10-K 1 k22969e10vk.htm ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 29, 2007 e10vk
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
Form 10-K
 
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT of 1934
 
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2007
 
Commission file number 1-4171
 
 
Kellogg Company
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
     
Delaware   38-0710690
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
One Kellogg Square
Battle Creek, Michigan 49016-3599
 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
Registrant’s telephone number: (269) 961-2000
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Act:
 
     
Title of each class:   Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Stock, $.25 par value per share
  New York Stock Exchange
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Act: None
 
 
 
Indicate by a check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ  No o
 
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Yes o  No þ
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ  No o
 
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (Check one)
Large accelerated filer þ               Accelerated filer o               Non-accelerated filer o               Smaller reporting company o
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  Yes o  No þ
 
 
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (assuming only for purposes of this computation that the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Trust, directors and executive officers may be affiliates) as of the close of business on June 29, 2007 was approximately $15.6 billion based on the closing price of $51.79 for one share of common stock, as reported for the New York Stock Exchange on that date.
 
 
As of January 25, 2008, 388,954,500 shares of the common stock of the registrant were issued and outstanding.
 
 
Parts of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareowners to be held on April 25, 2008 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
SIGNATURES
Kellogg Company Key Employee Long Term Incentive Plan
Kellogg Company 2000 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan
Kellogg Company 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated as of January 1, 2008
Kellogg Company 1993 Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Domestic and Foreign Subsidiaries of Kellogg
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Powers of Attorney
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by A.D. David Mackay
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by John A. Bryant
Section 1350 Certification by A.D. David Mackay
Section 1350 Certification by John A. Bryant


Table of Contents

 
PART 1.
 
 
 
 
ITEM  1. BUSINESS
 
 
The Company.  Kellogg Company, founded in 1906 and incorporated in Delaware in 1922, and its subsidiaries are engaged in the manufacture and marketing of ready-to-eat cereal and convenience foods.
 
 
The address of the principal business office of Kellogg Company is One Kellogg Square, P.O. Box 3599, Battle Creek, Michigan 49016-3599. Unless otherwise specified or indicated by the context, “Kellogg,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Kellogg Company, its divisions and subsidiaries.
 
 
Financial Information About Segments.  Information on segments is located in Note 14 within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements which are included herein under Part II, Item 8.
 
 
Principal Products.  Our principal products are ready-to-eat cereals and convenience foods, such as cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods. These products were, as of February 22, 2008, manufactured by us in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries. Our cereal products are generally marketed under the Kellogg’s name and are sold principally to the grocery trade through direct sales forces for resale to consumers. We use broker and distribution arrangements for certain products. We also generally use these, or similar arrangements, in less-developed market areas or in those market areas outside of our focus.
 
 
We also market cookies, crackers, and other convenience foods, under brands such as Kellogg’s, Keebler, Cheez-It, Murray, Austin and Famous Amos, to supermarkets in the United States through a direct store-door (DSD) delivery system, although other distribution methods are also used.
 
 
Additional information pertaining to the relative sales of our products for the years 2005 through 2007 is located in Note 14 within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included herein under Part II, Item 8.
 
 
Raw Materials.  Agricultural commodities are the principal raw materials used in our products. Cartonboard, corrugated, and plastic are the principal packaging materials used by us. World supplies and prices of such commodities (which include such packaging materials) are constantly monitored, as are government trade policies. The cost of such commodities may fluctuate widely due to government policy and regulation, weather conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Continuous efforts are made to maintain and improve the quality and supply of such commodities for purposes of our short-term and long-term requirements.
 
 
The principal ingredients in the products produced by us in the United States include corn grits, wheat and wheat derivatives, oats, rice, cocoa and chocolate, soybeans and soybean derivatives, various fruits, sweeteners, flour, vegetable oils, dairy products, eggs, and other filling ingredients, which are obtained from various sources. Most of these commodities are purchased principally from sources in the United States.
 
 
We enter into long-term contracts for the commodities described in this section and purchase these items on the open market, depending on our view of possible price fluctuations, supply levels, and our relative negotiating power. While the cost of some of these commodities has, and may continue to, increase over time, we believe that we will be able to purchase an adequate supply of these items as needed. As further discussed herein under Part II, Item 7A, we also use commodity futures and options to hedge some of our costs.
 
 
Raw materials and packaging needed for internationally based operations are available in adequate supply and are sometimes imported from countries other than those where used in manufacturing.
 
 
Natural gas and propane are the primary sources of energy used to power processing ovens at major domestic and international facilities, although certain locations may use oil or propane on a back-up or alternative basis. In addition, considerable amounts of diesel fuel are used in connection with the distribution of our products. As further discussed herein under Part II, Item 7A, beginning in 2006, we have used over-the-counter commodity price swaps to hedge some of our natural gas costs.
 
 
Trademarks and Technology.  Generally, our products are marketed under trademarks we own. Our principal trademarks are our housemarks, brand names, slogans, and designs related to cereals and convenience foods manufactured and marketed by us, and we also grant licenses to third parties to use these marks on various goods. These trademarks include Kellogg’s for cereals, convenience foods and our other products, and the brand names of certain ready-to-eat cereals, including All-Bran, Apple Jacks, Bran Buds, Complete Bran Flakes, Complete Wheat Flakes, Cocoa Krispies, Cinnamon Crunch Crispix, Corn Pops, Cruncheroos, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Cracklin’ Oat Bran, Crispix,


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Froot Loops, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Frosted Krispies, Just Right, Kellogg’s Low Fat Granola, Mueslix, Nutri-Grain, Pops, Product 19, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, Raisin Bran Crunch, Smacks/Honey Smacks, Smart Start, Special K and Special K Red Berries in the United States and elsewhere; Zucaritas, Choco Zucaritas, Crusli Sucrilhos, Sucrilhos Chocolate, Sucrilhos Banana, Vector, Musli, NutriDia, and Choco Krispis for cereals in Latin America; Vive and Vector in Canada; Choco Pops, Chocos, Frosties, Muslix, Fruit ’n’ Fibre, Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes, Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Red Corn Flakes, Honey Loops, Kellogg’s Extra, Sustain, Muslix, Country Store, Ricicles, Smacks, Start, Smacks Choco Tresor, Pops, and Optima for cereals in Europe; and Cerola, Sultana Bran, Chex, Frosties, Goldies, Rice Bubbles, Nutri-Grain, Kellogg’s Iron Man Food, and BeBig for cereals in Asia and Australia. Additional Company trademarks are the names of certain combinations of ready-to-eat Kellogg’s cereals, including Fun Pak, Jumbo, and Variety.
 
 
Other Company brand names include Kellogg’s Corn Flake Crumbs; Croutettes for herb season stuffing mix; All-Bran, Choco Krispis, Froot Loops, NutriDia, Kuadri-Krispis, Zucaritas, Special K, and Crusli for cereal bars, Keloketas for cookies, Komplete for biscuits; and Kaos for snacks in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America; Pop-Tarts Pastry Swirls for toaster danish; Pop-Tarts and Pop-Tarts Snak-Stix for toaster pastries; Eggo, Special K, Froot Loops and Nutri-Grain for frozen waffles and pancakes; Rice Krispies Treats for baked snacks and convenience foods; Special K2O flavored water and flavored protein water mixes; Nutri-Grain cereal bars, Nutri-Grain yogurt bars, All-Bran bars and crackers, Smart Start bars and Kellogg’s Crunch bars for convenience foods in the United States and elsewhere; K-Time, Rice Bubbles, Day Dawn, Be Natural, Sunibrite and LCMs for convenience foods in Asia and Australia; Nutri-Grain Squares, Nutri-Grain Elevenses, and Rice Krispies Squares for convenience foods in Europe; Fruit Winders for fruit snacks in the United Kingdom; Kashi and GoLean for certain cereals, nutrition bars, and mixes; TLC for crackers; Special K and Vector for meal replacement products; and Morningstar Farms, Loma Linda, Natural Touch, and Worthington for certain meat and egg alternatives.
 
 
We also market convenience foods under trademarks and tradenames which include Keebler, Cheez-It, E. L. Fudge, Murray, Famous Amos, Austin, Ready Crust, Chips Deluxe, Club, Fudge Shoppe, Hi-Ho, Sunshine, Krispy, Munch’Ems, Right Bites, Sandies, Soft Batch, Toasteds, Town House, Vienna Fingers, Wheatables, and Zesta. One of our subsidiaries is also the exclusive licensee of the Carr’s cracker and cookie line in the United States.
 
 
Our trademarks also include logos and depictions of certain animated characters in conjunction with our products, including Snap!Crackle!Pop! for Cocoa Krispies and Rice Krispies cereals and Rice Krispies Treats convenience foods; Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Zucaritas, Sucrilhos and Frosties cereals and convenience foods; Ernie Keebler for cookies, convenience foods and other products; the Hollow Tree logo for certain convenience foods; Toucan Sam for Froot Loops; Dig ’Em for Smacks; Coco the Monkey for Coco Pops; Cornelius for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes; Melvin the elephant for certain cereal and convenience foods; Chocos the Bear, Kobi the Bear and Sammy the Seal for certain cereal products.
 
 
The slogans The Best To You Each Morning, The Original and Best, They’re Gr-r-reat!, The Difference is K, One Bowl Stronger and Supercharged, used in connection with our ready-to-eat cereals, along with L’ Eggo my Eggo, used in connection with our frozen waffles and pancakes, and Elfin Magic used in connection with convenience food products are also important Kellogg trademarks.
 
 
The trademarks listed above, among others, when taken as a whole, are important to our business. Certain individual trademarks are also important to our business. Depending on the jurisdiction, trademarks are generally valid as long as they are in use and/or their registrations are properly maintained and they have not been found to have become generic. Registrations of trademarks can also generally be renewed indefinitely as long as the trademarks are in use.
 
 
We consider that, taken as a whole, the rights under our various patents, which expire from time to time, are a valuable asset, but we do not believe that our businesses are materially dependent on any single patent or group of related patents. Our activities under licenses or other franchises or concessions which we hold are similarly a valuable asset, but are not believed to be material.
 
 
Seasonality.  Demand for our products has generally been approximately level throughout the year, although some of our convenience foods have a bias for stronger demand in the second half of the year due to events and holidays. We also custom-bake cookies for the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., which are principally sold in the first quarter of the year.
 
 
Working Capital.  Although terms vary around the world and by business types, in the United States we generally have required payment for goods sold eleven or sixteen days subsequent to the date of invoice as 2% 10/net 11 or 1% 15/net 16. Receipts from goods sold, supplemented as required by borrowings, provide for our payment of dividends, capital expansion, and for other operating expenses and working capital needs.


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Customers.  Our largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates, accounted for approximately 19% of consolidated net sales during 2007, comprised principally of sales within the United States. At December 29, 2007, approximately 13% of our consolidated receivables balance and 21% of our U.S. receivables balance was comprised of amounts owed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates. During 2007, our top five customers, collectively, accounted for approximately 32% of our consolidated net sales and approximately 40% of U.S. net sales. There has been significant worldwide consolidation in the grocery industry in recent years and we believe that this trend is likely to continue. Although the loss of any large customer for an extended length of time could negatively impact our sales and profits, we do not anticipate that this will occur to a significant extent due to the consumer demand for our products and our relationships with our customers. Our products have been generally sold through our own sales forces and through broker and distributor arrangements, and have been generally resold to consumers in retail stores, restaurants, and other food service establishments.
 
 
Backlog.  For the most part, orders are filled within a few days of receipt and are subject to cancellation at any time prior to shipment. The backlog of any unfilled orders at December 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006, was not material to us.
 
 
Competition.  We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, intense competition for sales of all of our principal products in our major product categories, both domestically and internationally. Our products compete with advertised and branded products of a similar nature as well as unadvertised and private label products, which are typically distributed at lower prices, and generally with other food products. Principal methods and factors of competition include new product introductions, product quality, taste, convenience, nutritional value, price, advertising, and promotion.
 
 
Research and Development.  Research to support and expand the use of our existing products and to develop new food products is carried on at the W. K. Kellogg Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Battle Creek, Michigan, and at other locations around the world. Our expenditures for research and development were approximately $179 million in 2007, $191 million in 2006 and $181 million in 2005.
 
 
Regulation.  Our activities in the United States are subject to regulation by various government agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, Federal Trade Commission and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, as well as voluntary regulation by other bodies. Various state and local agencies also regulate our activities. Other agencies and bodies outside of the United States, including those of the European Union and various countries, states and municipalities, also regulate our activities.
 
 
Environmental Matters.  Our facilities are subject to various U.S. and foreign federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding the discharge of material into the environment and the protection of the environment in other ways. We are not a party to any material proceedings arising under these regulations. We believe that compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations will not materially affect our consolidated financial condition or our competitive position.
 
 
Employees.  At December 29, 2007, we had approximately 26,500 employees.
 
 
Financial Information About Geographic Areas.  Information on geographic areas is located in Note 14 within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included herein under Part II, Item 8.
 
 
Executive Officers.  The names, ages, and positions of our executive officers (as of February 15, 2008) are listed below together with their business experience. Executive officers are generally elected annually by the Board of Directors at the meeting immediately prior to the Annual Meeting of Shareowners.
 
     
James M. Jenness
  61
Chairman of the Board
 
Mr. Jenness has been our Chairman since February 2005 and has served as a Kellogg director since 2000. From February 2005 until December 2006, he also served as our Chief Executive Officer. He was Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Merchandising Systems, LLC, a leader in outsource management of retail promotion and branded merchandising from 1997 to December 2004. He is also a director of Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
 
     
A. D. David Mackay
  52
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Mr. Mackay became our President and Chief Executive Officer on December 31, 2006 and has served as a Kellogg director since February 2005. Mr. Mackay joined Kellogg Australia in 1985 and held several positions with Kellogg USA, Kellogg Australia and Kellogg New Zealand before leaving Kellogg in 1992. He rejoined Kellogg Australia in 1998 as Managing Director and was appointed Managing Director of Kellogg United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland later in 1998. He was named Senior Vice President and President, Kellogg USA in July 2000, Executive Vice President in November 2000, and President and Chief Operating Officer in September 2003. He is also a director of Fortune Brands, Inc.


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John A. Bryant
  42
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kellogg Company
President, Kellogg North America
 
Mr. Bryant joined Kellogg in March 1998, working in support of the global strategic planning process. He was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kellogg USA, in August 2000, was appointed as Kellogg’s Chief Financial Officer in February 2002 and was appointed Executive Vice President later in 2002. He also assumed responsibility for the Natural and Frozen Foods Division, Kellogg USA, in September 2003. He was appointed Executive Vice President and President, Kellogg International in June 2004 and was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kellogg Company, President, Kellogg International in December 2006. In July 2007, Mr. Bryant was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kellogg Company, President, Kellogg North America.
 
     
Jeffrey W. Montie
  46
Executive Vice President, Kellogg Company
President, Kellogg International
 
Mr. Montie joined Kellogg Company in 1987 as a brand manager in the U.S. ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) business and held assignments in Canada, South Africa and Germany, and then served as Vice President, Global Innovation for Kellogg Europe before being promoted. In December 2000, Mr. Montie was promoted to President, Morning Foods Division of Kellogg USA and, in August 2002, to Senior Vice President, Kellogg Company. Mr. Montie has been Executive Vice President of Kellogg Company since September 2003. He was President of Kellogg North America from June 2004 to July 2007. In July 2007, Mr. Montie was appointed Executive Vice President, Kellogg Company, President, Kellogg International and assumed the additional responsibilities for leading Kellogg’s global innovation, marketing, consumer promotions and sales teams.
 
     
Donna J. Banks
  51
Senior Vice President, Global Innovation and
Chief Environmental Officer
 
Donna J. Banks, Ph.D., has been Kellogg’s Senior Vice President, Global Innovation and Chief Environmental Officer since November 2007. Dr. Banks joined Kellogg in 1983. She was appointed to Senior Vice President, Research and Development in 1997, to Senior Vice President, Global Innovation in 1999 and to Senior Vice President, Research, Quality and Technology in 2000. She was Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain from June 2004 to November 2007. She is also a director of Independent Bank Corporation.
 
     
Ruth E. Bruch
  54
Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer
 
Ruth Bruch has been Kellogg’s Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer since February 2006. From 2002 to 2006, Ms. Bruch held the position of Senior Vice President and CIO for Lucent Technologies. Ms. Bruch is also a member of the board of directors of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.
 
     
Celeste Clark
  54
Senior Vice President, Global Nutrition and Corporate Affairs
 
Dr. Clark has been Kellogg’s Senior Vice President of Global Nutrition and Corporate Affairs since June 2006. She joined Kellogg in 1977 and served in several roles of increasing responsibility before being appointed to Vice President, Worldwide Nutrition Marketing in 1996 and then to Senior Vice President, Nutrition and Marketing Communications, Kellogg USA in 1999. She was appointed to Vice President, Corporate and Scientific Affairs in October 2002, and to Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs in August 2003.
 
     
Brad J. Davidson
  47
Senior Vice President, Kellogg Company
President, U.S. Snacks
 
Brad Davidson has been President, U.S. Snacks since June 2003 and Senior Vice President, Kellogg Company since August 2003. Mr. Davidson joined Kellogg Canada as a sales representative in 1984. He held numerous positions in Canada, including manager of trade promotions, account executive, brand manager, area sales manager, director of customer marketing and category management, and director of Western Canada. Mr. Davidson transferred to Kellogg USA in 1997 as director, trade marketing. He later was promoted to Vice President, Channel Sales and Marketing and then to Vice President, National Teams Sales and Marketing. In 2000, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Sales for the Morning Foods Division, Kellogg USA, and to Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, Morning Foods Division, Kellogg USA in 2002.


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Timothy P. Mobsby
  52
Senior Vice President, Kellogg Company
Executive Vice President, Kellogg International and President, Kellogg Europe
 
Tim Mobsby has been Senior Vice President, Kellogg Company; Executive Vice President, Kellogg International; and President, Kellogg Europe since October 2000. Mr. Mobsby joined the company in 1982 in the United Kingdom, where he fulfilled a number of roles in the marketing area on both established brands and in new product development. From January 1988 to mid 1990, he worked in the cereal marketing group of Kellogg USA, his last position being Vice President of Marketing. From 1990 to 1993, he was President and Director General of Kellogg France & Benelux, before returning to the United Kingdom as Regional Director, Kellogg Europe and Managing Director, Kellogg Company of Great Britain Limited. He was subsequently appointed Vice President, Marketing, Innovation and Trade Strategy, Kellogg Europe. He was Vice President, Global Marketing from February to October 2000.
 
     
Paul T. Norman
  43
Senior Vice President, Kellogg Company
President, U.S. Morning Foods
 
Paul Norman has been Senior Vice President, Kellogg Company since December 2005 and President, U.S. Morning Foods since September 2004. Mr. Norman joined Kellogg’s U.K. sales organization in 1987. He was promoted to director, marketing, Kellogg de Mexico in January 1997; to Vice President, Marketing, Kellogg USA in February 1999; and to President, Kellogg Canada Inc. in December 2000. In February 2002, he was promoted to Managing Director, United Kingdom/Republic of Ireland. He was promoted to Vice President in September 2004.
 
     
Gary H. Pilnick
  43
Senior Vice President, General Counsel,
Corporate Development and Secretary
 
Mr. Pilnick was appointed Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in August 2003 and assumed responsibility for Corporate Development in June 2004. He joined Kellogg as Vice President — Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary in September 2000 and served in that position until August 2003. Before joining Kellogg, he served as Vice President and Chief Counsel of Sara Lee Branded Apparel and as Vice President and Chief Counsel, Corporate Development and Finance at Sara Lee Corporation.
 
     
Kathleen Wilson-Thompson
  50
Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources
 
Kathleen Wilson-Thompson has been Kellogg Company’s Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources since July 2005. She served in various legal roles until 1995, when she assumed the role of Human Resources Manager for one of our plants. In 1998, she returned to the legal department as Corporate Counsel, and was promoted to Chief Counsel, Labor and Employment in November 2001, a position she held until October 2003, when she was promoted to Vice President, Chief Counsel, U.S. Businesses, Labor and Employment.
 
     
Alan R. Andrews
  52
Vice President and Corporate Controller
 
Mr. Andrews joined Kellogg Company in 1982. He served in various financial roles before relocating to China as general manager of Kellogg China in 1993. He subsequently served in several leadership innovation and finance roles before being promoted to Vice President, International Finance, Kellogg International in 2000. In 2002, he was appointed to Assistant Corporate Controller and assumed his current position in June 2004.
 
