAV") of units of a bank collective trust. The NAV, as provided by the trustee or custodian of the collective trust, is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund less its liabilities. This practical expedient is not used when it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different than the reported NAV. Participant transactions (purchases and sales) may occur daily. The Plan holds several CCTs which offer participants a variety of investment objectives including target retirement dates, market sectors and investment objectives.
• Self-directed brokerage accounts: Accounts primarily consist of mutual funds and common stocks for which values are determined using quoted prices on a nationally recognized securities exchange.
The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Plan's assets at fair
10
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
value as of December 31, 2023.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Self-directed brokerage accounts | $ | 9,146,239 | — | — | $ | 9,146,239 | |||||||||||||||||
The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the WKKC Master S&I Trust's assets at fair value as of December 31, 2023.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents | $ | — | $ | 2,500,753 | $ | — | $ | 2,500,753 | |||||||||||||||
| Common stock - WK Kellogg Co | 3,410,737 | — | — | 3,410,737 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock - Kellanova | 28,641,854 | — | — | 28,641,854 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock - other | 19,579,375 | — | — | 19,579,375 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mutual funds | 59,836,205 | — | — | 59,836,205 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets in the fair value hierarchy | $ | 111,468,171 | $ | 2,500,753 | $ | — | $ | 113,968,924 | |||||||||||||||
| Investments measured at net asset value | 388,847,349 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total investments at fair value | $ | 502,816,273 | |||||||||||||||||||||
The following summarizes investments held in the WKKC Master S&I Trust for which fair value is measured using the net asset value (NAV) per share or unit as a practical expedient as of December 31, 2023.
| Fair Value | Unfunded Commitments | Redemption Frequency | Redemption Notice Period | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common/collective trusts | $ | 388,847,349 | N/A | Daily | None | ||||||||||||||||||
4. Plan Interest in the WK Kellogg Co Master Savings & Investment Trust
The Plan's investments, except for self-directed brokerage accounts, are held in the WKKC Master S&I Trust, which was established for the investment of assets of the Plan and certain assets of another Company-sponsored retirement plan. Each of the plans participating in the WKKC Master S&I Trust has a divided interest in the WKKC Master S&I Trust.
The value of the Plan’s interest in the WKKC Master S&I Trust is based on the beginning of the period value of the Plan’s interest in the trust plus actual contributions and allocated investment income less actual distributions and allocated administrative expenses. Participant transaction activity is designated to specific underlying assets of the WKKC Master S&I Trust. Investment income and administrative expenses relating to the WKKC Master S&I Trust are allocated to the individual plans based on 1) whether it is related to a specific plan (100% allocated to that plan), or 2) the Plan's proportionate share of the income or expense which is attributable to the WKKC Master S&I Trust, which is based upon relative investment balances.
The following presents the total fair value of the investments in the WKKC Master S&I Trust at December 31, 2023:
11
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
| WK Kellogg Co Master Savings & Investment Trust | Plan Interest in WK Kellogg Co Master Savings & Investment Trust | ||||||||||
| Investments at fair value | |||||||||||
| Cash equivalents | $ | 2,500,753 | $ | 1,250,376 | |||||||
| Common stock - WK Kellogg Co | 3,410,737 | 659,115 | |||||||||
| Common stock - Kellanova | 28,641,854 | 5,281,373 | |||||||||
| Common stock - other | 19,579,375 | 9,091,076 | |||||||||
| Mutual funds | 59,836,205 | 35,198,851 | |||||||||
| Common/collective trusts | 388,847,349 | 208,556,469 | |||||||||
| 502,816,273 | 260,037,260 | ||||||||||
| Investments at contract value | |||||||||||
Fully benefit-responsive synthetic guaranteed investment contracts | 127,582,857 | 12,430,867 | |||||||||
| 630,399,130 | 272,468,127 | ||||||||||
| Accrued income | 360,035 | 74,968 | |||||||||
| Noninterest-bearing cash | 820 | 410 | |||||||||
| Total assets | 630,759,985 | 272,543,505 | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses | (70,599) | (6,427) | |||||||||
| $ | 630,689,386 | $ | 272,537,078 | ||||||||
The following is net appreciation in the fair value of investments and investment income for the WKKC Master S&I Trust for the year ended December 31, 2023:
| Net appreciation in fair value of investments | $ | 22,815,758 | |||||||||
| Dividend and interest income | 3,137,404 | ||||||||||
| $ | 25,953,162 | ||||||||||
5. Fully Benefit-Responsive Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contracts
At December 31, 2023 the Plan invested in fully benefit-responsive synthetic guaranteed investment contracts held in the WKKC Master S&I Trust. GSAM Stable Value, LLC is the investment manager for the contracts.