 
Availability of Reports; Website Access; Other Information.  Our internet address is http://www.kelloggcompany.com. Through “Investor Relations” — “Financials” — “SEC Filings” on our home page, we make available free of charge our proxy statements, our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K, SEC Forms 3, 4 and 5 and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission are also made available to read and copy at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information about the Public Reference Room by contacting the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Reports filed with the SEC are also made available on its website at www.sec.gov.
 
 
Copies of the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Charters of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors, the Code of Conduct for Kellogg Company directors and Global Code of Ethics for Kellogg Company employees (including the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and corporate controller) can also be found on the Kellogg Company website. Amendments or waivers to the Global Code of Ethics applicable to the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and corporate controller can also be found in the “Investor Relations” section of the Kellogg Company website. We


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will provide copies of any of these documents to any Shareowner upon request.
 
 
Forward-Looking Statements.  This Report contains “forward-looking statements” with projections concerning, among other things, our strategy, financial principles, and plans; initiatives, improvements and growth; sales, gross margins, advertising, promotion, merchandising, brand building, operating profit, and earnings per share; innovation; investments; capital expenditure; asset write-offs and expenditures and costs related to productivity or efficiency initiatives; the impact of accounting changes and significant accounting estimates; our ability to meet interest and debt principal repayment obligations; minimum contractual obligations; future common stock repurchases or debt reduction; effective income tax rate; cash flow and core working capital improvements; interest expense; commodity and energy prices; and employee benefit plan costs and funding. Forward-looking statements include predictions of future results or activities and may contain the words “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “will deliver,” “anticipate,” “project,” “should,” or words or phrases of similar meaning. For example, forward-looking statements are found in this Item 1 and in several sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis. Our actual results or activities may differ materially from these predictions. Our future results could be affected by a variety of factors, including the impact of competitive conditions; the effectiveness of pricing, advertising, and promotional programs; the success of innovation and new product introductions; the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill and other intangibles; the success of productivity improvements and business transitions; commodity and energy prices, and labor costs; the availability of and interest rates on short-term and long-term financing; actual market performance of benefit plan trust investments; the levels of spending on systems initiatives, properties, business opportunities, integration of acquired businesses, and other general and administrative costs; changes in consumer behavior and preferences; the effect of U.S. and foreign economic conditions on items such as interest rates, statutory tax rates, currency conversion and availability; legal and regulatory factors; business disruption or other losses from war, terrorist acts, or political unrest and the risks and uncertainties described in Item 1A below. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update them.
 
 
ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS
 
 
In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Report, the following risks and uncertainties could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations and financial condition.
 
Our performance is affected by general economic and political conditions and taxation policies.
 
 
Our results in the past have been, and in the future may continue to be, materially affected by changes in general economic and political conditions in the United States and other countries, including the interest rate environment in which we conduct business, the financial markets through which we access capital and currency, political unrest and terrorist acts in the United States or other countries in which we carry on business.
 
 
The enactment of or increases in tariffs, including value added tax, or other changes in the application of existing taxes, in markets in which we are currently active or may be active in the future, or on specific products that we sell or with which our products compete, may have an adverse effect on our business or on our results of operations.
 
We operate in the highly competitive food industry.
 
 
We face competition across our product lines, including ready-to-eat cereals and convenience foods, from other companies which have varying abilities to withstand changes in market conditions. Some of our competitors have substantial financial, marketing and other resources, and competition with them in our various markets and product lines could cause us to reduce prices, increase capital, marketing or other expenditures, or lose category share, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results. Category share and growth could also be adversely impacted if we are not successful in introducing new products.
 
Our consolidated financial results and demand for our products are dependent on the successful development of new products and processes.
 
 
There are a number of trends in consumer preferences which may impact us and the industry as a whole. These include changing consumer dietary trends and the availability of substitute products.
 
 
Our success is dependent on anticipating changes in consumer preferences and on successful new product and process development and product relaunches in response to such changes. We aim to introduce products or new or improved production processes on a timely basis in order to counteract obsolescence and decreases in sales of existing products. While we devote significant focus to the development of new products and to the research, development and technology process functions of our business, we may not be successful in developing new products or our


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new products may not be commercially successful. Our future results and our ability to maintain or improve our competitive position will depend on our capacity to gauge the direction of our key markets and upon our ability to successfully identify, develop, manufacture, market and sell new or improved products in these changing markets.
 
An impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other acquired intangibles could negatively affect our consolidated operating results and net worth.
 
 
The carrying value of goodwill represents the fair value of acquired businesses in excess of identifiable assets and liabilities as of the acquisition date. The carrying value of other intangibles represents the fair value of trademarks, trade names, and other acquired intangibles as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and other acquired intangibles expected to contribute indefinitely to our cash flows are not amortized, but must be evaluated by management at least annually for impairment. If carrying value exceeds current fair value, the intangible is considered impaired and is reduced to fair value via a charge to earnings. Events and conditions which could result in an impairment include changes in the industries in which we operate, including competition and advances in technology; a significant product liability or intellectual property claim; or other factors leading to reduction in expected sales or profitability. Should the value of one or more of the acquired intangibles become impaired, our consolidated earnings and net worth may be materially adversely affected.
 
 
As of December 29, 2007, the carrying value of intangible assets totaled approximately $4.97 billion, of which $3.52 billion was goodwill and $1.45 billion represented trademarks, tradenames, and other acquired intangibles compared to total assets of $11.4 billion and shareholders’ equity of $2.53 billion.
 
We may not achieve our targeted cost savings from cost reduction initiatives.
 
 
Our success depends in part on our ability to be an efficient producer in a highly competitive industry. We have invested a significant amount in capital expenditures to improve our operational facilities. Ongoing operational issues are likely to occur when carrying out major production, procurement, or logistical changes and these, as well as any failure by us to achieve our planned cost savings, could have a material adverse effect on our business and consolidated financial position and on the consolidated results of our operations and profitability.
 
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness.
 
 
We have indebtedness that is substantial in relation to our shareholders’ equity. As of December 29, 2007, we had total debt of approximately $5.23 billion and shareholders’ equity of $2.53 billion.
 
 
Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences, including:
 
 
•  impairing the ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditure or general corporate purposes, particularly if the ratings assigned to our debt securities by rating organizations were revised downward;
 
 
•  restricting our flexibility in responding to changing market conditions or making us more vulnerable in the event of a general downturn in economic conditions or our business;
 
 
•  requiring a substantial portion of the cash flow from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our debt, reducing the funds available to us for other purposes such as expansion through acquisitions, marketing spending and expansion of our product offerings; and
 
 
•  causing us to be more leveraged than some of our competitors, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage.
 
 
Our ability to make scheduled payments or to refinance our obligations with respect to indebtedness will depend on our financial and operating performance, which in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions, the availability of, and interest rates on, short-term financing, and to financial, business and other factors beyond our control.
 
Our results may be materially and adversely impacted as a result of increases in the price of raw materials, including agricultural commodities, fuel and labor.
 
 
Agricultural commodities, including corn, wheat, soybean oil, sugar and cocoa, are the principal raw materials used in our products. Cartonboard, corrugated, and plastic are the principal packaging materials used by us. The cost of such commodities may fluctuate widely due to government policy and regulation, weather conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances. To the extent that any of the foregoing factors affect the prices of such commodities and we are unable to increase our prices or adequately hedge against such changes in prices in a manner that offsets such changes, the results of our operations could be materially and adversely affected.
 
 
Cereal processing ovens at major domestic and international facilities are regularly fuelled by natural gas or propane, which are obtained from local utilities or other local suppliers. Short-term stand-by propane storage exists at several plants for use in case of interruption in natural gas supplies. Oil may also be used to fuel certain operations at various plants. In


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addition, considerable amounts of diesel fuel are used in connection with the distribution of our products. The cost of fuel may fluctuate widely due to economic and political conditions, government policy and regulation, war, or other unforeseen circumstances which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated operating results or financial condition.
 
 
A shortage in the labor pool or other general inflationary pressures or changes in applicable laws and regulations could increase labor cost, which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated operating results or financial conditions.
 
 
Additionally, our labor costs include the cost of providing benefits for employees. We sponsor a number of defined benefit plans for employees in the United States and various foreign locations, including pension, retiree health and welfare, active health care, severance and other postemployment benefits. We also participate in a number of multiemployer pension plans for certain of our manufacturing locations. Our major pension plans and U.S. retiree health and welfare plans are funded with trust assets invested in a globally diversified portfolio of equity securities with smaller holdings of bonds, real estate and other investments. The annual cost of benefits can vary significantly from year to year and is materially affected by such factors as changes in the assumed or actual rate of return on major plan assets, a change in the weighted-average discount rate used to measure obligations, the rate or trend of health care cost inflation, and the outcome of collectively-bargained wage and benefit agreements.
 
We may be unable to maintain our profit margins in the face of a consolidating retail environment. In addition, the loss of one of our largest customers could negatively impact our sales and profits.  
 
 
Our largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates, accounted for approximately 19% of consolidated net sales during 2007, comprised principally of sales within the United States. At December 29, 2007, approximately 13% of our consolidated receivables balance and 21% of our U.S. receivables balance was comprised of amounts owed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates. During 2007, our top five customers, collectively, accounted for approximately 32% of our consolidated net sales and approximately 40% of U.S. net sales. As the retail grocery trade continues to consolidate and mass marketers become larger, our large retail customers may seek to use their position to improve their profitability through improved efficiency, lower pricing and increased promotional programs. If we are unable to use our scale, marketing expertise, product innovation and category leadership positions to respond, our profitability or volume growth could be negatively affected. The loss of any large customer for an extended length of time could negatively impact our sales and profits.
 
Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any inability to protect them could reduce the value of our products and brands.  
 
 
We consider our intellectual property rights, including particularly and most notably our trademarks, but also including patents, trade secrets, copyrights and licensing agreements, to be a significant and valuable aspect of our business. We attempt to protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, as well as licensing agreements, third party nondisclosure and assignment agreements and policing of third party misuses of our intellectual property. Our failure to obtain or adequately protect our trademarks, products, new features of our products, or our technology, or any change in law or other changes that serve to lessen or remove the current legal protections of our intellectual property, may diminish our competitiveness and could materially harm our business.
 
 
We may be unaware of intellectual property rights of others that may cover some of our technology, brands or products. Any litigation regarding patents or other intellectual property could be costly and time-consuming and could divert the attention of our management and key personnel from our business operations. Third party claims of intellectual property infringement might also require us to enter into costly license agreements. We also may be subject to significant damages or injunctions against development and sale of certain products.
 
Changes in tax, environmental or other regulations or failure to comply with existing licensing, trade and other regulations and laws could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition.  
 
 
Our activities, both in and outside of the United States, are subject to regulation by various federal, state, provincial and local laws, regulations and government agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, as well as similar and other authorities of the European Union and various state, provincial and local governments, as well as voluntary regulation by other bodies. Various state and local agencies also regulate our activities.
 
 
The manufacturing, marketing and distribution of food products are subject to governmental regulation that is becoming increasingly onerous. Those regulations control such matters as ingredients, advertising, relations with distributors and retailers, health and safety and the environment. We are also regulated with respect to matters such as licensing requirements,


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trade and pricing practices, tax and environmental matters. The need to comply with new or revised tax, environmental or other laws or regulations, or new or changed interpretations or enforcement of existing laws or regulations, may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
 
Our operations face significant foreign currency exchange rate exposure which could negatively impact our operating results.  
 
 
We hold assets and incur liabilities, earn revenue and pay expenses in a variety of currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the British Pound, Euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar and Mexican peso. Because our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, we must translate our assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses into U.S. dollars at then-applicable exchange rates. Consequently, increases and decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar may negatively affect the value of these items in our consolidated financial statements, even if their value has not changed in their original currency. To the extent we fail to manage our foreign currency exposure adequately, our consolidated results of operations may be negatively affected.
 
If our food products become adulterated or misbranded, we might need to recall those items and may experience product liability if consumers are injured as a result.
 
 
We may need to recall some of our products if they become adulterated or misbranded. We may also be liable if the consumption of any of our products causes injury. A widespread product recall could result in significant losses due to the costs of a recall, the destruction of product inventory, and lost sales due to the unavailability of product for a period of time. We could also suffer losses from a significant product liability judgment against us. A significant product recall or product liability case could also result in a loss of consumer confidence in our food products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business results and the value of our brands.
 
Technology failures could disrupt our operations and negatively impact our business.
 
 
We increasingly rely on information technology systems to process, transmit, and store electronic information. For example, our production and distribution facilities and inventory management utilize information technology to increase efficiencies and limit costs. Furthermore, a significant portion of the communications between our personnel, customers, and suppliers depends on information technology. Like other companies, our information technology systems may be vulnerable to a variety of interruptions due to events beyond our control, including, but not limited to, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hackers, and other security issues. We have technology security initiatives and disaster recovery plans in place or in process to mitigate our risk to these vulnerabilities, but these measures may not be adequate.
 
 
ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
 
None.
 
 
ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES
 
 
Our corporate headquarters and principal research and development facilities are located in Battle Creek, Michigan.
 
 
We operated, as of February 22, 2008,
manufacturing plants and distribution and warehousing facilities totaling more than 28 million square feet of building area in the United States and other countries. Our plants have been designed and constructed to meet our specific production requirements, and we periodically invest money for capital and technological improvements. At the time of its selection, each location was considered to be favorable, based on the location of markets, sources of raw materials, availability of suitable labor, transportation facilities, location of our other plants producing similar products, and other factors. Our manufacturing facilities in the United States include four cereal plants and warehouses located in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Memphis, Tennessee; and Omaha, Nebraska and other plants in San Jose, California; Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, and Rome, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Kansas City, Kansas; Florence, Louisville, and Pikeville, Kentucky; Grand Rapids and Wyoming, Michigan; Blue Anchor, New Jersey; Cary and Charlotte, North Carolina; Cincinnati, Fremont, and Zanesville, Ohio; Muncy, Pennsylvania; Rossville, Tennessee; Clearfield, Utah; and Allyn, Washington.
 
 
Outside the United States, we had, as of February 22, 2008, additional manufacturing locations, some with warehousing facilities, in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Venezuela.
 
 
We generally own our principal properties, including our major office facilities, although some manufacturing facilities are leased, and no owned property is subject to any major lien or other encumbrance. Distribution facilities (including related warehousing facilities) and offices of non-plant locations typically are leased. In general, we consider our facilities, taken as a whole, to be suitable,


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adequate, and of sufficient capacity for our current operations.
 
 
ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
 
We are not a party to any pending legal proceedings which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on us and our subsidiaries, considered on a consolidated basis, nor are any of our properties or subsidiaries subject to any such proceedings.
 
ITEM 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
 
Not applicable.
 
PART II
 
 
ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
 
Information on the market for our common stock, number of share owners and dividends is located in Note 13 within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included herein under Part II, Item 8.
 
 
The following table provides information with respect to acquisitions by us of our shares of common stock during the quarter ended December 29, 2007.
 
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
                                 
   
(millions, except per share data)  
                      (d)
 
                (c)
    Approximate
 
                Total number of
    dollar value of
 
    (a)
    (b)
    shares purchased
    shares that may
 
    Total number
    Average
    as part of publicly
    yet be purchased
 
    of shares
    price paid
    announced
    under the plans
 
Period   purchased     per share     plans or programs     or programs  
   
 
Month #1: 09/30/07-10/27/07
    .2     $ 55.74       .2     $ 221  
Month #2: 10/28/07-11/24/07
    3.8     $ 52.39       3.8     $ 24  
Month #3: 11/25/07-12/29/07
    .5     $ 53.18       .5        
Total (1)
    4.5     $ 52.64       4.5          
 
 
 
(1)  Shares included in the preceding table were purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs, as follows:
 
 
  a)  Approximately 4.4 million shares were purchased during the fourth quarter of 2007 under a program authorized by our Board of Directors to repurchase up to $650 million of Kellogg common stock during 2007 for general corporate purposes and to offset issuances for employee benefit programs. This repurchase program was publicly announced in a press release on December 11, 2006. On October 26, 2007, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $650 million for 2008, which was publicly announced in a press release on October 29, 2007.
 
 
  b)  Approximately .1 million shares were purchased during the fourth quarter of 2007 from employees and directors in stock swap and similar transactions pursuant to various shareholder-approved equity-based compensation plans described within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included herein under Part II, Item 8.


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ITEM 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
Kellogg Company and Subsidiaries
 
Selected Financial Data
                                             
 
(millions, except per share data and number of employees)   2007     2006     2005     2004     2003      
Operating trends
                                           
Net sales
  $ 11,776     $ 10,907     $ 10,177     $ 9,614     $ 8,811      
Gross profit as a % of net sales
    44.0 %     44.2 %     44.9 %     44.9 %     44.4 %    
Depreciation
    364       351       390       399       360      
Amortization
    8       2       2       11       13      
Advertising expense
    1,063       916       858       806       699      
Research and development expense
    179       191       181       149       127      
Operating profit
    1,868       1,766       1,750       1,681       1,544      
Operating profit as a % of net sales
    15.9 %     16.2 %     17.2 %     17.5 %     17.5 %    
Interest expense
    319       307       300       309       371      
Net earnings
    1,103       1,004       980       891       787      
Average shares outstanding:
                                           
Basic
    396       397       412       412       408      
Diluted
    400       400       416       416       411      
Net earnings per share:
                                           
Basic
    2.79       2.53       2.38       2.16       1.93      
Diluted
    2.76       2.51       2.36       2.14       1.92      
 
 
Cash flow trends
                                           
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 1,503     $ 1,410     $ 1,143     $ 1,229     $ 1,171      
Capital expenditures
    472       453       374       279       247      
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities reduced by capital expenditures (a)
    1,031       957       769       950       924      
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (601 )     (445 )     (415 )     (270 )     (219 )    
Net cash used in financing activities
    (788 )     (789 )     (905 )     (716 )     (939 )    
Interest coverage ratio (b)
    7.0       6.9       7.1       6.8       5.1      
 
 
Capital structure trends
                                           
Total assets (c)
  $ 11,397     $ 10,714     $ 10,575     $ 10,562     $ 9,914      
Property, net
    2,990       2,816       2,648       2,715       2,780      
Short-term debt
    1,955       1,991       1,195       1,029       899      
Long-term debt
    3,270       3,053       3,703       3,893       4,265      
Shareholders’ equity (c)
    2,526       2,069       2,284       2,257       1,443      
 
 
Share price trends
                                           
Stock price range
  $ 49-57     $ 42-51     $ 42-47     $ 37-45     $ 28-38      
Cash dividends per common share
    1.202       1.137       1.060       1.010       1.010      
 
 
Number of employees
    26,494       25,856       25,606       25,171       25,250      
 
 
 
(a) The Company uses this non-GAAP financial measure to focus management and investors on the amount of cash available for debt repayment, dividend distribution, acquisition opportunities, and share repurchase, which is reconciled above.
 
 
(b) Interest coverage ratio is calculated based on earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization, divided by interest expense.
 
 
(c) The Company adopted SFAS No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” as of the end of its 2006 fiscal year. The standard generally requires company plan sponsors to reflect the net over- or under-funded position of a defined postretirement benefit plan as an asset or liability on the balance sheet. Accordingly, the 2006 balances associated with the identified captions within this summary were materially affected by the adoption of this standard. Refer to Note 1 for further information.


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ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
Kellogg Company and Subsidiaries
 
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
Overview
 
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to help the reader understand Kellogg Company, our operations and our present business environment. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto contained in Item 8 of this report.
 
 
Kellogg Company is the world’s leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit snacks, frozen waffles, and veggie foods. Kellogg products are manufactured and marketed globally. We currently manage our operations in four geographic operating segments, comprised of North America and the three International operating segments of Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Beginning in 2007, the Asia Pacific segment includes South Africa, which was formerly a part of Europe. Prior years were restated for comparison purposes.
 
 
We manage our Company for sustainable performance defined by our long-term annual growth targets. During the periods presented these targets were low single-digit for internal net sales, low to mid single-digit for internal operating profit, and high single-digit for net earnings per share.
 
                             
 
Consolidated results
           
(dollars in millions)   2007   2006   2005
 
Net sales
      $ 11,776     $ 10,907     $ 10,177  
Net sales growth:
  As reported     8.0%       7.2%       5.9%  
                             
    Internal (a)     5.4%       6.8%       6.4%  
                             
Operating profit
      $ 1,868     $ 1,766     $ 1,750  
                             
Operating profit growth:
  As reported (b)     5.8%       .9%       4.1%  
                             
    Internal (a)     3.1%       4.3%       5.2%  
                             
Diluted net earnings per share (EPS)
  $ 2.76     $ 2.51     $ 2.36  
                             
EPS growth (b)
    10%       6%       10%  
                             
 
(a) Our measure of “internal growth” excludes the impact of currency and, if applicable, acquisitions, dispositions, and shipping day differences. Specifically, internal net sales and operating profit growth for 2005 exclude the impact of a 53rd shipping week in 2004. Internal operating profit growth for 2006 also excludes the impact of adopting SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment.” Accordingly, internal operating profit growth for 2006 is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is further discussed and reconciled to GAAP-basis growth on page 13.
 
 
(b) At the beginning of 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment,” which reduced our fiscal 2006 operating profit by $65 million ($42 million after tax or $.11 per share), due primarily to recognition of compensation expense associated with employee and director stock option grants. Correspondingly, our reported operating profit and net earnings growth for 2006 was reduced by approximately 4%. Diluted net earnings per share growth was reduced by approximately 5%. Refer to the section beginning on page 24 entitled “Stock compensation” for further information on the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).
 
 
In combination with an attractive dividend yield, we believe this profitable growth has and will continue to provide a strong total return to our shareholders. We plan to continue to achieve this sustainability through a strategy focused on growing our cereal business, expanding our snacks business, and pursuing selected growth opportunities. We support our business strategy with operating principles that emphasize profit-rich, sustainable sales growth, as well as cash flow and return on invested capital. We believe our steady earnings growth, strong cash flow, and continued investment during a multi-year period of significant commodity and energy-driven cost inflation demonstrates the strength and flexibility of our business model.
 
 
 
Net sales and operating profit
 
 
 
2007 compared to 2006
 
The following tables provide an analysis of net sales and operating profit performance for 2007 versus 2006:
 
                                                     
 
                Asia
           
    North
      Latin
  Pacific
           
(dollars in millions)   America   Europe   America   (a)   Corporate   Consolidated    
 
2007 net sales
  $ 7,786     $ 2,357       $984       $649       $  —     $ 11,776      
                                                     
2006 net sales
  $ 7,349     $ 2,057       $891       $610       $  —     $ 10,907      
                                                     
% change — 2007 vs. 2006:
                                                   
Volume (tonnage) (b)
    1.7%       2.2%       6.5%       −.9%             2.1%      
Pricing/mix
    3.8%       3.1%       2.3%       .6%             3.3%      
                                                     
Subtotal — internal business
    5.5%       5.3%       8.8%       −.3%             5.4%      
Foreign currency impact
    .5%       9.3%       1.6%       6.7%             2.6%      
                                                     
Total change
    6.0%       14.6%       10.4%       6.4%             8.0%      
                                                     
 
                Asia
           
    North
      Latin
  Pacific
           
(dollars in millions)   America   Europe   America   (a)   Corporate   Consolidated    
 
2007 operating profit
  $ 1,345     $ 397       $213       $ 88       $(175 )   $ 1,868      
                                                     
2006 operating profit
  $ 1,341     $ 321       $220       $ 90       $(206 )   $ 1,766      
                                                     
% change — 2007 vs. 2006:
                                                   
Internal business
    −.1%       14.2%       −4.7%       −9.5%       14.4%       3.1%      
Foreign currency impact
    .5%       9.7%       1.5%       7.2%             2.7%      
                                                     
Total change
    .4%       23.9%       −3.2%       −2.3%       14.4%       5.8%      
                                                     
 
(a) Includes Australia, Asia and South Africa.
 
 
(b) We measure the volume impact (tonnage) on revenues based on the stated weight of our product shipments.
 
 
During 2007, our consolidated net sales increased 8% on strong results from broad-based growth across our operating segments. Internal net sales grew over 5%, building on a 7% rate of internal growth during 2006. Successful innovation, brand-building (advertising and consumer promotion) investment and in-store

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execution continued to drive broad-based sales growth across each of our enterprise-wide product groups. In fact, we achieved growth in retail cereal sales within each of our operating segments.
 
 
For 2007, our North America operating segment reported a net sales increase of 6%. Internal net sales grew over 5%, with each major product group contributing as follows: retail cereal +3%; retail snacks (cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit snacks) +7%; frozen and specialty (food service, club stores, vending, convenience, drug and value stores) channels +6%. The significant growth achieved by our North America snacks business built on internal growth of +11% in 2006. The 2007 growth in North America retail cereal sales represented the 7th consecutive year in which we’ve increased our dollar share of category sales.
 
 
Our International operating segments collectively achieved net sales growth of approximately 12% or 5% on an internal basis, with leading dollar contributions from our businesses in the UK, France, Mexico, and Venezuela. Internal sales of our Asia Pacific operating segment (which represents approximately 5% of our consolidated results) were approximately even with the prior year, as solid growth in Asian markets was offset by weak performance in our Australian business.
 
 
Consolidated operating profit for 2007 grew 6%, with internal operating profit up 3% versus 2006. For 2007, Europe contributed a strong 14% internal growth rate, driven by increased sales and stronger gross margins, as well as lower up-front costs. Despite a strong sales performance, operating profit in our North American segment was dampened by continued commodity cost pressures and significantly higher up-front costs associated with cost reduction initiatives, as more fully discussed on page 16. As previously predicted, our Latin America and Asia Pacific operating segments suffered operating profit declines, primarily driven by lower gross margins due to increased commodity costs, as well as the previously mentioned weak performance in our Australian business.
 
 
Our current-year operating profit growth was also affected by significant cost pressures as discussed in the “Margin performance” section beginning on page 14. Expenditures for brand-building activities increased at a mid single-digit rate; this rate of growth incorporates savings reinvestment from our recent focus on media buying efficiencies and global leverage of promotional campaigns. Within our total brand-building, advertising expenditures grew at a double-digit rate for 2007.
 
 
2006 compared to 2005
 
The following tables provide an analysis of net sales and operating profit performance for 2006 versus 2005:
 
                                                     
 
                Asia
           
    North
      Latin
  Pacific
           
(dollars in millions)   America   Europe   America   (a)   Corporate   Consolidated    
 
2006 net sales
  $7,349     $ 2,057       $891       $610       $  —       $10,907      
                                                     
2005 net sales
  $6,808     $ 1,925       $822       $622       $  —       $10,177      
                                                     
% change — 2006 vs. 2005:
                                                   
Volume (tonnage) (b)
    3.5%       1.4%       4.5%       −.7%             3.1%      
Pricing/mix
    4.0%       4.0%       4.0%       1.2%             3.7%      
                                                     
Subtotal — internal business
    7.5%       5.4%       8.5%       .5%             6.8%      
Foreign currency impact
    .4%       1.4%       −.2%       −2.4%             .4%      
                                                     
Total change
    7.9%       6.8%       8.3%       −1.9%             7.2%      
                                                     
 
                Asia
           
    North
      Latin
  Pacific
           
(dollars in millions)   America   Europe   America   (a)   Corporate   Consolidated    
 
2006 operating profit
    $1,341       $321       $220       $ 90       $(206 )     $1,766      
                                                     
2005 operating profit
    $1,251       $317       $203       $100       $(121 )     $1,750      
                                                     
% change — 2006 vs. 2005:
                                                   
Internal business
    6.5%       .5%       9.3%       −6.6%       −16.2%       4.3%      
SFAS No. 123(R) adoption impact
                            −54.1%       −3.7%      
Foreign currency impact
    .6%       .6%       −.8%       −2.6%             .3%      
                                                     
Total change
    7.1%       1.1%       8.5%       −9.2%       −70.3%       .9%      
                                                     
 
(a) Includes Australia, Asia and South Africa.
 
 
(b) We measure the volume impact (tonnage) on revenues based on the stated weight of our product shipments.
 
 
During 2006, our consolidated net sales increased 7% on both an as-reported and internal basis, building on a 6% rate of internal growth during 2005.
 
 
For 2006, our North America operating segment reported a net sales increase of 8%. Internal net sales growth was also 8%, with each major product group contributing as follows: retail cereal +3%; retail snacks (cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit snacks) +11%; frozen and specialty (food service, vending, convenience and drug stores, custom manufacturing) channels +8%. The significant growth achieved by our North America snacks business represented nearly one-half of the total dollar increase in consolidated internal net sales for 2006. The 2006 growth in North America retail cereal sales was on top of 8% growth in 2005 and represented the 6th consecutive year in which we’ve increased our dollar share of category sales. Although North America consumer retail cereal consumption remained steady throughout 2006, our shipment revenues declined in the fourth quarter of 2006 by approximately 2% versus the prior-year period. We believe this decline was largely attributable to year-end retail trade inventory adjustments, which brought inventories in line with year-end 2005 levels after several successive quarters of slight inclines.
 
 
Our International operating segments collectively achieved net sales growth of approximately 6% or 5% on an internal basis, with leading dollar contributions


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from our UK, France, Mexico, and Venezuela business units. Internal sales of our Asia Pacific operating segment (which represents approximately 5% of our consolidated results) were approximately even with the prior year, as solid growth in Australia cereal and Asian markets was offset by weak performance in our Australia snack business.
 
 
Consolidated operating profit for 2006 grew 1%, with internal operating profit up 4% versus 2005. As discussed on page 12, our measure of internal operating profit growth is consistent with our measure of internal sales growth, except that during 2006, internal operating profit growth also excluded the impact of incremental stock compensation expense associated with our adoption of SFAS No. 123(R). We used this non-GAAP financial measure during our first year of adopting this FASB standard in order to assist management and investors in assessing the Company’s financial operating performance against comparative periods, which did not include stock option-related compensation expense. Accordingly, corporate selling, general, and administrative (SGA) expense was higher and operating profit was lower by $65 million for 2006, reducing consolidated operating profit growth by approximately four percentage points. Refer to the section beginning on page 24 entitled “Stock compensation” for further information on the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).
 
 
Although total 2006 up-front costs of $82 million were not significantly changed from the 2005 amount of $90 million, a year-over-year shift in operating segment allocation of such costs affected relative segment performance. The 2006 versus 2005 change in project cost allocation was a $44 million decline in North America (improving 2006 segment operating profit performance by approximately 4%) and a $28 million increase in Europe (reducing 2006 segment operating profit performance by approximately 8%).
 
 
For 2006, operating profit growth was affected by significant cost pressures as discussed in the “Margin performance” section. Expenditures for brand-building activities increased at a low single-digit rate; this rate of growth incorporates savings reinvestment from our recent focus on media buying efficiencies and global leverage of promotional campaigns. Within our total brand-building metric, advertising expenditures grew at a high single-digit rate for 2006.
 
Margin performance
Margin performance is presented in the following table.
 
                                         
 
                Change vs.
                prior year
                (pts.)
 
    2007   2006   2005   2007   2006
 
Gross margin (a)
    44.0%       44.2%       44.9%       (.2 )     (.7 )
SGA% (b)
    −28.1%       −28.0%       −27.7%       (.1 )     (.3 )
                                         
Operating margin
    15.9%       16.2%       17.2%       (.3 )     (1.0 )
                                         
 
(a) Gross profit as a percentage of net sales. Gross profit is equal to net sales less cost of goods sold.
 
 
(b) Selling, general, and administrative expense as a percentage of net sales.
 
 
We strive for gross profit dollar growth to reinvest in brand-building and innovation expenditures. Our strategy for increasing our gross profit is to manage external cost pressures through product pricing and mix improvements, productivity savings, and technological initiatives to reduce the cost of product ingredients and packaging. For 2007, our gross profit was up 7% over 2006, an increase of $350 million.
 
 
Our gross margin performance for 2006 and 2007 reflects the impact of significant fuel, energy, and commodity price inflation experienced throughout most of that time, as well as increased employee benefit costs in 2006. In the aggregate, these input cost pressures reduced our consolidated gross margin by approximately 155 basis points for 2007 and 150 basis points in 2006. For 2006, our gross margin performance was also unfavorably impacted by incremental logistics and innovation start-up costs related to the significant sales growth within our North America operating segment.
 
 
The majority of the inflationary pressure during 2006 and 2007 was commodity and energy-driven. Total active and retired employee benefits expense was approximately $285 million in 2007 versus $325 million in 2006 and $290 million in 2005. For 2008, the combined effect of favorable trust asset performance in prior years and rising discount rates is expected to have a moderating effect on underlying benefit cost inflation. As a result, we expect 2008 benefits expense to be approximately 10% lower than 2007.
 
 
For 2008, we expect inflationary trends to accelerate, with net input cost (fuel, energy, commodity, and benefits) pressures forecasted to exceed realized savings. As compared to 2007 results, we currently expect incremental cost inflation, primarily associated with the prices of our 2008 ingredient purchases to be greater than $.65 per share. Accordingly, we believe our 2008 consolidated gross margin could decline by approximately 100 basis points which includes an approximately 40 basis point reduction related to our acquisitions and an approximately 30 basis point


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reduction due to higher up-front costs expected in cost of goods sold.
 
 
In addition to external cost pressures, our discretionary investment in cost-reduction initiatives (refer to following section) has created variability in our gross margin performance during the periods presented. Although total annual program-related charges were relatively steady over the past several years, the amount recorded in cost of goods sold varied by year (in millions): 2007–$23; 2006–$74; 2005–$90. Additionally, cost of goods sold for 2005 includes a charge of approximately $12 million, related to a lump-sum payment to members of the major union representing the hourly employees at our U.S. cereal plants for ratification of a wage and benefits agreement with the Company covering the four-year period ended October 2009.
 
 
For 2006 both our SGA% and operating margin were affected by our fiscal 2006 adoption of SFAS No. 123(R). During 2006, we reported incremental stock compensation expense of $65 million which increased our SGA% and reduced our operating margin by approximately 60 basis points in 2006. Refer to the section beginning on page 24 entitled “Stock compensation” for further information on this subject.
 
 
For 2007, our SGA% was negatively impacted by the reorganization of our direct store-door delivery (DSD) operations. Total program costs of $77 million were recorded in SGA expense, as discussed further in the “Exit or disposal plans” section.
 
 
 
Exit or disposal plans
We view our continued spending on cost-reduction initiatives as part of our ongoing operating principles to provide greater visibility in meeting long-term growth targets. Initiatives undertaken are currently expected to recover cash implementation costs within a five-year period of completion. Each cost-reduction initiative is normally one to three years in duration. Upon completion (or as each major stage is completed in the case of multi-year programs), the project begins to deliver cash savings and/or reduced depreciation, which is then reinvested in the business. Certain of these initiatives represent exit or disposal plans for which material charges will be incurred. We include these charges in our measure and discussion of operating segment profitability within the “Net sales and operating profit” section beginning on page 12.
 
 
In 2006, we commenced a multi-year European manufacturing optimization plan to improve utilization of our facility in Manchester, England and to better align production in Europe. Based on forecasted foreign exchange rates, the Company currently expects to incur approximately $55 million in total up-front costs, including $28 million recorded in 2006, and $19 million recorded in 2007, with the remainder to be incurred in 2008. The cost is comprised of approximately 90% cash expenditures and 10% non-cash asset write-offs. The cash portion of the total up-front costs results principally from management’s plan to eliminate approximately 220 hourly and salaried positions from the Manchester facility by the end of 2008 through voluntary early retirement and severance programs. The pension trust funding requirements of these early retirements are expected to exceed the recognized benefit expense impact by approximately $5 million; most of this incremental funding occurred in 2006. During the program, certain manufacturing equipment will also be removed from service.
 
 
All of the costs for the European manufacturing optimization plan have been recorded in cost of goods sold within the Company’s European operating segment. The following tables present total project costs to date and a reconciliation of employee severance reserves for this initiative. All other cash costs were paid in the period incurred.
 
                                         
        Other cash
      Retirement
   
Project costs to date
  Employee
  costs
  Asset
  benefits
   
(millions)   severance   (a)   write-offs   (b)   Total
Year ended December 30, 2006   $ 12     $ 2     $ 5       $9     $ 28  
Year ended December 29, 2007     7       8       4             19  
 
Total project to date
  $ 19     $ 10     $ 9       $9     $ 47  
 
 
(a) Primarily includes expenditures for equipment removal and relocation, and temporary contracted services to facilitate employee transitions.
 
 
(b) Pension plan curtailment losses and special termination benefits realized under SFAS No. 88 “Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits.”
 
                                 
Employee severance reserves to date
  Beginning of
          End of
(millions)   period   Accruals   Payments   period
Year ended December 30, 2006   $     $ 12     $     $ 12  
Year ended December 29, 2007     12       7       (19 )      
 
Total project to date
          $ 19     $ (19 )        
 
 
 
In October 2007, we committed to reorganize certain production processes between our plants in Valls, Spain and Bremen, Germany. Commencement of this plan follows consultation with union representatives at the Bremen facility regarding the elimination of approximately 120 employee positions. This reorganization plan is specifically intended to improve manufacturing and distribution efficiency across our continental European operations, and is expected to be completed by mid 2008. Based on forecasted foreign exchange rates, we expect to incur approximately $25 million of total project costs, comprised of approximately 50% asset write-offs and 50% employee separation benefits and other cash costs. The Company recorded $4 million of costs in 2007, with the remaining to be incurred in 2008.


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All of the costs for the European production process realignment have been recorded in cost of goods sold within the Company’s European operating segment.
 
 
The following tables present total project costs to date and a reconciliation of employee severance reserves for this initiative. All other cash costs were paid in the period incurred.
 
                                 
Project costs to date
  Employee
  Other cash
  Asset
   
(millions)   severance   costs (a)   write-offs   Total
Year ended December 29, 2007   $ 2     $ 1     $ 1     $ 4  
 
Total project to date
  $ 2     $ 1     $ 1     $ 4  
 
 
(a) Primarily includes expenditures for equipment removal and relocation, and temporary contracted services to facilitate employee transitions.
 
                                 
Employee severance
               
reserves to date
  Beginning
          End of
(millions)   of period   Accruals   Payments   period
Year ended December 29, 2007   $     $ 2     $     $ 2  
 
Total project to date
          $ 2     $          
 
 
 
In July 2007, management commenced a plan to reorganize the Company’s direct store-door delivery (DSD) operations in the southeastern United States. This DSD reorganization plan is intended to integrate the Company’s southeastern sales and distribution regions with the rest of its U.S. direct store-door operations, resulting in greater efficiency across the nationwide network. In preparation for this initiative, in June 2007, the Company began to extend offers to exit approximately 517 distribution route franchise agreements with independent contractors, which were substantially accepted as of July 2007. The plan resulted in the involuntary termination or relocation of approximately 300 employee positions. Total project costs incurred were $77 million, principally consisting of cash expenditures for route franchise settlements and to a lesser extent, for employee separation, relocation, and reorganization. This initiative was substantially complete by the end of 2007.
 
 
All of the costs for the U.S. DSD reorganization plan have been recorded in selling, general, and administrative expense within the Company’s North America operating segment. The following tables present total project costs to date. Exit cost reserves were approximately $3 million as of December 29, 2007, primarily related to lease termination costs. All other cash costs were paid in the period incurred.
 
                                                 
            Other
           
    Route
      cash
  Retirement
       
Project costs to date
  franchise
  Employee
  costs
  benefits
  Asset
   
(millions)   settlements   severance   (a)   (b)   write-offs   Total
Year ended December 29, 2007
  $ 62     $ 1     $ 6     $ 6     $ 2     $ 77  
 
Total project to date   $ 62     $ 1     $ 6     $ 6     $ 2     $ 77  
 
 
(a) Primarily includes expenditures for equipment removal and relocation, lease terminations, and temporary contracted services to facilitate employee transitions.
 
 
(b) Estimated multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability.
 
 
During 2006, we implemented several short-term initiatives to enhance the productivity and efficiency of our U.S. cereal manufacturing network and streamlined our sales distribution system in a Latin American market. In 2005, we undertook an initiative to consolidate U.S. snacks bakery capacity, resulting in the closure and sale of two facilities by mid 2006. These initiatives were substantially complete at December 30, 2006. Details of each initiative are described in Note 3 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
For 2007, the Company recorded total program-related charges of approximately $100 million, comprised of $7 million of asset write-offs, $72 million for severance and other exit costs including route franchise settlements, $15 million for other cash expenditures, and $6 million for a multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability. Approximately $23 million of the total 2007 charges were recorded in cost of goods sold within the Europe operating segment results, with approximately $77 million recorded in SGA expense within the North America operating results.
 
 
For 2006, the Company recorded total program-related charges of approximately $82 million, comprised of $20 million of asset write-offs, $30 million for severance and other exit costs, $9 million for other cash expenditures, $4 million for a multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability, and $19 million for pension and other postretirement plan curtailment losses and special termination benefits. Approximately $74 million of the total 2006 charges were recorded in cost of goods sold within operating segment results, with approximately $8 million recorded in SGA expense within corporate results. The Company’s operating segments were impacted as follows (in millions): North America-$46; Europe-$28.
 