Synthetic guaranteed investment contracts consist of investments owned by the Plan (in this case, through a master trust) in a separately identified custody account and a wrapper contract which guarantees a rate of return based on underlying investments. The underlying investments typically include portfolios of fixed income securities or units of fixed income collective trusts. The rate of return is based on a formula described within the terms of the contract (the crediting rate). The incremental value (if any) of the contract itself is based on i) issuer ratings as determined by credit ratings, which are published by rating agencies and ii) the present value of the change in each contract’s replacement cost. At December 31, 2023, the present value of contract replacement cost approximates current contract cost.
These contracts meet the fully benefit-responsive investment contract criteria and therefore are reported at contract value. Contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for fully benefit responsive guaranteed investment contracts because contract value is the amount
12
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. Contract value, as reported to the Plan by GSAM Stable Value, LLC, represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value.
There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of the contract issuers or otherwise. The crediting interest rate is based on a formula agreed upon with the issuers, but it may not be less than zero percent. Such interest rates are reviewed on a quarterly basis for resetting.
Certain events limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. Such events include the following: (1) amendments to the Plan documents (including complete or partial Plan termination or merger with another plan), (2) bankruptcy of the Plan Sponsor or other Plan Sponsor events (for example, divestitures or spin-offs of a subsidiary) that cause a significant withdrawal from the Plan, or (3) the failure of the Master Trust to qualify for exemption from federal income taxes or any required prohibited transaction exemption under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The Plan administrator does not believe that the occurrence of any such event, which would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants, is probable.
Except for the above, the guaranteed investment contracts do not permit the contract issuers to terminate the agreement prior to the scheduled maturity date at an amount different from contract value.
6. Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan provides for various investment options in several investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks, liquidity, political uncertainty, pandemic and environmental risks, and cybersecurity risks. Due to the level of risks associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term would materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.
7. Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants would become 100% vested in their accounts.
8. Transactions with Related Parties and and Parties-In-Interest
Investments held by the WKKC Master S&I Trust include a short term investment commingled fund managed by The Northern Trust Company. The Northern Trust Company is the Trustee of the Plan and Trust and, therefore, these transactions, as well as participant loans and the related interest income on notes receivable from participants, qualify as party-in-interest transactions.
At December 31, 2023, the WKKC Master S&I Trust held 259,569 shares of WK Kellogg Co
13
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
common stock and 512,285 shares of Kellanova common stock. The Plan's interest in each type of common stock represents approximately 19% of the WK Kellogg Co common stock and 18% of the Kellanova common stock held by the WKKC Master S&I Trust at December 31, 2023. During 2023 the WKKC Master S&I Trust received dividends of $35,775 from WK Kellogg Co and $624,634 from Kellanova. These transactions represent related party and party-in-interest transactions.
The Plan is not charged for administrative services performed on its behalf by employees of the Company. Some fees paid by the Plan for the investment management services are included in net appreciation in fair value of investments. During 2023, the Plan and master trusts paid administrative fees to service providers to the Plan including The Northern Trust Company, Fidelity Management Trust Company, the recordkeeper, and GSAM Stable Value, LLC, which also qualify as party-in-interest transactions.
9. Income Tax Status
The Plan administrator has applied for a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the Plan’s qualification under applicable income tax regulations. The Plan administrator believes the Plan is designed and is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and believes the Plan is qualified, and the related trust is tax-exempt.
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress.
10. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements as of December 31, 2023 to Form 5500.
| Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements | $ | 283,954,004 | |||
| Adjustment from contract value to fair value for interest in Master Trust related to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts | (27,078) | ||||
| Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500 | $ | 283,926,926 | |||
14
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
Period Ended December 31, 2023
The following is a reconciliation of the change in the Plan’s interest in master trusts per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 to Form 5500:
| Change in Plan interest in Master Trust per the financial statements | $ | 15,577,177 | |||
| Change in adjustment from contract value to fair value for interest in Master Trust related to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts | (27,078) | ||||
| Less: administrative expenses | (158,805) | ||||
| Change in value of Plan interest in Master Trust investment accounts per the Form 5500 | $ | 15,391,294 | |||
11. Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were available to be issued, no events or transactions occurred through June 27, 2024 requiring recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
15
WK Kellogg Co
Savings and Investment Plan EIN: 93-2140905, Plan No. 016
Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2023
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party | Description of Investment - Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Par or Maturity Value | Cost | Current Market Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * | Self - directed brokerage accounts | Various | # | 9,146,239 | |||||||||||||||||||
| * | Participant Loans | Interest rates at 4.25% - 9.50%, maturities through February 2028 | 0 | 2,369,772 | |||||||||||||||||||
| * | Denotes party-in-interest | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| # | All investments are participant directed, therefore, cost information is not required | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attachment to Form 5500, Schedule H, Part IV, item 4(i) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
16
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WK KELLOGG CO SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT PLAN | ||||||||
By: | /s/ David McKinstray | |||||||
| Dated: June 27, 2024 | Name: Title: | David McKinstray Chief Financial Officer WK Kellogg Co | ||||||
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | Document | ||||
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |||||