 
For 2005, total program-related charges were approximately $90 million, comprised of $16 million for a multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability, $44 million of asset write-offs, $21 million in severance and other exit costs, and $9 million for other cash expenditures. All of the charges were recorded in cost of goods sold within our North America operating segment.


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For the periods presented, cash requirements to implement these programs approximated the exit costs and other cash charges incurred in each year, except for approximately $8 million of incremental pension trust funding that occurred in 2006 in connection with the European manufacturing optimization plan. At December 29, 2007, the Company’s remaining cash commitments to complete the executed programs were comprised of: exit cost reserves of $5 million expected to be paid out in 2008; and estimated multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liabilities of $26 million, which will not be finally determined until 2008 and once determined, are payable to the pension fund over a 20-year maximum period. We expect these cash requirements to be funded by operating cash flow.
 
 
Our 2008 earnings target includes total projected charges related to in-progress and potential cost-reduction initiatives of approximately $80 million or $.14 per share. Approximately one-third of this total is allocated to the aforementioned European projects. However, the specific cash versus non-cash mix or cost of goods sold versus SGA expense impact of the remainder has not yet been determined. Other potential initiatives to be commenced in 2008 are still in the planning stages and individual actions will be announced as we commit to these discretionary investments.
 
 
 
Interest expense
As illustrated in the following table, annual interest expense for the 2005-2007 period has been relatively steady, which reflects a stable effective interest rate on total debt and a relatively constant debt balance throughout most of that time. Interest income (recorded in other income) has trended upward from approximately $9 million in 2005 to $23 million in 2007, resulting in net interest expense of approximately $296 million for 2007. We currently expect that our 2008 net interest expense will be comparable to the 2007 amount.
 
                                         
                Change vs.
                prior year
(dollars in millions)   2007   2006   2005   2007   2006
Reported interest expense (a)
  $ 319     $ 307     $ 300                  
Amounts capitalized
    5       3       1                  
 
Gross interest expense
  $ 324     $ 310     $ 301       4.5%       2.9%  
 
 
(a) Reported interest expense for 2007 and 2005 includes charges of approximately $5 and $13 respectively related to the early redemption of long-term debt.
 
Other income (expense), net
Other income (expense), net includes non-operating items such as interest income, charitable donations, and gains and losses related to foreign exchange and commodity derivatives. Other income (expense), net for the periods presented was (in millions): 2007-($2); 2006-$13; 2005-($25). The variability in other income (expense), net, among years reflects the timing of certain significant charges explained in the following paragraph.
 
 
Other expense includes charges for contributions to the Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund, a private trust established for charitable giving, as follows (in millions): 2007–$12; 2006–$3; 2005–$16. Other expense for 2005 also includes a charge of approximately $7 million to reduce the carrying value of a corporate commercial facility to estimated selling value. This facility was sold in August 2006.
 
 
 
Income taxes
Our long-term objective is to achieve a consolidated effective income tax rate of approximately 31%. In comparison to a U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35%, we pursue planning initiatives globally in order to move toward our target. Excluding the impact of discrete adjustments and the cost of repatriating foreign earnings, our sustainable consolidated effective income tax rate for 2005 was approximately 33%, with the rate for 2006 and 2007 at approximately 32%. We currently expect our 2008 sustainable rate to be approximately 31%, in line with our objective. Our reported rates of approximately 29% for 2007 and 31% for 2005 were lower than the sustainable rate due to the favorable effect of various discrete adjustments such as audit settlements, international restructuring initiatives and statutory rate changes. (Refer to Note 11 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.) For 2008, we expect our consolidated effective income tax rate to be approximately 31%. This could be impacted however, if pending uncertain tax matters, including tax positions that could be affected by planning initiatives, are resolved more or less favorably than we currently expect.
 


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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
 
 
Overview
Our principal source of liquidity is operating cash flows, supplemented by borrowings for major acquisitions and other significant transactions. This cash-generating capability is one of our fundamental strengths and provides us with substantial financial flexibility in meeting operating and investing needs. During 2007, we believe our Company’s financial strength has been especially evident in the face of the recent U.S. sub-prime mortgage market crisis and its pervasive effect on general credit market liquidity. For the year, we continued to have access to the U.S. commercial paper market without significant increase in our effective short-term borrowing rate, and our commercial paper and term debt credit ratings have not been affected. Our annual interest expense for the 2005-2007 period has been relatively steady, which reflects a stable effective interest rate on total debt and a relatively constant debt balance throughout most of that time. We have not had any significant new borrowings under our Euro or Canadian commercial paper programs since June 2007, which has limited our exposure to non-U.S. credit market illiquidity during this turbulent period.
 
 
 
Operating activities
The principal source of our operating cash flow is net earnings, meaning cash receipts from the sale of our products, net of costs to manufacture and market our products. Our cash conversion cycle (defined as days of inventory and trade receivables outstanding less days of trade payables outstanding) is relatively short; equating to approximately 27 days for the trailing 365-day period ended December 29, 2007, an improvement to the comparable prior year period which was 29 days. As a result, our operating cash flow should generally reflect our net earnings performance over time, although, as illustrated in the following schedule, specific results for any particular year may be significantly affected by the level of benefit plan contributions, working capital movements (operating assets and liabilities) and other factors.
 
                         
   
(dollars in millions)   2007     2006     2005  
   
Operating activities
                       
Net earnings
  $ 1,103     $ 1,004     $ 980  
year-over-year change
    9.9%       2.4%          
Items in net earnings not requiring (providing) cash:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    372       353       392  
Deferred income taxes
    (69 )     (44 )     (59 )
Other (a)
    183       235       199  
 
 
Net earnings after non-cash items
    1,589       1,548       1,512  
 
 
year-over-year change
    2.6%       2.4%          
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan contributions
    (96 )     (99 )     (397 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Core working capital (b)
    16       (138 )     45  
Other working capital
    (6 )     99       (17 )
 
 
Total
    10       (39 )     28  
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 1,503     $ 1,410     $ 1,143  
year-over-year change
    6.6%       23.4%          
 
 
 
(a) Consists principally of non-cash expense accruals for employee compensation and benefit obligations.
 
 
(b) Inventory and trade receivables less trade payables.
 
 
Our net cash provided by operating activities for 2007 was $93 million higher than the comparable period of 2006, due primarily to growth in cash-basis earnings and favorable total working capital performance. Operating cash flow for 2006 was approximately $267 million higher than 2005, due primarily to lower benefit plan contributions, partially offset by unfavorable working capital movements. The decline in benefit plan contributions for 2006 and 2007, as compared to 2005, reflects the improved funded position of our major benefit plans that was achieved through a significant amount of funding in the 2003-2005 period.
 
 
On August 17, 2006, the Pension Protection Act (PPA) became law in the United States. The PPA revised the basis and methodology for determining defined benefit plan minimum funding requirements as well as maximum contributions to and benefits paid from tax-qualified plans. Most of these provisions are first applicable to our U.S. defined benefit pension plans in 2008 on a phased-in basis. The PPA will ultimately require us to make additional contributions to our U.S. plans. However, due to our historical funding practices, we currently believe that we will not be required to make any contributions under the new PPA requirements until after 2013. Accordingly, we do not expect to have significant statutory or contractual funding requirements for our major retiree benefit plans during the next several years, with total 2008 U.S. and foreign plan contributions currently estimated at approximately $63 million. Actual 2008 contributions could exceed our current projections, as influenced by our decision to undertake discretionary funding of our benefit trusts versus other competing investment priorities, future changes in government requirements, renewals of union contracts, or


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higher-than-expected health care claims cost experience. Additionally, our projections concerning timing of PPA funding requirements are subject to change primarily based on general market conditions affecting trust asset performance and our future decisions regarding certain elective provisions of the PPA.
 
 
As compared to 2006, the favorable movement in core working capital during 2007 was related principally to higher trade payables, which are due in part, to increased payment terms in international locations. During 2007, our trade payables balance increased by almost 19% from year end 2006. In contrast, our December 30, 2006 trade payables balance was within 3% of the balance at year-end 2005.
 
 
For the trailing fifty-two weeks ended December 29, 2007, core working capital was 6.8% of net sales, consistent with year-end 2006, as compared to 7.0% as of year-end 2005. We have been able to maintain this level through the timely collection of accounts receivable and extension of terms on trade payables, offset by slightly higher inventory levels.
 
 
In comparison to 2005, the unfavorable movement in core working capital during 2006 was related to trade payables performance and higher inventory balances. The higher inventory balance was principally related to higher commodity prices for our raw material and packaging inventories and to a lesser extent, the overall increase in the average number of weeks of inventory on hand. Our consolidated inventory balances were unfavorably affected by U.S. capacity limitations during 2006.
 
 
As presented in the table on page 18, other working capital was a use of cash in 2007 versus a source of cash in 2006. The difference relates to year-over-year increase in the amount of income tax payments. The favorable movement in other working capital in 2006 as compared to 2005 was attributable to several factors including lower debt-related currency swap payments in 2006 as well as business-related growth in accrued compensation and promotional liabilities.
 
 
Investing activities
Our management measure of cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities reduced by expenditures for property additions. We use this non-GAAP financial measure of cash flow to focus management and investors on the amount of cash available for debt repayment, dividend distributions, acquisition opportunities, and share repurchase. Our cash flow metric is reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measure, as follows:
 
                         
   
(dollars in millions)   2007     2006     2005  
   
Net cash provided by operating activities
    $1,503       $1,410       $1,143  
Additions to properties
    (472 )     (453 )     (374 )
 
 
Cash flow
    $1,031       $957       $769  
year-over-year change
    7.7%       24.5%          
 
 
 
 
Our cash flow (as defined) performance during the periods presented reflects increased spending for selected capacity expansions to accommodate our Company’s strong sales growth over the past several years. This increased capital spending represented 4.0% of net sales in 2007 and 4.2% of net sales in 2006, as compared to 3.7% of net sales in 2005. For 2008, we currently expect property expenditures to remain at approximately 4.0% of net sales, which is consistent with our long-term target for capital spending. This forecast includes expenditures associated with the construction of a new manufacturing facility in Kutno, Poland and expansion of our global research center in Battle Creek, Michigan which together represents approximately 15% of our 2008 capital plan. The facility in Poland will help us meet consumer demand for our ready-to-eat cereals in the emerging Central and Eastern European markets. The expansion of the W. K. Kellogg Institute for Food and Nutrition Research reflects our commitment to research and innovation which is a key driver to the growth of our business.
 
 
For 2008, we are expecting cash flow to be broadly in line with our 2007 results. We expect to achieve our target principally through operating profit growth, and prudent management of our working capital.
 
 
As discussed in Note 6 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, our property additions for 2007 include approximately $16 million for the purchase of a previously leased snacks manufacturing facility in Chicago, Illinois.
 
 
As discussed in Note 2 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, in order to support the continued growth of our North America operating segment, the Company completed two separate business acquisitions in late 2007 for a total of approximately $123 million in cash, including related transaction costs. On November 1, 2007, a subsidiary of the Company acquired 100% of the equity interests in Bear Naked, Inc., a leading seller of premium-branded natural granola products. On November 5, 2007, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of the Wholesome & Hearty Foods Company, a U.S. manufacturer of veggie foods marketed under the Gardenburger® brand.


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To expand the Company’s presence in Eastern Europe, on January 16, 2008, subsidiaries of the Company acquired substantially all of the equity interests in OJSC Kreker (doing business as “United Bakers”) and consolidated subsidiaries for approximately $117 million in cash, including transaction fees incurred to date, and $3 million in assumed debt. The Company expects to acquire the remaining minority interests through tender offers initiated during 2008. United Bakers is a leading producer of cereal, cookie, and cracker products in Russia, with 4,000 employees, six manufacturing facilities, and a broad distribution network. The business realized approximately $100 million of revenues in 2007. (Due to various factors including accounting principle conformity, these revenues are not necessarily indicative of the pro forma incremental effect on the Company’s 2007 consolidated net sales, assuming this business combination had been completed at the beginning of 2007.) The purchase agreement between the Company and the seller provides for the payment of a currently undeterminable amount of contingent consideration at the end of three years, provided certain financial performance metrics are achieved. Such payment would be recognized as additional purchase price when the contingency is resolved. As part of the aforementioned initial purchase price for this acquisition, the Company incurred approximately $5 million in transaction fees and cash advances during 2007, which we classified as business acquisition-related investing cash outflows in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 29, 2007.
 
 
In order to support the continued growth of our North American fruit snacks business, we completed two separate business acquisitions during 2005 for a total of approximately $50 million in cash, including related transaction costs. In June 2005, we acquired a fruit snacks manufacturing facility and related assets from Kraft Foods Inc. The facility is located in Chicago, Illinois and employs approximately 400 active hourly and salaried employees. In November 2005, we acquired substantially all of the assets and certain liabilities of a Washington State-based manufacturer of natural and organic fruit snacks.
 
 
 
Financing activities
For 2007, our Board of Directors authorized stock repurchases for general corporate purposes and to offset issuances for employee benefit programs of up to $650 million, which we spent to repurchase approximately 12 million shares. Pursuant to similar Board authorizations applicable to those years, we paid $650 million in 2006 to repurchase approximately 15 million shares, and $664 million in 2005 to repurchase approximately 16 million shares. The 2006 activity consisted principally of a February 2006 private transaction with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Trust (“the Trust”) to repurchase approximately 13 million shares for $550 million. The 2005 activity consisted principally of a November 2005 private transaction with the Trust to repurchase approximately 9 million shares for $400 million. For 2008, our Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $650 million.
 
 
Our Company paid dividends to shareholders in 2007 in the amount of $1.202 per common share. This represented a 5.7% increase from the previous level of $1.137 per common share paid in 2006. The increase was due to the Board’s authorization to pay quarterly dividends in the amount of $.31 per common share beginning in September, 2007. This increase is consistent with our current plan to maintain our dividend pay-out ratio between 40% and 50% of reported net earnings.
 
 
In December 2007, the Company issued $750 million of five-year 5.125% fixed rate U.S. Dollar Notes, using the proceeds from these Notes to replace a portion of our U.S. commercial paper. These Notes were issued under an existing shelf registration statement. The effective interest rate on these Notes, reflecting issuance discount and swap settlement, is 5.12%. The Notes contain customary covenants that limit the ability of the Company and our restricted subsidiaries (as defined) to incur certain liens or enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions as well as a change in control provision. Also in December, we redeemed approximately $72 million of notes issued in March, 2001, otherwise due in 2011.
 
 
During November 2005, subsidiaries of the Company issued approximately $930 million of foreign currency-denominated debt in offerings outside of the United States, consisting of Euro 550 million of floating rate notes due 2007 (the “Euro Notes”) and approximately C$330 million of Canadian commercial paper. These debt issuances were guaranteed by the Company and net proceeds were used primarily for the payment of dividends pursuant to the American Jobs Creation Act and the purchase of stock and assets of other direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company, as well as for general corporate purposes.
 
 
To utilize excess cash and reduce financing costs, on February 28, 2007, we redeemed the Euro Notes otherwise due May 2007, for $728 million. To partially refinance this redemption, we established a program to issue euro-commercial paper notes up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $750 million or its equivalent in alternative currencies. The notes may have maturities ranging up to 364 days and are senior unsecured obligations of the applicable issuer, with subsidiary issuances guaranteed by the Company.
 
 
In connection with these financing activities, we increased our short-term lines of credit from $2.2 billion at December 30, 2006 to approximately $2.6 billion at December 29, 2007. This increase was


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achieved via a $400 million unsecured 364-Day Credit Agreement effective January 31, 2007. The 364-Day Agreement contains customary covenants, warranties, and restrictions similar to those applicable to our existing $2.0 billion Five-Year Credit Agreement, which expires in 2011. Our credit facilities are available for general corporate purposes, including commercial paper back-up, although we do not currently anticipate any draw-down of the facilities. (Refer to Note 7 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our debt issuances and credit facilities.) The $400 million Credit Agreement expired at the end of January, 2008 and the Company did not renew it.
 
 
At December 29, 2007, our total debt was approximately $5.2 billion, approximately even with the balance at year-end 2006. During 2006, we reduced the Company’s common stock outstanding through repurchase programs by approximately 4%, and implemented a mid-year increase in the shareholder dividend level of approximately 5%. Similarly, during 2007, we further reduced our common stock outstanding through repurchase programs by approximately 3% and implemented a mid-year increase in the shareholder dividend level of approximately 6.5%. Primarily due to the prioritization of these uses of cash flow, the aforementioned need to selectively invest in production capacity, as well as pursue selective acquisition opportunities, we did not reduce our total debt balance during the past two years, but remain committed to net debt reduction (total debt less cash) over the long term. We currently expect the total debt balance at year-end 2008 to be slightly higher than the 2007 year-end level.
 
 
Although we presently observe a general recovery of liquidity within the commercial paper market and improved pricing in the corporate bond market, we cannot reasonably predict the extent and duration of the continuing sub-prime mortgage market crisis, the economic environment, nor their potential indirect effect on our sector. However, we continue to believe that we will be able to meet our interest and principal repayment obligations and maintain our debt covenants for the foreseeable future, while still meeting our operational needs, including the pursuit of selected bolt-on acquisitions, through our strong cash flow, our program of issuing short-term debt, and maintaining credit facilities on a global basis. Our significant long-term debt issues do not contain acceleration of maturity clauses that are dependent on credit ratings. A change in the Company’s credit ratings could limit our access to the U.S. short-term debt market and/or increase the cost of refinancing long-term debt in the future. However, even under these circumstances, we would continue to have access to our aforementioned credit facilities. In addition, assuming continuation of the present market conditions, we believe it would be possible to term out certain short-term maturities or obtain additional credit facilities such that the Company could further extend its ability to meet its long-term borrowing obligations through 2008.
 
 
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
 
 
Off-balance sheet arrangements
As of December 29, 2007 the Company did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements. As of December 30, 2006, our off balance sheet arrangements were limited to a residual value guarantee on one operating lease of approximately $13 million and guarantees on loans to independent contractors for their purchase of DSD route franchises up to $17 million. During 2007, we terminated the operating lease and purchased the facility. See Note 6 within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Additionally, during 2007, we completed a program to reorganize the DSD operations resulting in the exiting of the route franchise agreements. See Note 3 within the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
 
 
Contractual obligations
The following table summarizes future estimated cash payments to be made under existing contractual obligations. Further information on debt obligations is contained in Note 7 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Further information on lease obligations is contained in Note 6. Further information on uncertain tax positions is contained in Note 11.


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Contractual obligations   Payments due by period  
   
                                        2013 and
 
(millions)   Total     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     beyond  
   
 
Long-term debt:
                                                       
Principal
  $ 3,751     $ 466     $ 2     $ 1     $ 1,429     $ 751     $ 1,102  
Interest (a)
    2,504       221       215       215       167       170       1,516  
Capital leases
    8       1       1       1       1       1       3  
Operating leases
    730       159       137       112       83       56       183  
Purchase obligations (b)
    612       477       91       34       4       4       2  
Uncertain tax positions (c)
    36       36                                
Other long-term (d)
    592       117       76       71       79       60       189  
 
 
Total
  $ 8,233     $ 1,477     $ 522     $ 434     $ 1,763     $ 1,042     $ 2,995  
 
 
 
(a) Includes interest payments on long-term fixed rate debt. As of December 29, 2007, the Company did not have any long-term variable rate debt or any outstanding interest rate derivative financial instruments.
 
 
(b) Purchase obligations consist primarily of fixed commitments under various co-marketing agreements and to a lesser extent, of service agreements, and contracts for future delivery of commodities, packaging materials, and equipment. The amounts presented in the table do not include items already recorded in accounts payable or other current liabilities at year-end 2007, nor does the table reflect cash flows we are likely to incur based on our plans, but are not obligated to incur. Therefore, it should be noted that the exclusion of these items from the table could be a limitation in assessing our total future cash flows under contracts.
 
 
(c) In addition to the $36 million reported in the 2008 column and classified as a current liability, the Company has $133 million recorded in long-term liabilities for which it is not reasonably possible to predict when it may be paid.
 
 
(d) Other long-term contractual obligations are those associated with noncurrent liabilities recorded within the Consolidated Balance Sheet at year-end 2007 and consist principally of projected commitments under deferred compensation arrangements, multiemployer plans, and supplemental employee retirement benefits. The table also includes our current estimate of minimum contributions to defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans through 2013 as follows: 2008-$63; 2009-$51; 2010-$52; 2011-$52; 2012-$41; 2013-$43.
 
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
 
 
Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 1 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
At the beginning of our 2007 fiscal year, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN No. 48), which affects our process for estimating tax benefits and liabilities, as further discussed in the “Income taxes” section beginning on page 27. The initial application of FIN No. 48 resulted in a net decrease to accrued income tax and related interest liabilities of approximately $2 million, with an offsetting increase to retained earnings. Refer to Note 1 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on FIN No. 48.
 
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” in order to establish a single definition of fair value and a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that is intended to result in increased consistency and comparability in fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 also expands disclosures about fair value measurements, with the intention of improving the quality of information provided to users of financial statements. The standard applies whenever other authoritative literature requires (or permits) certain assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value, but does not expand the use of fair value. SFAS No. 157 was originally effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. In early 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position (FSP) FAS-157-2, which delays by one year, the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The delay pertains to items including, but not limited to, non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities initially measured at fair value in a business combination, reporting units measured at fair value in the first step of evaluating goodwill for impairment under SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, indefinite-lived intangible assets measured at fair value for impairment assessment under SFAS No. 142, and long-lived assets measured at fair value for impairment assessment under SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. We plan to adopt the portion of SFAS No. 157 that has not been delayed by FSP FAS-157-2 as of the beginning of our 2008 fiscal year, and plan to adopt the balance of its provisions as of the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year. For the Company, balance sheet items carried at fair value on a recurring basis (to which SFAS No. 157 applies in 2008) consist primarily of derivative financial instruments. Balance sheet items carried at fair value on a non-recurring basis (to which SFAS No. 157 will apply in 2009) consist of assets held for sale and exit liabilities. Relevant to the “Intangibles” section beginning on page 23, we also use fair value concepts to test various long-lived assets for impairment and to initially measure assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. We do not currently expect the adoption of SFAS No. 157 in 2008 to have a material effect on the measurement of the Company’s financial


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assets and liabilities. We are continuing to evaluate the impact the standard will have on the determination of fair value related to non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities in post-2008 years.
 
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007) “Business Combinations” and SFAS No. 160 “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements,” which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. These new standards represent the completion of the FASB’s first major joint project with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and are intended to improve, simplify, and converge internationally the accounting for business combinations and the reporting of noncontrolling interests (formerly minority interests) in consolidated financial statements. We will adopt these standards at the beginning of our 2009 fiscal year. The effect of adoption will generally be prospectively applied to transactions completed after the end of our 2008 fiscal year, although the new presentation and disclosure requirements for pre-existing noncontrolling interests will be retrospectively applied to all prior-period financial information presented.
 
 
SFAS No. 141(R) retains the underlying fair value concepts of its predecessor (SFAS No. 141), but changes the method for applying the acquisition method in a number of significant respects including the requirement to expense transaction fees and expected restructuring costs as incurred, rather than including these amounts in the allocated purchase price; the requirement to recognize the fair value of contingent consideration at the acquisition date, rather than the expected amount when the contingency is resolved; the requirement to recognize the fair value of acquired in-process research and development assets at the acquisition date, rather than immediately expensing; and the requirement to recognize a gain in relation to a bargain purchase price, rather than reducing the allocated basis of long-lived assets. Because this standard is generally applied prospectively, the effect of adoption on our financial statements will depend primarily on specific transactions, if any, completed after 2008. We are currently evaluating the effects that SFAS No. 141(R) is likely to have on potential post-2008 transactions.
 
 
Under SFAS No. 160, consolidated financial statements will be presented as if the parent company investors (controlling interests) and other minority investors (noncontrolling interests) in partially-owned subsidiaries have similar economic interests in a single entity. As a result, the investment in the noncontrolling interest, previously recorded on the balance sheet between liabilities and equity (the “mezzanine”), will be reported as equity in the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, subsequent to the adoption of SFAS No. 160. Furthermore, consolidated financial statements will include 100% of a controlled subsidiary’s earnings, rather than only the parent company’s share. Lastly, transactions between the parent company and noncontrolling interests will be reported in equity as transactions between shareholders, provided these transactions do not create a change in control. Previously, acquisitions of additional interests in a controlled subsidiary generally resulted in remeasurement of assets and liabilities acquired; dispositions of interests generally resulted in a gain or loss.
 
 
Management is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS No. 160 on the Company’s financial statements. Presently, there are no significant noncontrolling interests in any of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries. Therefore, we currently believe that the impact of SFAS No. 160, if any, will primarily depend on the materiality of noncontrolling interests arising in future transactions, including those entered into during 2008, to which the financial statement presentation and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 160 will apply.
 
 
Our critical accounting estimates, which require significant judgments and assumptions likely to have a material impact on our financial statements, are discussed in the following sections on pages 23-27.
 
 
Promotional expenditures
Our promotional activities are conducted either through the retail trade or directly with consumers and involve in-store displays and events; feature price discounts on our products; consumer coupons, contests, and loyalty programs; and similar activities. The costs of these activities are generally recognized at the time the related revenue is recorded, which normally precedes the actual cash expenditure. The recognition of these costs therefore requires management judgment regarding the volume of promotional offers that will be redeemed by either the retail trade or consumer. These estimates are made using various techniques including historical data on performance of similar promotional programs. Differences between estimated expense and actual redemptions are normally insignificant and recognized as a change in management estimate in a subsequent period. On a full-year basis, these subsequent period adjustments have rarely represented more than .4% (.004) of our Company’s net sales. However, as our Company’s total promotional expenditures (including amounts classified as a revenue reduction) represented nearly 30% of 2007 net sales, the likelihood exists of materially different reported results if different assumptions or conditions were to prevail.
 
 
Intangibles
We follow SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” in evaluating impairment of intangibles. We perform this evaluation at least annually during the fourth quarter of each year in conjunction with our annual budgeting process. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill impairment testing first


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requires a comparison between the carrying value and fair value of a reporting unit with associated goodwill. Carrying value is based on the assets and liabilities associated with the operations of that reporting unit, which often requires allocation of shared or corporate items among reporting units. The fair value of a reporting unit is based primarily on our assessment of profitability multiples likely to be achieved in a theoretical sale transaction. Similarly, impairment testing of other intangible assets requires a comparison of carrying value to fair value of that particular asset. Fair values of non-goodwill intangible assets are based primarily on projections of future cash flows to be generated from that asset. For instance, cash flows related to a particular trademark would be based on a projected royalty stream attributable to branded product sales. These estimates are made using various inputs including historical data, current and anticipated market conditions, management plans, and market comparables.
 
 
We also follow SFAS No. 142 in evaluating the useful life over which a non-goodwill intangible asset is expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the cash flows of the Company. An intangible asset with a finite useful life is amortized; an intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is not amortized, but is evaluated annually for impairment. Reaching a determination on useful life requires significant judgments and assumptions regarding the future effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, other economic factors (such as the stability of the industry, known technological advances, legislative action that results in an uncertain or changing regulatory environment, and expected changes in distribution channels), the level of required maintenance expenditures, and the expected lives of other related groups of assets.
 
 
At December 29, 2007, intangible assets, net, were $5.0 billion, consisting primarily of goodwill and trademarks associated with the 2001 acquisition of Keebler Foods Company. Within this total, approximately $1.4 billion of non-goodwill intangible assets were classified as indefinite-lived, comprised principally of Keebler trademarks. While we currently believe that the fair value of all of our intangibles exceeds carrying value and that those intangibles so classified will contribute indefinitely to the cash flows of the Company, materially different assumptions regarding future performance of our North American snacks business or the weighted-average cost of capital used in the valuations could result in significant impairment losses and/or amortization expense.
 
 
Stock compensation
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment,” which generally requires public companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value and to recognize this cost over the requisite service period. We adopted SFAS No. 123(R) as of the beginning of our 2006 fiscal year, using the modified prospective method. Accordingly, prior years were not restated. With the adoption of this pronouncement, stock-based compensation represents a critical accounting policy of the Company, which is further described in Note 1 within Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
In 2006, our adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) resulted in an increase in the Company’s corporate SGA expense and a corresponding reduction to earnings and net earnings per share, due primarily to the recognition of compensation expense associated with employee and director stock option grants. No such expense was recognized under our previous accounting method in pre-2006 periods; however we were required to disclose pro forma results under the alternative fair value method prescribed by SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. Using reported results for 2006 and pro forma results for 2005, the comparable impact of stock compensation expense is presented in the following table:
 
                         
   
    Stock-based
       
    compensation expense     Diluted EPS
 
(millions, except per share data)   Pre-tax     Net of tax     impact  
   
 
2006:
                       
As reported comparable
  $ 31     $ 20     $ .04  
SFAS No. 123(R) adoption impact
    65       42       .11  
 
 
As reported total
  $ 96     $ 62     $ .15  
 
 
2005:
                       
As reported comparable
  $ 18     $ 12     $ .03  
Pro forma incremental
  $ 58     $ 37       .09  
 
 
Pro forma total
  $ 76     $ 49     $ .12  
 
 
 
 
Accounting for stock compensation under SFAS No. 123(R) represents a critical accounting estimate, which requires significant judgments and assumptions likely to have a material impact on our financial statements. Due to the need to determine the grant-date fair value of equity instruments that have not yet been awarded, the actual impact on future results will depend, in part, on actual awards during any reporting period and various market factors that affect the fair value of those awards. Additionally, while the timing and volume of grants associated with a particular year’s long-term incentive compensation are within our control, the timing and volume of “reload” option grants are not. Reload options are awarded to eligible employees and directors to replace previously-owned Company stock used by those individuals to pay the exercise price, including related employment taxes, of vested pre-2004 option awards containing this accelerated ownership feature. Under SFAS No. 123(R), these reload options result in additional compensation expense in the year of grant and for 2007 and 2006, represented approximately one-third of the Company’s total stock option expense.


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The Company has not granted options containing an accelerated ownership feature since 2003; however, the potential requirement to award reload options over the contractual 10-year term of the original grants could continue to significantly impact the amount of our stock-based compensation expense for a number of years.
 
 
We estimate the fair value of each stock option award on the date of grant using a lattice-based option valuation model for annual grants and a Black-Scholes model for reload grants. These models require us to make predictive assumptions regarding future stock price volatility, employee exercise behavior, and dividend yield. Our methods for selecting these valuation assumptions are explained in Note 8 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In particular, our estimate of stock price volatility is based principally on historical volatility of the options granted, and to a lesser extent, on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock. For the lattice-based model, historical volatility corresponds to the 10-year contractual term of the options granted; whereas, for the Black-Scholes model, historical volatility corresponds to the expected term, which is currently 2.25 years. We decided to rely more heavily on historical volatility due to the greater availability of data and reliability of trends over longer periods of time, as compared to the terms of more thinly-traded options, which rarely extend beyond two years. At year-end 2007, historical volatilities using weekly price observations ranged from approximately 22% for 10 years to 11% for 2.25 years, while implied volatilities averaged approximately 20% for traded options with terms in excess of six months. Based on this data, our weighted-average composite volatility assumption for purposes of valuing our option grants during 2007 was 17.5%, as compared to 17.9% for 2006. All other assumptions held constant, a one percentage point increase or decrease in our 2007 volatility assumption would increase or decrease the grant-date fair value of our 2007 option awards by approximately 4%.
 
 
To the extent that actual outcomes differ from our assumptions, we are not required to true up grant-date fair value-based expense to final intrinsic values. However, these differences can impact the classification of cash tax benefits realized upon exercise of stock options, as explained in the following two paragraphs. Furthermore, as historical data has a significant bearing on our forward-looking assumptions, significant variances between actual and predicted experience could lead to prospective revisions in our assumptions, which could then significantly impact the year-over-year comparability of stock-based compensation expense.
 
 
SFAS No. 123(R) also provides that any corporate income tax benefit realized upon exercise or ve sting of an award in excess of that previously recognized in earnings (referred to as a “windfall tax benefit”) will be presented in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as a financing (rather than an operating) cash flow. If this standard had been adopted in 2005, operating cash flow would have been lower (and financing cash flow would have been higher) by approximately $20 million as a result of this provision. For 2007 and 2006, the corresponding reduction in operating cash flow attributable to windfall tax benefits classified as financing cash flow was $15 million and $22 million respectively. The actual impact on future years’ operating cash flow will depend, in part, on the volume of employee stock option exercises during a particular year and the relationship between the exercise-date market value of the underlying stock and the original grant-date fair value previously determined for financial reporting purposes.
 
 
For balance sheet classification purposes, realized windfall tax benefits are credited to capital in excess of par value within the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Realized shortfall tax benefits (amounts which are less than that previously recognized in earnings) are first offset against the cumulative balance of windfall tax benefits, if any, and then charged directly to income tax expense, potentially resulting in volatility in our consolidated effective income tax rate. Under the transition rules for adopting SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method, we were permitted to calculate a cumulative memo balance of windfall tax benefits from post-1995 years for the purpose of accounting for future shortfall tax benefits. We completed such study prior to the first period of adoption and currently have sufficient cumulative memo windfall tax benefits to absorb projected arising shortfalls, such that 2008 earnings are not currently expected to be affected by this provision. However, as employee stock option exercise behavior is not within our control, the likelihood exists of materially different reported results if different assumptions or conditions were to prevail.
 
 
Retirement benefits
Our Company sponsors a number of U.S. and foreign defined benefit employee pension plans and also provides retiree health care and other welfare benefits in the United States and Canada. Plan funding strategies are influenced by tax regulations. A substantial majority of plan assets are invested in a globally diversified portfolio of equity securities with smaller holdings of debt securities and other investments. We follow SFAS No. 87 “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions” and SFAS No. 106 “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions” (as amended by SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”) for the measurement and recognition of obligations and expense related to our retiree benefit plans. Embodied in both of these standards is the concept that the cost of benefits


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provided during retirement should be recognized over the employees’ active working life. Inherent in this concept is the requirement to use various actuarial assumptions to predict and measure costs and obligations many years prior to the settlement date. Major actuarial assumptions that require significant management judgment and have a material impact on the measurement of our consolidated benefits expense and accumulated obligation include the long-term rates of return on plan assets, the health care cost trend rates, and the interest rates used to discount the obligations for our major plans, which cover employees in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
 
 
To conduct our annual review of the long-term rate of return on plan assets, we model expected returns over a 20-year investment horizon with respect to the specific investment mix of each of our major plans. The return assumptions used reflect a combination of rigorous historical performance analysis and forward-looking views of the financial markets including consideration of current yields on long-term bonds, price-earnings ratios of the major stock market indices, and long-term inflation. Our U.S. plan model, corresponding to approximately 70% of our trust assets globally, currently incorporates a long-term inflation assumption of 2.7% and an active management premium of 1% (net of fees) validated by historical analysis. Although we review our expected long-term rates of return annually, our benefit trust investment performance for one particular year does not, by itself, significantly influence our evaluation. Our expected rates of return are generally not revised, provided these rates continue to fall within a “more likely than not” corridor of between the 25th and 75th percentile of expected long-term returns, as determined by our modeling process. Our assumed rate of return for U.S. plans in 2007 of 8.9% equated to approximately the 50th percentile expectation of our 2007 model. Similar methods are used for various foreign plans with invested assets, reflecting local economic conditions. Foreign trust investments represent approximately 30% of our global benefit plan assets.
 
 
Based on consolidated benefit plan assets at December 29, 2007, a 100 basis point reduction in the assumed rate of return would increase 2008 benefits expense by approximately $44 million. Correspondingly, a 100 basis point shortfall between the assumed and actual rate of return on plan assets for 2008 would result in a similar amount of arising experience loss. Any arising asset-related experience gain or loss is recognized in the calculated value of plan assets over a five-year period. Once recognized, experience gains and losses are amortized using a declining-balance method over the average remaining service period of active plan participants, which for U.S. plans is presently about 13 years. Under this recognition method, a 100 basis point shortfall in actual versus assumed performance of all of our plan assets in 2008 would reduce pre-tax earnings by approximately $1 million in 2009, increasing to approximately $7 million in 2013. For each of the three fiscal years, our actual return on plan assets exceeded/(was less than) the recognized assumed return by the following amounts (in millions): 2007–($99); 2006–$257; 2005–$39.
 
 
To conduct our annual review of health care cost trend rates, we model our actual claims cost data over a five-year historical period, including an analysis of pre-65 versus post-65 age groups and other important demographic components of our covered retiree population. This data is adjusted to eliminate the impact of plan changes and other factors that would tend to distort the underlying cost inflation trends. Our initial health care cost trend rate is reviewed annually and adjusted as necessary to remain consistent with recent historical experience and our expectations regarding short-term future trends. In comparison to our actual five-year compound annual claims cost growth rate of approximately 6%, our initial trend rate for 2008 of 8.5% reflects the expected future impact of faster-growing claims experience for certain demographic groups within our total employee population. Our initial rate is trended downward by 1% per year, until the ultimate trend rate of 4.75% is reached. The ultimate trend rate is adjusted annually, as necessary, to approximate the current economic view on the rate of long-term inflation plus an appropriate health care cost premium. Based on consolidated obligations at December 29, 2007, a 100 basis point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rates would increase 2008 benefits expense by approximately $16 million. A 100 basis point excess of 2008 actual health care claims cost over that calculated from the assumed trend rate would result in an arising experience loss of approximately $9 million. Any arising health care claims cost-related experience gain or loss is recognized in the calculated amount of claims experience over a four-year period. Once recognized, experience gains and losses are amortized using a straight-line method over 15 years, resulting in at least the minimum amortization prescribed by SFAS No. 106. The net experience gain arising from recognition of 2007 claims experience was approximately $6 million.
 
 
To conduct our annual review of discount rates, we use several published market indices with appropriate duration weighting to assess prevailing rates on high quality debt securities, with a primary focus on the Citigroup Pension Liability Index® for our U.S. plans. To test the appropriateness of these indices, we periodically conduct a matching exercise between the expected settlement cash flows of our plans and bond maturities, consisting principally of AA-rated (or the equivalent in foreign jurisdictions) non-callable issues with at least $25 million principal outstanding. The model does not assume any reinvestment rates and assumes that bond investments mature just in time to


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pay benefits as they become due. For those years where no suitable bonds are available, the portfolio utilizes a linear interpolation approach to impute a hypothetical bond whose maturity matches the cash flows required in those years. As of three different interim dates during 2007 and four different dates during 2006, this matching exercise for our U.S. plans produced a discount rate within +/- 20 basis points of the equivalent-dated Citigroup Pension Liability Index®. The measurement dates for our defined benefit plans are consistent with our Company’s fiscal year end. Thus, we select discount rates to measure our benefit obligations that are consistent with market indices during December of each year. Based on consolidated obligations at December 29, 2007, a 25 basis point decline in the weighted-average discount rate used for benefit plan measurement purposes would increase 2008 benefits expense by approximately $15 million. All obligation-related experience gains and losses are amortized using a straight-line method over the average remaining service period of active plan participants.
 
 
Despite the previously-described rigorous policies for selecting major actuarial assumptions, we periodically experience material differences between assumed and actual experience. As of December 29, 2007, we had consolidated unamortized prior service cost and net experience losses of approximately $.6 billion, as compared to approximately $.9 billion at December 30, 2006. The year-over-year decline in net unamortized amounts was attributable primarily to the favorable impact of rising discount rates on our benefit obligations. Of the total unamortized amounts at December 29, 2007, approximately 50% was related to discount rate reductions prior to 2007, with the remainder primarily related to net unfavorable health care claims cost experience (including upward revisions in the assumed trend rate.) For 2008, we currently expect total amortization of prior service cost and net experience losses to be approximately $41 million lower than the actual 2007 amount of approximately $99 million. As discussed on page 14, total employee benefits expense for 2008 is expected to be slightly lower than the 2007 amount, due to increases in the discount rate environment and the on-going phase in of favorable asset returns.
 
 
Assuming actual future experience is consistent with our current assumptions, annual amortization of accumulated prior service cost and net experience losses during each of the next several years would decrease versus the 2008 amount.
 
 
Income taxes
Our consolidated effective income tax rate is influenced by tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Judgment is required in evaluating our tax positions to determine how much benefit should be recognized in our income tax expense. We establish tax reserves in accordance with FIN No. 48 (which we adopted at the beginning of 2007). FIN No. 48 is based on a benefit recognition model, which we believe could result in a greater amount of benefit (and a lower amount of reserve) being initially recognized in certain circumstances. Prior to the adoption of FIN No. 48, our policy was to establish reserves that reflected the probable outcome of known tax contingencies. Favorable resolution was recognized as a reduction to our effective tax rate in the period of resolution. The initial application of FIN No. 48 resulted in a net decrease to the Company’s consolidated accrued income tax and related interest liabilities of approximately $2 million, with an offsetting increase to retained earnings.
 
 
The Company evaluates a tax position in two-steps in accordance with FIN No. 48. The first step is to determine whether it is more-likely-than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination based upon the technical merit of the position. In weighing the technical merits of the position, we consider the facts and circumstances of the position; we assume the reviewing tax authority has full knowledge of the position; and we consider the weight of authoritative guidance. The second step is measurement; a tax position that meets the more-likely-than not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. While reviewing the ranges of probable outcomes, the Company records the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The tax position will be derecognized when it is no longer more-likely-than not of being sustained.
 
 
For the periods presented, our income tax and related interest reserves have averaged approximately $170 million. Reserve adjustments for individual issues have rarely exceeded 1% of earnings before income taxes annually. Significant tax reserve adjustments impacting our effective tax rate would be separately presented in the rate reconciliation table of Note 11 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
The current portion of our tax reserves is presented in the balance sheet within accrued income taxes and the amount expected to be settled after one year is recorded in other noncurrent liabilities. Likewise, the current portion of related interest reserves are presented in the balance sheet within accrued other liabilities, with the amount expected to be settled after one year recorded in other noncurrent liabilities.
 


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FUTURE OUTLOOK
 
 
Our 2008 forecasted consolidated results are generally based on our long-term annual growth targets as discussed on page 12, although we currently expect our internal net sales could increase at a mid-single digit rate, slightly exceeding our low single-digit growth target. We expect this higher-than-targeted growth to come principally from previously announced pricing initiatives, improved product mix and continued innovation. Despite a projected decline in gross margin of approximately 100 basis points, which is being negatively impacted by 40 basis points due to acquisitions and 30 basis points due to up-front costs recorded in cost of goods sold, we believe the higher-than-targeted sales growth will support mid single-digit consolidated operating profit growth. As discussed on page 17, net interest expense for 2008 is expected to be comparable to 2007 expense, and our consolidated effective income tax rate is expected to be approximately 31%. Finally, as discussed in more detail on page 34, our fiscal year 2008 will benefit from a 53rd week. The benefit associated with this extra week will be largely invested in emerging markets and various acquisitions in the United States. These factors are expected to provide the growth necessary to achieve our target of high single-digit growth in 2008 net earnings per share. In addition, we remain committed to reinvesting in brand building, cost-reduction initiatives, and other growth opportunities. Lastly, we expect our cash flow performance to remain strong and are currently expecting 2008 cash flow to be approximately even with our 2007 results.
 
 
ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
 
Our Company is exposed to certain market risks, which exist as a part of our ongoing business operations. We use derivative financial and commodity instruments, where appropriate, to manage these risks. As a matter of policy, we do not engage in trading or speculative transactions. Refer to Note 12 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on our accounting policies related to derivative financial and commodity instruments.
 
 
Foreign exchange risk
Our Company is exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency cash flows related to third-party purchases, intercompany loans and product shipments. Our Company is also exposed to fluctuations in the value of foreign currency investments in subsidiaries and cash flows related to repatriation of these investments. Additionally, our Company is exposed to volatility in the translation of foreign currency earnings to U.S. Dollars. Primary exposures include the U.S. Dollar versus the British Pound, Euro, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, and Mexican Peso, and in the case of inter-subsidiary transactions, the British Pound versus the Euro. We assess foreign currency risk based on transactional cash flows and translational volatility and enter into forward contracts, options, and currency swaps to reduce fluctuations in net long or short currency positions. Forward contracts and options are generally less than 18 months duration. Currency swap agreements are established in conjunction with the term of underlying debt issuances.
 
 
The total notional amount of foreign currency derivative instruments at year-end 2007 was $570 million, representing a settlement obligation of $8.6 million. The total notional amount of foreign currency derivative instruments at year-end 2006 was $455 million, representing a settlement obligation of $1 million. All of these derivatives were hedges of anticipated transactions, translational exposure, or existing assets or liabilities, and mature within 18 months. Assuming an unfavorable 10% change in year-end exchange rates, the settlement obligation would have increased by approximately $57 million at year-end 2007 and $46 million at year-end 2006. These unfavorable changes would generally have been offset by favorable changes in the values of the underlying exposures.
 
 
Interest rate risk
Our Company is exposed to interest rate volatility with regard to future issuances of fixed rate debt and existing and future issuances of variable rate debt. Primary exposures include movements in U.S. Treasury rates, London Interbank Offered Rates (LIBOR), and commercial paper rates. We periodically use interest rate swaps and forward interest rate contracts to reduce interest rate volatility and funding costs associated with certain debt issues, and to achieve a desired proportion of variable versus fixed rate debt, based on current and projected market conditions.
 
 
Note 7 within Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements provides information on our significant debt issues. There were no interest rate derivatives outstanding at year-end 2007 and 2006. Assuming average variable rate debt levels during the year, a one percentage point increase in interest rates would have increased interest expense by approximately $19 million in 2007 and $20 million in 2006.
 
 
Price risk
Our Company is exposed to price fluctuations primarily as a result of anticipated purchases of raw and packaging materials, fuel, and energy. Primary exposures include corn, wheat, soybean oil, sugar, cocoa, paperboard, natural gas, and diesel fuel. We have historically used the combination of long-term contracts with suppliers, and exchange-traded futures and option contracts to reduce price fluctuations in a desired percentage of forecasted raw material purchases over a duration of generally less than


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18 months. During 2006, we entered into two separate 10-year over-the-counter commodity swap transactions to reduce fluctuations in the price of natural gas used principally in our manufacturing processes. The notional amount of the swaps totaled $188 million as of December 29, 2007 and equates to approximately 50% of our North America manufacturing needs. At year-end 2006, the notional amount was $209 million.
 
 
The total notional amount of commodity derivative instruments at year-end 2007, including the natural gas swaps, was $229 million, representing a settlement receivable of approximately $22 million. Assuming a 10% decrease in year-end commodity prices, the settlement receivable would decrease by approximately $22 million, generally offset by a reduction in the cost of the underlying commodity purchases. The total notional amount of commodity derivative instruments at year-end 2006, including the natural gas swaps, was $239 million, representing a settlement obligation of approximately $11 million. Assuming a 10% decrease in year-end commodity prices, this settlement obligation would increase by approximately $17 million, generally offset by a reduction in the cost of the underlying commodity purchases.
 
 
In addition to the derivative commodity instruments discussed above, we use long-term contracts with suppliers to manage a portion of the price exposure. It should be noted that the exclusion of these positions from the analysis above could be a limitation in assessing the net market risk of our Company.
 


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ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
Kellogg Company and Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated Statement of Earnings
                             
 
(millions, except per share data)   2007     2006     2005      
Net sales
  $ 11,776     $ 10,907     $ 10,177      
 
 
Cost of goods sold
    6,597       6,082       5,612      
Selling, general, and administrative expense
    3,311       3,059       2,815      
 
 
Operating profit
  $ 1,868     $ 1,766     $ 1,750      
 
 
Interest expense
    319       307       300      
Other income (expense), net
    (2 )     13       (25 )    
 
 
Earnings before income taxes
    1,547       1,472       1,425      
Income taxes
    444       467       445      
Earnings (loss) from joint ventures
          (1 )          
 
 
Net earnings
  $ 1,103     $ 1,004     $ 980      
 
 
Per share amounts:
                           
Basic
  $ 2.79     $ 2.53     $ 2.38      
Diluted
  $ 2.76     $ 2.51     $ 2.36      
 
 
 
Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Kellogg Company and Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity
                                                                         
   
                                        Accumulated
             
                Capital in
                      other
    Total
    Total
 
    Common stock     excess of
    Retained
    Treasury stock     comprehensive
    shareholders’
    comprehensive
 
(millions)   shares     amount     par value     earnings     shares     amount     income/(loss)     equity     income  
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2005
    416     $ 104     $     $ 2,701       2     $ (108 )   $ (440 )   $ 2,257     $ 1,180  
                                                                         
Common stock repurchases
                                    16       (664 )             (664 )        
Net earnings
                            980                               980       980  
Dividends
                            (435 )                             (435 )        
Other comprehensive income
                                                    (136 )     (136 )     (136 )
Stock options exercised and other
    3       1       59       20       (5 )     202               282          
 
 
Balance, December 31, 2005
    419     $ 105     $ 59     $ 3,266       13     $ (570 )   $ (576 )   $ 2,284     $ 844  
                                                                         
Revision (a)
                    101       (101 )                                      
Common stock repurchases
                                    15       (650 )             (650 )        
Net earnings
                            1,004                               1,004       1,004  
Dividends
                            (450 )                             (450 )        
Other comprehensive income
                                                    122       122       122  
Stock compensation
                    86                                       86          
Stock options exercised and other
                    46       (89 )     (7 )     308               265          
Impact of adoption of SFAS No. 158 (a)
                                                    (592 )     (592 )        
 
 
Balance, December 30, 2006
    419     $ 105     $ 292     $ 3,630       21     $ (912 )   $ (1,046 )   $ 2,069     $ 1,126  
                                                                         
Impact of adoption of FIN No. 48 (b)
                            2                               2          
Common stock repurchases
                                    12       (650 )             (650 )        
Net earnings
                            1,103                               1,103       1,103  
Dividends
                            (475 )                             (475 )        
Other comprehensive income
                                                    219       219       219  
Stock compensation
                    69                                       69          
Stock options exercised and other
                    27       (43 )     (4 )     205               189          
 
 
Balance, December 29, 2007
    419     $ 105     $ 388     $ 4,217       29     $ (1,357 )   $ (827 )   $ 2,526     $ 1,322  
 
 
 
Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
(a) Refer to Note 5 for further information on these items.
 
 
(b) Refer to Note 11 for further information.


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Kellogg Company and Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet
                 
 
(millions, except share data)   2007   2006
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 524     $ 411  
Accounts receivable, net
    1,026       945  
Inventories
    924       824  
Other current assets
    243       247  
 
 
Total current assets
  $ 2,717     $ 2,427  
 
 
Property, net
    2,990       2,816  
Goodwill
    3,515       3,448  
Other intangibles, net
    1,450       1,420  
Other assets
    725       603  
 
 
Total assets
  $ 11,397     $ 10,714  
 
 
Current liabilities
               
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 466     $ 723  
Notes payable
    1,489       1,268  
Accounts payable
    1,081       910  
Other current liabilities
    1,008       1,119  
 
 
Total current liabilities
  $ 4,044     $ 4,020  
 
 
Long-term debt
    3,270       3,053  
Other liabilities
    1,557       1,572  
Shareholders’ equity
               
Common stock, $.25 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized
Issued: 418,669,193 shares in 2007 and 418,515,339 shares in 2006
    105       105  
Capital in excess of par value
    388       292  
Retained earnings
    4,217       3,630  
Treasury stock at cost:
28,618,052 shares in 2007 and 20,817,930 shares in 2006
    (1,357 )     (912 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (827 )     (1,046 )
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
  $ 2,526     $ 2,069  
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 11,397     $ 10,714  
 
 
 
Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


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Kellogg Company and Subsidiaries
 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
                         
 
(millions)   2007   2006   2005
 
Operating activities
                       
Net earnings
  $ 1,103     $ 1,004     $ 980  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    372       353       392  
Deferred income taxes
    (69 )     (44 )     (59 )
Other (a)
    183       235       199  
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions
    (96 )     (99 )     (397 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
    10       (39 )     28  
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 1,503     $ 1,410     $ 1,143  
 
 
Investing activities
                       
Additions to properties
  $ (472 )   $ (453 )   $ (374 )
Acquisitions of businesses
    (128 )           (50 )
Investments in joint ventures and other
    (4 )     (1 )      
Property disposals
    3       9       9  
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
  $ (601 )   $ (445 )   $ (415 )
 
 
Financing activities
                       
Net increase (reduction) of notes payable, with maturities
less than or equal to 90 days
  $ 625     $ (344 )   $ 360  
Issuances of notes payable, with maturities greater than 90 days
    804       1,065       42  
Reductions of notes payable, with maturities greater than 90 days
    (1,209 )     (565 )     (42 )
Issuances of long-term debt
    750             647  
Reductions of long-term debt
    (802 )     (85 )     (1,041 )
Net issuances of common stock
    163       218       222  
Common stock repurchases
    (650 )     (650 )     (664 )
Cash dividends
    (475 )     (450 )     (435 )
Other
    6       22       6  
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities
  $ (788 )   $ (789 )   $ (905 )
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (1 )     16       (21 )
 
 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 113     $ 192     $ (198 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    411       219       417  
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 524     $ 411     $ 219  
 
 
 
Refer to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
(a) Consists principally of non-cash expense accruals for employee compensation and benefit obligations.


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
NOTE 1
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Basis of presentation
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Kellogg Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated.
 
 
The Company’s fiscal year normally ends on the Saturday closest to December 31 and as a result, a 53rd week is added approximately every sixth year. The Company’s 2007, 2006 and 2005 fiscal years ended on December 29, December 30 and December 31, respectively. Our 2008 fiscal year will have a 53rd week ending on January 3, 2009.
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
Highly liquid temporary investments with original maturities of less than three months are considered to be cash equivalents.
 
Accounts receivable
 
Accounts receivable consist principally of trade receivables, which are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and prompt payment discounts. Trade receivables generally do not bear interest. Terms and collection patterns vary around the world and by channel. In the United States, the Company generally has required payment for goods sold eleven or sixteen days subsequent to the date of invoice as 2% 10/net 11 or 1% 15/net 16, and days sales outstanding (DSO) has averaged approximately 19 days during the periods presented. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents management’s estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable, as determined from a review of past due balances and other specific account data. Account balances are written off against the allowance when management determines the receivable is uncollectible. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers. Refer to Note 15 for an analysis of the Company’s accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful account balances during the periods presented.
 
Inventories
 
Inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market.
 
Property
 
The Company’s property consists mainly of plant and equipment used for manufacturing activities. These assets are recorded at cost and depreciated over estimated useful lives using straight-line methods for financial reporting and accelerated methods, where permitted, for tax reporting. Major property categories are depreciated over various periods as follows (in years): manufacturing machinery and equipment 5-20; computer and other office equipment 3-5; building components 15-30; building structures 50. Cost includes an amount of interest associated with significant capital projects. Plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment when conditions indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Such conditions include an extended period of idleness or a plan of disposal. Assets to be abandoned at a future date are depreciated over the remaining period of use. Assets to be sold are written down to realizable value at the time the assets are being actively marketed for sale and the disposal is expected to occur within one year. As of year-end 2006 and 2007, the carrying value of assets held for sale was insignificant.
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets
 
The Company’s intangible assets consist primarily of goodwill and major trademarks arising from the 2001 acquisition of Keebler Foods Company (“Keebler”). Management expects the Keebler trademarks, collectively, to contribute indefinitely to the cash flows of the Company. Accordingly, this asset has been classified as an “indefinite-lived” intangible pursuant to SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Under this standard, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles are not amortized, but are tested at least annually for impairment. Goodwill impairment testing first requires a comparison between the carrying value and fair value of a reporting unit, which for the Company is generally equivalent to a North American product group or an International market. If carrying value exceeds fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and is reduced to the implied fair value. Impairment testing for non-amortized intangibles requires a comparison between the fair value and carrying value of the intangible asset. If carrying value exceeds fair value, the intangible is considered impaired and is reduced to fair value. The Company uses various market valuation techniques to determine the fair value of intangible assets. Refer to Note 2 for further information on goodwill and other intangible assets.
 
Revenue recognition and measurement
 
The Company recognizes sales upon delivery of its products to customers net of applicable provisions for discounts, returns, allowances, and various government withholding taxes. Methodologies for determining these provisions are dependent on local customer pricing and promotional practices, which range from contractually fixed percentage price reductions to reimbursement based on actual occurrence or performance. Where applicable, future reimbursements are estimated based on a combination of historical patterns and future expectations regarding specific in-market product performance. The Company classifies promotional payments to its customers, the cost of consumer coupons, and other cash redemption offers


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in net sales. The cost of promotional package inserts are recorded in cost of goods sold. Other types of consumer promotional expenditures are normally recorded in selling, general, and administrative (SGA) expense.
 
Advertising
 
The costs of advertising are generally expensed as incurred and are classified within SGA expense.
 
Research and development
 
The costs of research and development (R&D) are generally expensed as incurred and are classified within SGA expense. R&D includes expenditures for new product and process innovation, as well as significant technological improvements to existing products and processes. Total annual expenditures for R&D are disclosed in Note 15 and are principally comprised of internal salaries, wages, consulting, and supplies attributable to time spent on R&D activities. Other costs include depreciation and maintenance of research facilities and equipment, including assets at manufacturing locations that are temporarily engaged in pilot plant activities.
 
Stock compensation
 
The Company uses various equity-based compensation programs to provide long-term performance incentives for its global workforce. Refer to Note 8 for further information on these programs and the amount of compensation expense recognized during the periods presented.
 
 
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment,” which generally requires public companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value and to recognize this cost over the requisite service period. The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) as of the beginning of its 2006 fiscal year, using the modified prospective method. Accordingly, prior years were not restated, but 2006 results include compensation expense associated with unvested equity-based awards, which were granted prior to 2006.
 
 
Prior to adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company used the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” to account for its employee stock options and other stock-based compensation. Under this method, because the exercise price of stock options granted to employees and directors equaled the market price of the underlying stock on the date of the grant, no compensation expense was recognized. Expense attributable to other types of stock-based awards was generally recognized in the Company’s reported results under APB No. 25.
 
Certain of the Company’s equity-based compensation plans contain provisions that accelerate vesting of awards upon retirement, disability, or death of eligible employees and directors. Prior to adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company generally recognized stock compensation expense over the stated vesting period of the award, with any unamortized expense recognized immediately if an acceleration event occurred. SFAS No. 123(R) specifies that a stock-based award is considered vested for expense attribution purposes when the employee’s retention of the award is no longer contingent on providing subsequent service. Accordingly, beginning in 2006, the Company has prospectively revised its expense attribution method so that the related compensation cost is recognized immediately for awards granted to retirement-eligible individuals or over the period from the grant date to the date retirement eligibility is achieved, if less than the stated vesting period.
 
 
The Company classifies pre-tax stock compensation expense principally in SGA expense within its corporate operations. Expense attributable to awards of equity instruments is accrued in capital in excess of par value within the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
 
 
SFAS No. 123(R) also provides that any corporate income tax benefit realized upon exercise or vesting of an award in excess of that previously recognized in earnings (referred to as a “windfall tax benefit”) will be presented in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as a financing (rather than an operating) cash flow. Realized windfall tax benefits are credited to capital in excess of par value in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Realized shortfall tax benefits (amounts which are less than that previously recognized in earnings) are first offset against the cumulative balance of windfall tax benefits, if any, and then charged directly to income tax expense. Under the transition rules for adopting SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method, the Company was permitted to calculate a cumulative memo balance of windfall tax benefits from post-1995 years for the purpose of accounting for future shortfall tax benefits. The Company completed such study prior to the first period of adoption and currently has sufficient cumulative memo windfall tax benefits to absorb arising shortfalls, such that earnings were not affected in 2007. Correspondingly, the Company includes the impact of pro forma deferred tax assets (i.e., the “as if” windfall or shortfall) for purposes of determining assumed proceeds in the treasury stock calculation of diluted earnings per share under SFAS No. 128 “Earnings Per Share.”
 
Employee postretirement and postemployment benefits
 
The Company sponsors a number of U.S. and foreign plans to provide pension, health care, and other welfare benefits to retired employees, as well as salary continuance, severance, and long-term disability to former or inactive employees. Refer to Notes 9 and 10


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for further information on these benefits and the amount of expense recognized during the periods presented.
 
 
In order to improve the reporting of pension and other postretirement benefit plans in the financial statements, in September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,” which was effective for the Company at the end of its 2006 fiscal year. Prior periods were not restated. The standard generally requires company plan sponsors to measure the net over- or under-funded position of a defined postretirement benefit plan as of the sponsor’s fiscal year end and to display that position as an asset or liability on the balance sheet. Any unrecognized prior service cost, experience gains/losses, or transition obligation are reported as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, in shareholders’ equity. In contrast, under pre-existing guidance, these unrecognized amounts were generally disclosed only in financial statement footnotes, often resulting in a disparity between plan balance sheet positions and the funded status. Furthermore, plan measurement dates could occur up to three months prior to year end.
 
 
 
Uncertain tax positions
 
In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN No. 48) to clarify what criteria must be met prior to recognition of the financial statement benefit, in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” of a position taken in a tax return. The provisions of the final interpretation apply broadly to all tax positions taken by an enterprise, including the decision not to report income in a tax return or the decision to classify a transaction as tax exempt. The prescribed approach is based on a two-step benefit recognition model. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits and without consideration of detection risk, that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the appropriate amount of the benefit to recognize. The amount of benefit to recognize is measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being ultimately realized upon settlement. The tax position must be derecognized when it is no longer more likely than not of being sustained. The interpretation also provides guidance on recognition and classification of related penalties and interest, classification of liabilities, and disclosures of unrecognized tax benefits. The change in net assets, if any, as a result of applying the provisions of this interpretation is considered a change in accounting principle with the cumulative effect of the change treated as an offsetting adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of transition.
 
The Company adopted FIN No. 48 as of the beginning of its 2007 fiscal year. Prior to adoption, the Company’s pre-existing policy was to establish reserves for uncertain tax positions that reflected the probable outcome of known tax contingencies. As compared to the Company’s historical approach, the application of FIN No. 48 resulted in a net decrease to accrued income tax and related interest liabilities of approximately $2 million, with an offsetting increase to retained earnings.
 
 
Interest recognized in accordance with FIN No. 48 may be classified in the financial statements as either income taxes or interest expense, based on the accounting policy election of the enterprise. Similarly, penalties may be classified as income taxes or another expense. The Company has historically classified income tax-related interest and penalties as interest expense and SGA expense, respectively, and continues to do so under FIN No. 48.
 
 


Recently issued pronouncements
 
 
Fair value. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements” in order to establish a single definition of fair value and a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that is intended to result in increased consistency and comparability in fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 also expands disclosures about fair value measurements, with the intention of improving the quality of information provided to users of financial statements. The standard applies whenever other authoritative literature requires (or permits) certain assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value, but does not expand the use of fair value. SFAS No. 157 was originally effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those years with early adoption permitted. In early 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position (FSP) FAS-157-2, which delays by one year, the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The delay pertains to items including, but not limited to, non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities initially measured at fair value in a business combination, reporting units measured at fair value in the first step of evaluating goodwill for impairment under SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, indefinite-lived intangible assets measured at fair value for impairment assessment under SFAS No. 142, and long-lived assets measured at fair value for impairment assessment under SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. The Company plans to adopt the portion of SFAS No. 157 that has not been delayed by FSP FAS-157-2 as of the beginning of its


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2008 fiscal year, and plans to adopt the balance of its provisions as of the beginning of its 2009 fiscal year. For the Company, balance sheet items carried at fair value on a recurring basis (to which SFAS No. 157 applies in 2008) consist primarily of derivative financial instruments which are valued primarily based on quoted prices in active or brokered markets for identical as well as similar assets and liabilities. Balance sheet items carried at fair value on a non-recurring basis (to which SFAS No. 157 will apply in 2009) consist of assets held for sale and exit liabilities. Relevant to the “Intangibles” section beginning on page 23, the Company also uses fair value concepts to test various long-lived assets for impairment and to initially measure assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination. Management does not currently expect the adoption of SFAS No. 157 in 2008 to have a material effect on the measurement of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities. The Company is continuing to evaluate the impact the standard will have on the determination of fair value related to non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities in post-2008 years.
 
 
 
Business combinations and noncontrolling interests. In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007) “Business Combinations” and SFAS No. 160 “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements,” which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. These new standards represent the completion of the FASB’s first major joint project with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and are intended to improve, simplify, and converge internationally the accounting for business combinations and the reporting of noncontrolling interests (formerly minority interests) in consolidated financial statements. Kellogg Company will adopt these standards at the beginning of its 2009 fiscal year. The effect of adoption will generally be prospectively applied to transactions completed after the end of the Company’s 2008 fiscal year, although the new presentation and disclosure requirements for pre-existing noncontrolling interests will be retrospectively applied to all prior-period financial information presented.
 
 
SFAS No. 141(R) retains the underlying fair value concepts of its predecessor (SFAS No. 141), but changes the method for applying the acquisition method in a number of significant respects including the requirement to expense transaction fees and expected restructuring costs as incurred, rather than including these amounts in the allocated purchase price; the requirement to recognize the fair value of contingent consideration at the acquisition date, rather than the expected amount when the contingency is resolved; the requirement to recognize the fair value of acquired in-process research and development assets at the acquisition date, rather than immediately expensing; and the requirement to recognize a gain in relation to a bargain purchase price, rather than reducing the allocated basis of long-lived assets. Because this standard is generally applied prospectively, the effect of adoption on the Company’s financial statements will depend primarily on specific transactions, if any, completed after 2008. Management is currently evaluating the effects that SFAS No. 141(R) is likely to have on potential post-2008 transactions.
 
 
Under SFAS No. 160, consolidated financial statements will be presented as if the parent company investors (controlling interests) and other minority investors (noncontrolling interests) in partially-owned subsidiaries have similar economic interests in a single entity. As a result, the investment in the noncontrolling interest, previously recorded on the balance sheet between liabilities and equity (the “mezzanine”), will be reported as equity in the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, subsequent to the adoption of SFAS No. 160. Furthermore, consolidated financial statements will include 100% of a controlled subsidiary’s earnings, rather than only the parent company’s share. Lastly, transactions between the parent company and noncontrolling interests will be reported in equity as transactions between shareholders, provided that these transactions do not create a change in control. Previously, acquisitions of additional interests in a controlled subsidiary generally resulted in remeasurement of assets and liabilities acquired; dispositions of interests generally resulted in a gain or loss.
 
 
Management is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS No. 160 on the Company’s financial statements. Presently, there are no significant non-controlling interests in any of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries. Therefore, the Company currently believes that the impact of SFAS No. 160, if any, will primarily depend on the materiality of noncontrolling interests arising in future transactions, including those entered into during 2008, to which the financial statement presentation and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 160 will apply.
 
 
Use of estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
 
NOTE 2
ACQUISITIONS, OTHER INVESTMENTS, AND INTANGIBLES
 
 
Acquisitions
 
In order to support the continued growth of its North America operating segment, the Company completed


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two separate business acquisitions in late 2007 for a total of approximately $123 million in cash, including related transaction costs. On November 1, 2007, a subsidiary of the Company acquired 100% of the equity interests in Bear Naked, Inc., a leading seller of premium-branded natural granola products. On November 5, 2007, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of the Wholesome & Hearty Foods Company, a U.S. manufacturer of veggie foods marketed under the Gardenburger® brand. Assets, liabilities, and results of the acquired businesses have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the respective dates of acquisition; such results were insignificant for the Company’s fourth quarter of 2007. Similarly, management has estimated that the pro forma effect on the Company’s results of operations, as though these business combinations had been completed at the beginning of either 2007 or 2006, would have been immaterial. As of December 29, 2007, the purchase price allocation was substantially complete with the combined total allocated as follows (in millions): goodwill–$67; indefinite-lived trademark intangibles–$33; trademark intangibles with a 10-year expected useful life–$5; equipment–$7; working capital and other individually immaterial items-$11. The amount of tax-deductible goodwill is currently expected to approximate the carrying value recognized for financial reporting purposes.
 
 
Subsequent events
 
To expand the Company’s presence in Eastern Europe, on January 16, 2008, subsidiaries of the Company acquired substantially all of the equity interests in OJSC Kreker (doing business as “United Bakers”) and consolidated subsidiaries for approximately $117 million in cash, including transaction fees incurred to date, and $3 million in assumed debt. The Company expects to acquire the remaining minority interests through tender offers initiated during 2008. United Bakers is a leading producer of cereal, cookie, and cracker products in Russia, with 4,000 employees, six manufacturing facilities, and a broad distribution network. The business earned approximately $100 million of revenues in 2007. (Due to various factors including accounting principle conformity, these revenues are not necessarily indicative of the pro forma incremental effect on the Company’s 2007 consolidated net sales, assuming this business combination had been completed at the beginning of 2007.)
 
 
The purchase agreement between the Company and the seller provides for the payment of a currently undeterminable amount of contingent consideration at the end of three years, provided certain financial performance metrics are achieved. Such payment would be recognized as additional purchase price when the contingency is resolved.
 
 
As part of the aforementioned initial purchase price for this acquisition, the Company incurred approximately $5 million in transaction fees and cash advances during 2007, which have been classified as business acquisition-related investing cash outflows in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 29, 2007.
 
 
Joint venture arrangement
 
In early 2006, a subsidiary of the Company formed a joint venture with a third-party company domiciled in Turkey, for the purpose of selling co-branded products in the surrounding region. During 2007, the Company contributed approximately $4 million in cash to its Turkish joint venture, in which it owns a 50% equity interest, bringing the total cumulative investment to approximately $7 million. The Turkish joint venture is reflected in the consolidated financial statements on the equity basis of accounting. Accordingly, the Company records its share of the earnings or loss from this arrangement as well as other direct transactions with or on behalf of the joint venture entity such as product sales and certain administrative expenses.
 
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets
 
For 2007, the Company recorded in selling, general, and administrative expense impairment losses of $7 million to write off the remaining carrying value of several individually insignificant trademarks, which were abandoned during the year. As presented in the following table, associated gross carrying amounts of $16 million and the related accumulated amortization were retired from the Company’s balance sheet.
 
 
For the periods presented, the Company’s intangible assets consisted of the following:
 
                                 
 
Intangible assets subject to amortization                
 
    Gross carrying amount   Accumulated amortization
 
(millions)   2007   2006   2007   2006
 
 
Trademarks
  $ 19     $ 30     $ 13     $ 22  
Other
    29       29       28       27  
 
 
Total
  $ 48     $ 59     $ 41     $ 49  
 
 
 
                 
 
    2007   2006
 
Amortization expense (a)
  $ 8     $ 2  
 
 
(a) The currently estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is approximately $1 million per year.
 
                 
 
Intangible assets not subject to amortization
 
    Total carrying amount
 
(millions)   2007   2006
 
 
Trademarks
  $ 1,443     $ 1,410  
 
 


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Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill
 
                Asia
   
    United
      Latin
  Pacific
   
(millions)   States   Europe   America   (a)   Consolidated
 
December 31, 2005
  $ 3,453                 $ 2     $ 3,455  
Purchase accounting adjustments (b)
    (7 )                       (7 )
 
 
December 30, 2006
  $ 3,446                 $ 2     $ 3,448  
Acquisitions
    67                         67  
 
 
December 29, 2007
  $ 3,513                 $ 2     $ 3,515  
 
 
 
(a) Includes Australia, Asia and South Africa.
 
 
(b) Relates principally to the recognition of an acquired tax benefit arising from the purchase of Keebler Foods Company in 2001.
 
 
NOTE 3
EXIT OR DISPOSAL PLANS
 
 
The Company views its continued spending on cost-reduction initiatives as part of its ongoing operating principles to provide greater reliability in meeting long-term growth targets. Initiatives undertaken must meet certain pay-back and internal rate of return (IRR) targets. Each cost-reduction initiative is normally one to three years in duration. Upon completion (or as each major stage is completed in the case of multi-year programs), the project begins to deliver cash savings and/or reduced depreciation, which is then used to fund new initiatives. To implement these programs, the Company has incurred various up-front costs, including asset write-offs, exit charges, and other project expenditures.
 
 
Cost summary
 
For 2007, the Company recorded total program-related charges of approximately $100 million, comprised of $7 million of asset write-offs, $72 million for severance and other exit costs including route franchise settlements, discussed on page 40, $15 million for other cash expenditures, and $6 million for a multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability. Approximately $23 million of the total 2007 charges were recorded in cost of goods sold within the Europe operating segment results, with approximately $77 million recorded in SGA expense within the North America operating results.
 
 
For 2006, the Company recorded total program-related charges of approximately $82 million, comprised of $20 million of asset write-offs, $30 million for severance and other exit costs, $9 million for other cash expenditures, $4 million for a multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability, and $19 million for pension and other postretirement plan curtailment losses and special termination benefits. Approximately $74 million of the total 2006 charges were recorded in cost of goods sold within operating segment results, with approximately $8 million recorded in SGA expense within corporate results. The Company’s operating segments were impacted as follows (in millions): North America–$46; Europe–$28.
 
 
For 2005, the Company recorded total program-related charges of approximately $90 million, comprised of $16 million for a multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability, $44 million of asset write-offs, $21 million for severance and other exit costs, and $9 million for other cash expenditures. All of the 2005 charges were recorded in cost of goods sold within the Company’s North America operating segment.
 
 
Exit cost reserves were approximately $5 million at December 29, 2007, consisting principally of severance and lease termination obligations associated with projects commenced in 2007, which are expected to be paid out in 2008. At December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, exit cost reserves were approximately $14 million, and $13 million respectively, primarily representing severance costs that were substantially paid out in the following year.
 
 
Specific initiatives
 
In September 2006, the Company approved a multi-year European manufacturing optimization plan to improve utilization of its facility in Manchester, England and to better align production in Europe. Based on forecasted foreign exchange rates, the Company currently expects to incur approximately $55 million in total up-front costs, including $28 million recorded in 2006, and $19 million recorded in 2007, with the remainder to be incurred in 2008. The cost is comprised of approximately 90% cash expenditures and 10% non-cash asset write-offs. The cash portion of the total up-front costs results principally from management’s plan to eliminate approximately 220 hourly and salaried positions from the Manchester facility by the end of 2008 through voluntary early retirement and severance programs. The pension trust funding requirements of these early retirements are expected to exceed the recognized benefit expense impact by approximately $5 million; most of this incremental funding occurred in 2006. During this program, certain manufacturing equipment will also be removed from service.
 
 
All of the costs for the European manufacturing optimization plan have been recorded in cost of goods sold within the Company’s European operating segment. The following tables present total project costs to date and a reconciliation of employee severance reserves for this initiative. All other cash costs were paid in the period incurred.


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Project costs to date
  Employee
  Other cash
  Asset
  Retirement
   
(millions)   severance   costs (a)   write-offs   benefits (b)   Total
 
Year ended December 30, 2006
  $ 12     $ 2     $ 5     $ 9     $ 28  
Year ended December 29, 2007
    7       8       4             19  
 
 
Total project to date
  $ 19     $ 10     $ 9     $ 9     $ 47  
 
 
 
(a) Primarily includes expenditures for equipment removal and relocation, and temporary contracted services to facilitate employee transitions.
 
 
(b) Pension plan curtailment losses and special termination benefits recognized under SFAS No. 88 “Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits.”
 
                                 
 
Employee severance reserves to date
  Beginning
          End of
(millions)   of period   Accruals   Payments   period
 
Year ended December 30, 2006
  $     $ 12     $     $ 12  
Year ended December 29, 2007
    12       7       (19 )      
 
 
Total project to date
          $ 19     $ (19 )        
 
 
 
 
In October 2007, management committed to reorganize certain production processes between the Company’s plants in Valls, Spain and Bremen, Germany. Commencement of this plan follows consultation with union representatives at the Bremen facility regarding the elimination of approximately 120 employee positions. This reorganization plan is specifically intended to improve manufacturing and distribution efficiency across the Company’s continental European operations, and is expected to be completed by mid 2008. Based on forecasted foreign exchange rates, the Company expects to incur approximately $25 million of total project costs, comprised of approximately 50% asset write-offs and 50% employee separation benefits and other cash costs. The Company recorded $4 million of costs in 2007, with the remaining to be incurred in 2008.
 
 
All of the costs for European production process realignment have been recorded in cost of goods sold within the Company’s European operating segment.
 
 
The following tables present total project costs to date and a reconciliation of employee severance reserves for this initiative. All other cash costs were paid in the period incurred.
 
                                 
 
Project costs to date
  Employee
  Other cash
  Asset
   
(millions)   severance   costs (a)   write-offs   Total
 
Year ended December 29, 2007
  $ 2     $ 1     $ 1     $ 4  
 
 
Total project to date
  $ 2     $ 1     $ 1     $ 4  
 
 
 
(a) Primarily includes expenditures for equipment removal and relocation, and temporary contracted services to facilitate employee transitions.
 
                                 
 
Employee severance reserves to date
  Beginning of
          End of
(millions)   period   Accruals   Payments   period
 
Year ended December 29, 2007
  $     $ 2     $     $ 2  
 
 
Total project to date
          $ 2     $          
 
 
 
In July 2007, management commenced a plan to reorganize the Company’s direct store-door delivery (DSD) operations in the southeastern United States. This DSD reorganization plan is intended to integrate the Company’s southeastern sales and distribution regions with the rest of its U.S. direct store-door operations, resulting in greater efficiency across the nationwide network. In preparation for this initiative, in June 2007, the Company began to extend offers to exit approximately 517 distribution route franchise agreements with independent contractors, which were substantially accepted as of July 2007. The plan resulted in the involuntary termination or relocation of approximately 300 employee positions. Total project costs incurred were $77 million, principally consisting of cash expenditures for route franchise settlements and to a lesser extent, for employee separation, relocation, and reorganization. This initiative was substantially complete by the end of 2007.
 
 
All of the costs for the U.S. DSD reorganization plan have been recorded in selling, general, and administrative expense within the Company’s North America operating segment. The following tables present total project costs to date. Exit cost reserves were approximately $3 million as of December 29, 2007, primarily related to lease termination costs. All other cash costs were paid in the period incurred.
 
                                                 
 
    Route
      Other
           
Project costs to date
  franchise
  Employee
  cash
  Retirement
  Asset
   
(millions)   settlements   severance   costs (a)   benefits (b)   write-offs   Total
 
Year ended December 29, 2007
  $ 62     $ 1     $ 6     $ 6     $ 2     $ 77  
 
 
Total project to date
  $ 62     $ 1     $ 6     $ 6     $ 2     $ 77  
 
 
 
(a) Primarily includes expenditures for equipment removal and relocation, and temporary contracted services to facilitate employee transitions.
 
 
(b) Estimated multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability.
 
 
During 2006, the Company commenced several initiatives to enhance the productivity and efficiency of its U.S. cereal manufacturing network, primarily through technological and sourcing improvements in warehousing and packaging operations. In conjunction with these initiatives, the Company offered voluntary separation incentives, which resulted in the retirement of approximately 80 hourly employees by early 2007. During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company incurred approximately $15 million of total up-front costs, comprised of approximately 20% asset write-offs and 80% cash costs, including $10 million of pension and other postretirement plan curtailment losses. These initiatives were complete by the end of 2007.
 
 
Also during 2006, the Company undertook an initiative to improve customer focus and selling efficiency within a particular Latin American market, leading to a shift from a third-party distributor to a direct sales force model. As a result of this initiative, the Company paid $8 million in cash during the fourth


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quarter of 2006 to exit the existing distribution arrangement.
 
 
To improve operational efficiency and better position its North American snacks business for future growth, during 2005, the Company undertook an initiative to consolidate U.S. bakery capacity, which was completed by the end of 2006. The project resulted in the closure and sale of the Company’s Des Plaines, Illinois facility in late 2005 and closure of its Macon, Georgia facility in April 2006, with sale occurring in September 2006. These closures resulted in the elimination of over 700 hourly and salaried employee positions, through the combination of involuntary severance and attrition. Related to this initiative, the Company incurred up-front costs of approximately $80 million in 2005, comprised of approximately one-half asset write-offs and one-half cash costs, including $16 million for the present value of a projected multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability associated with closure of the Macon facility. The Company incurred approximately $31 million in up-front costs for 2006, comprised of approximately one-third asset write-offs and two-thirds cash costs, including a $4 million increase in the Company’s estimated pension plan withdrawal liability to $20 million. This increase was principally attributable to investment loss experienced during 2005 in conjunction with increased benefit levels for all participating employers. The final calculation of this liability is pending full-year 2007 employee hours attributable to the Company’s remaining participation in this plan, and is therefore subject to adjustment in early 2008. The associated cash obligation is payable to the pension fund over a 20-year maximum period; management has not currently determined the actual period over which the payments will be made. Except for this pension plan withdrawal liability, the Company’s cash obligations attributable to this initiative were substantially paid out by year end 2006.
 
 
NOTE 4
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET
 
 
Other income (expense), net includes non-operating items such as interest income, charitable donations, and gains and losses from foreign currency and commodity derivatives.
 
 
Other expense includes charges for contributions to the Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund, a private trust established for charitable giving, as follows (in millions): 2007–$12; 2006–$3; 2005–$16. Other expense for 2005 also includes a charge of approximately $7 million to reduce the carrying value of a corporate commercial facility to estimated selling value. This facility was sold in August 2006.
 
 
NOTE 5
EQUITY
 
 
During the year ended December 30, 2006, the Company revised the classification of $101 million of prior net losses realized upon reissuance of treasury shares from capital in excess of par value to retained earnings on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Such reissuances occurred in connection with employee and director stock option exercises and other share-based settlements. The revision did not have an effect on the Company’s results of operations, total shareholders’ equity, or cash flows.
 
 
 
Earnings per share
Basic net earnings per share is determined by dividing net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net earnings per share is similarly determined, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if all dilutive potential common shares had been issued. Dilutive potential common shares are comprised principally of employee stock options issued by the Company. Basic net earnings per share is reconciled to diluted net earnings per share in the following table. The total number of anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the reconciliation for each period was (in millions): 2007–.8; 2006–.7; 2005–1.5.
 
                         
 
        Average
  Net
    Net
  shares
  earnings
(millions, except per share data)   earnings   outstanding   per share
 
2007
                       
Basic
  $ 1,103       396     $ 2.79  
Dilutive potential common shares
          4       (.03 )
 
 
Diluted
  $ 1,103       400     $ 2.76  
 
 
2006
                       
Basic
  $ 1,004       397     $ 2.53  
Dilutive potential common shares
          3       (.02 )
 
 
Diluted
  $ 1,004       400     $ 2.51  
 
 
2005
                       
Basic
  $ 980       412     $ 2.38  
Dilutive potential common shares
          4       (.02 )
 
 
Diluted
  $ 980       416     $ 2.36  
 
 
 
 
 
Stock transactions
The Company issues shares to employees and directors under various equity-based compensation and stock purchase programs, as further discussed in Note 8. The number of shares issued during the periods presented was (in millions): 2007–4; 2006–7; 2005–8. Additionally, during 2006, the Company established Kellogg Directtm, a direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan for U.S. shareholders. The total number of shares issued for that purpose was less than one million in both 2007 and 2006.


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To offset these issuances and for general corporate purposes, the Company’s Board of Directors has authorized management to repurchase specified amounts of the Company’s common stock in each of the periods presented. In 2007, the Company spent $650 million to repurchase approximately 12 million shares. In 2006, the Company spent $650 million to repurchase approximately 15 million shares. This activity consisted principally of a February 2006 private transaction with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Trust to repurchase approximately 13 million shares for $550 million. In 2005, the Company spent $664 million to repurchase approximately 16 million shares. This activity consisted principally of a November 2005 private transaction with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Trust to repurchase approximately 9 million shares for $400 million.
 
 
On October 26, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $650 million for 2008.
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income includes net earnings and all other changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by or distributions to shareholders. Other comprehensive income for the periods presented consists of foreign currency translation adjustments pursuant to SFAS No. 52 “Foreign Currency Translation,” unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges pursuant to SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” Additionally, other comprehensive income for 2007 includes adjustments for net experience losses and prior service cost pursuant to SFAS No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.” The Company adopted SFAS No. 158 as of the end of its 2006 fiscal year. Refer to Note 1 for further information. Comprehensive income for prior years included minimum pension liability adjustments pursuant to SFAS No. 87 “Employers Accounting for Pensions.”
 
                         
 
        Tax
   
    Pre-tax
  (expense)
  After-tax
(millions)   amount   benefit   amount
 
2007
                       
Net earnings
                  $ 1,103  
Other comprehensive income:
                       
Foreign currency translation adjustments
  $ 4     $       4  
Cash flow hedges:
                       
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges
    34       (11 )     23  
Reclassification to net earnings
    5       (1 )     4  
Postretirement and postemployment benefits:
                       
Amounts arising during the period:
                       
Net experience loss
    187       (68 )     119  
Prior service cost
    7       (4 )     3  
Reclassification to net earnings:
                       
Net experience loss
    89       (30 )     59  
Prior service cost
    10       (3 )     7  
 
 
    $ 336     $ (117 )     219  
 
 
Total comprehensive income
                  $ 1,322  
 
 
2006
                       
Net earnings
                  $ 1,004  
Other comprehensive income:
                       
Foreign currency translation adjustments
  $ 10     $       10  
Cash flow hedges:
                       
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges
    (12 )     4       (8 )
Reclassification to net earnings
    12       (4 )     8  
Minimum pension liability adjustments
    172       (60 )     112  
 
 
    $ 182     $ (60 )     122  
 
 
Total comprehensive income
                  $ 1,126  
 
 
2005
                       
Net earnings
                  $ 980  
Other comprehensive income:
                       
Foreign currency translation adjustments
  $ (85 )   $       (85 )
Cash flow hedges:
                       
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges
    (4 )     2       (2 )
Reclassification to net earnings
    26       (10 )     16  
Minimum pension liability adjustments
    (102 )     37       (65 )
 
 
    $ (165 )   $ 29       (136 )
 
 
Total comprehensive income
                  $ 844  
 
 
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at year end consisted of the following:
 
                 
 
(millions)   2007   2006
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
  $ (405)     $ (409)  
Cash flow hedges — unrealized net loss
    (6)       (33)  
Postretirement and postemployment benefits:
               
Net experience loss
    (362)       (540)  
Prior service cost
    (54)       (64)  
 
 
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (827)     $ (1,046)  
 
 


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NOTE 6
LEASES AND OTHER COMMITMENTS
 
 
The Company’s leases are generally for equipment and warehouse space. Rent expense on all operating leases was (in millions): 2007–$135; 2006–$123; 2005–$115. Additionally, the Company was subject to a residual value guarantee on one operating lease of approximately $13 million, which was scheduled to expire in July 2007. During the first quarter of 2007, the Company recognized a liability in connection with this guarantee of approximately $5 million, which was recorded in cost of goods sold within the Company’s North America operating segment. During the second quarter of 2007, the Company terminated the lease agreement and purchased the facility for approximately $16 million, which discharged the residual value guarantee obligation. During 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company entered into approximately $5 million, $2 million and $3 million, respectively, in capital lease agreements to finance the purchase of equipment.
 
 
At December 29, 2007, future minimum annual lease commitments under noncancelable operating and capital leases were as follows:
 
                 
 
    Operating
  Capital
(millions)   leases   leases
 
2008
  $ 159     $ 1  
2009
    137       1  
2010
    112       1  
2011
    83       1  
2012
    56       1  
2013 and beyond
    183       3  
 
 
Total minimum payments
  $ 730     $ 8  
Amount representing interest
            (1 )
 
 
Obligations under capital leases
            7  
Obligations due within one year
            (1 )
 
 
Long-term obligations under capital leases
          $ 6  
 
 
 
 
One of the Company’s subsidiaries was guarantor on loans to independent contractors for the purchase of DSD route franchises. In July 2007, we exited these agreements. Refer to Note 3 for further information.
 
 
The Company has provided various standard indemnifications in agreements to sell and purchase business assets and lease facilities over the past several years, related primarily to pre-existing tax, environmental, and employee benefit obligations. Certain of these indemnifications are limited by agreement in either amount and/or term and others are unlimited. The Company has also provided various “hold harmless” provisions within certain service type agreements. Because the Company is not currently aware of any actual exposures associated with these indemnifications, management is unable to estimate the maximum potential future payments to be made. At December 29, 2007, the Company had not recorded any liability related to these indemnifications.
 
 
NOTE 7
DEBT
 
 
Notes payable at year end consisted of commercial paper borrowings in the United States and Canada, and to a lesser extent, bank loans of foreign subsidiaries at competitive market rates, as follows:
 
                                 
 
    2007   2006
 
        Effective
      Effective
    Principal
  interest
  Principal
  interest
(dollars in millions)   amount   rate   amount   rate
 
U.S. commercial paper
  $ 1,434       5.3 %   $ 1,141       5.3 %
Canadian commercial paper
    5       4.3 %     87       4.4 %
Other
    50               40          
 
 
    $ 1,489             $ 1,268          
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt at year end consisted primarily of issuances of fixed rate U.S. Dollar Notes, as follows:
 
                         
 
(millions)   2007   2006
 
  (a )   6.6% U.S. Dollar Notes due 2011   $ 1,425     $ 1,496  
  (a )   7.45% U.S. Dollar Debentures due 2031     1,088       1,088  
  (b )   2.875% U.S. Dollar Notes due 2008     465       465  
  (c )   Guaranteed Floating Rate Euro Notes due 2007           722  
  (d )   5.125% U.S. Dollar Notes due 2012     750        
        Other     8       5  
 
 
              3,736       3,776  
Less current maturities
    (466 )     (723)  
 
 
Balance at year end
  $ 3,270     $ 3,053  
 
 
 
(a) In March 2001, the Company issued $4.6 billion of long-term debt instruments, primarily to finance the acquisition of Keebler Foods Company. The preceding table reflects the remaining principal amounts outstanding as of year-end 2007 and 2006. The effective interest rates on these Notes, reflecting issuance discount and swap settlement, were as follows: due 2011-7.08%; due 2031-7.62%. Initially, these instruments were privately placed, or sold outside the United States, in reliance on exemptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). The Company then exchanged new debt securities for these initial debt instruments, with the new debt securities being substantially identical in all respects to the initial debt instruments, except for being registered under the 1933 Act. These debt securities contain standard events of default and covenants. The Notes due 2011 and the Debentures due 2031 may be redeemed in whole or in part by the Company at any time at prices determined under a formula (but not less than 100% of the principal amount plus unpaid interest to the redemption date). In December 2007, the Company redeemed $72 million of the Notes due 2011.
 
 
(b) In June 2003, the Company issued $500 million of five-year 2.875% fixed rate U.S. Dollar Notes, using the proceeds from these Notes to replace maturing long-term debt. These Notes were issued under an existing shelf registration statement. The effective interest rate on these Notes, reflecting issuance discount and swap settlement, is 3.35%. The Notes contain customary covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries (as defined) to incur certain liens or enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions. In December 2005, the Company redeemed $35 million of these Notes.
 
 
(c) In November 2005, a subsidiary of the Company (the “Borrower”) issued Euro 550 million of Guaranteed Floating Rate Notes (the “Euro Notes”) due May 2007. The Euro Notes were issued and sold in transactions outside the United States in reliance on exemptions from registration under the 1933 Act. The Euro Notes were guaranteed by the Company with an interest rate of 0.12% per annum above three-month EURIBOR for each quarterly interest period. The Euro Notes contained customary covenants that limited the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries (as defined) to incur certain liens or enter into certain sale


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and lease-back transactions. The Euro Notes were redeemable in whole or in part at par on interest payment dates or upon the occurrence of certain events in 2006 and 2007. In accordance with these terms, on January 31, 2007, the Borrower announced that it had exercised its right to call for early redemption all of the outstanding Euro Notes effective February 28, 2007, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest through the redemption date.
 
 
(d) In December 2007, the Company issued $750 million of five-year 5.125% fixed rate U.S. Dollar Notes, using the proceeds from these Notes to replace a portion of its U.S. commercial paper. These Notes were issued under an existing shelf registration statement. The effective interest rate on these Notes, reflecting issuance discount and swap settlement, is 5.12%. The Notes contain customary covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries (as defined) to incur certain liens or enter into certain sale and lease-back transactions. The customary covenants also contain a change of control provision.
 
 
As discussed in preceding subnote (c), on January 31, 2007, a subsidiary of the Company announced an early redemption, effective February 28, 2007, of Euro 550 million of Guaranteed Floating Rate Notes otherwise due May 2007. To partially refinance this redemption, the Company and two of its subsidiaries (the “Issuers”) established a program under which the Issuers may issue euro-commercial paper notes up to a maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time of $750 million or its equivalent in alternative currencies. The notes may have maturities ranging up to 364 days and will be senior unsecured obligations of the applicable Issuer. Notes issued by subsidiary Issuers will be guaranteed by the Company. The notes may be issued at a discount or may bear fixed or floating rate interest or a coupon calculated by reference to an index or formula. As of December 29, 2007 no notes were issued under this program.
 
 
At December 29, 2007, the Company had $2.6 billion of short-term lines of credit, virtually all of which were unused and available for borrowing on an unsecured basis. These lines were comprised principally of an unsecured Five-Year Credit Agreement, which the Company entered into during November 2006 to replace an existing facility, which would have expired in 2009. The agreement allows the Company to borrow, on a revolving credit basis, up to $2.0 billion, to obtain letters of credit in an aggregate amount up to $75 million, and to provide a procedure for lenders to bid on short-term debt of the Company. The agreement contains customary covenants and warranties, including specified restrictions on indebtedness, liens, sale and leaseback transactions, and a specified interest coverage ratio. If an event of default occurs, then, to the extent permitted, the administrative agent may terminate the commitments under the credit facility, accelerate any outstanding loans, and demand the deposit of cash collateral equal to the lender’s letter of credit exposure plus interest. The Company entered into a $400 million unsecured 364-Day Credit Agreement effective January 31, 2007, and a $700 million 364-Day Credit Agreement effective June 13, 2007, both containing customary covenants, warranties, and restrictions similar to those described herein for the Five-Year Credit Agreement. The facilities are available for general corporate purposes, including commercial paper back-up, although the Company does not currently anticipate any usage under the facilities. On December 3, 2007, the Company terminated the $700 million Credit Agreement. The $400 million Credit Agreement expired at the end of January 2008 and the Company did not renew it.
 
 
Scheduled principal repayments on long-term debt are (in millions): 2008–$466; 2009–$2; 2010–$1; 2011–$1,429; 2012–$751; 2013 and beyond–$1,102.
 
 
Interest paid was (in millions): 2007–$305; 2006–$299; 2005–$295. Interest expense capitalized as part of the construction cost of fixed assets was (in millions): 2007–$5; 2006–$3; 2005–$1.
 
 
NOTE 8
STOCK COMPENSATION
 
 
The Company uses various equity-based compensation programs to provide long-term performance incentives for its global workforce. Currently, these incentives consist principally of stock options, and to a lesser extent, executive performance shares and restricted stock grants. The Company also sponsors a discounted stock purchase plan in the United States and matching-grant programs in several international locations. Additionally, the Company awards stock options and restricted stock to its outside directors. These awards are administered through several plans, as described within this Note.
 
 
The 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2003 Plan”), approved by shareholders in 2003, permits benefits to be awarded to employees and officers in the form of incentive and non-qualified stock options, performance units, restricted stock or restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. The 2003 Plan authorizes the issuance of a total of (a) 25 million shares plus (b) shares not issued under the 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan, with no more than 5 million shares to be issued in satisfaction of performance units, performance-based restricted shares and other awards (excluding stock options and stock appreciation rights), and with additional annual limitations on awards or payments to individual participants. At December 29, 2007, there were 10.7 million remaining authorized, but unissued, shares under the 2003 Plan. During the periods presented, specific awards and terms of those awards granted under the 2003 Plan are described in the following sections of this Note.
 
 
The Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (“Director Plan”) was approved by shareholders in 2000 and allows each eligible non-employee director to receive 2,100 shares of the Company’s common stock annually and annual grants of options to purchase 5,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. At December 29, 2007, there were .4 million remaining authorized, but unissued, shares under this plan. Shares other than


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options are placed in the Kellogg Company Grantor Trust for Non-Employee Directors (the “Grantor Trust”). Under the terms of the Grantor Trust, shares are available to a director only upon termination of service on the Board. Under this plan, awards were as follows: 2007–51,791 options and 21,702 shares; 2006–50,000 options and 17,000 shares; 2005–55,000 options and 17,000 shares. Options granted to directors under this plan are included in the option activity tables within this Note.
 
 
The 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was approved by shareholders in 2002 and permits eligible employees to purchase Company stock at a discounted price. This plan allows for a maximum of 2.5 million shares of Company stock to be issued at a purchase price equal to the lesser of 85% of the fair market value of the stock on the first or last day of the quarterly purchase period. Total purchases through this plan for any employee are limited to a fair market value of $25,000 during any calendar year. The Plan was amended in 2007 and beginning in 2008, Company stock will be issued at a purchase price equal to 95% of the fair market value of the stock on the last day of the quarterly purchase period. At December 29, 2007, there were 1.2 million remaining authorized, but unissued, shares under this plan. Shares were purchased by employees under this plan as follows (approximate number of shares): 2007–232,000; 2006–237,000; 2005–218,000. Options granted to employees to purchase discounted stock under this plan are included in the option activity tables within this Note.
 
 
Additionally, during 2002, a foreign subsidiary of the Company established a stock purchase plan for its employees. Subject to limitations, employee contributions to this plan are matched 1:1 by the Company. Under this plan, shares were granted by the Company to match an approximately equal number of shares purchased by employees as follows (approximate number of shares): 2007–75,000; 2006–80,000; 2005–80,000.
 
 
The Executive Stock Purchase Plan was established in 2002 to encourage and enable certain eligible employees of the Company to acquire Company stock, and to align more closely the interests of those individuals and the Company’s shareholders. This plan allows for a maximum of 500,000 shares of Company stock to be issued. At December 29, 2007, there were approximately 460,000 remaining authorized, but unissued, shares under this plan. Under this plan, shares were granted by the Company to executives in lieu of cash bonuses as follows (approximate number of shares): 2007–0; 2006–4,000; 2005–2,000.
 
 
The Company used the fair value method prescribed by SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment” to account for its equity-based compensation programs. Prior to 2006, the Company used the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Refer to Note 1 for further information on the Company’s accounting policy for stock compensation.
 
 
For the years ended December 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006, compensation expense for all types of equity-based programs and the related income tax benefit recognized were as follows:
 
                 
 
(millions)   2007   2006
 
Pre-tax compensation expense
  $ 81     $ 96  
 
 
Related income tax benefit
  $ 29     $ 34  
 
 
 
 
Amounts for 2005 are presented in the following table in accordance with SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and related interpretations. Reported amounts consist principally of expense recognized for executive performance share and restricted stock awards; pro forma amounts are attributable primarily to stock option grants.
 
         
 
(millions, except per share data)   2005
 
Stock-based compensation expense, net of tax:
       
As reported
  $ 12  
Pro forma
  $ 49  
Net earnings:
       
As reported
  $ 980  
Pro forma
  $ 943  
Basic net earnings per share:
       
As reported
  $ 2.38  
Pro forma
  $ 2.29  
Diluted net earnings per share:
       
As reported
  $ 2.36  
Pro forma
  $ 2.27  
 
 
 
 
As of December 29, 2007, total stock-based compensation cost related to nonvested awards not yet recognized was approximately $33 million and the weighted-average period over which this amount is expected to be recognized was approximately 1.3 years.
 
 
Cash flows realized upon exercise or vesting of stock-based awards in the periods presented are included in the following table. Tax benefits realized upon exercise or vesting of stock-based awards generally represent the tax benefit of the difference between the exercise price and strike price of the option. Within this amount, the 2007 and 2006 windfall tax benefit (amount realized in excess of that previously recognized in earnings) of $15 million and $22 million, respectively represents the operating cash flow reduction (and financing cash flow increase) related to the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) in 2006. Refer to Note 1 for further information on the Company’s accounting policies regarding tax benefit windfalls and shortfalls.
 
 
Cash used by the Company to settle equity instruments granted under stock-based awards was insignificant.


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(millions)   2007   2006   2005
 
Total cash received from option exercises and similar instruments
  $ 163     $ 218     $ 222  
 
 
Tax benefits realized upon exercise or vesting of stock- based awards:
                       
Windfall benefits classified as financing cash flow
  $ 15     $ 22       n/a  
Other amounts classified as operating cash flow
    11       23       40  
 
 
Total
  $ 26     $ 45     $ 40  
 
 
 
 
Shares used to satisfy stock-based awards are normally issued out of treasury stock, although management is authorized to issue new shares to the extent permitted by respective plan provisions. Refer to Note 5 for information on shares issued during the periods presented to employees and directors under various long-term incentive plans and share repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase authorizations. The Company does not currently have a policy of repurchasing a specified number of shares issued under employee benefit programs during any particular time period.
 
 
Stock options
 
During the periods presented, non-qualified stock options were granted to eligible employees under the 2003 Plan with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the grant date, a contractual term of ten years, and a two-year graded vesting period. Grants to outside directors under the Non-Employee Director Stock Plan included similar terms, but vested immediately. Additionally, “reload” options were awarded to eligible employees and directors to replace previously-owned Company stock used by those individuals to pay the exercise price, including related employment taxes, of vested pre-2004 option awards containing this accelerated ownership feature. These reload options are immediately vested, with an expiration date which is the same as the original option grant.
 
 
Management estimates the fair value of each annual stock option award on the date of grant using a lattice-based option valuation model. Due to the already-vested status and short expected term of reload options, management uses a Black-Scholes model to value such awards. Composite assumptions, which are not materially different for each of the two models, are presented in the following table. Weighted-average values are disclosed for certain inputs which incorporate a range of assumptions. Expected volatilities are based principally on historical volatility of the Company’s stock, and to a lesser extent, on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock. For the lattice-based model, historical volatility corresponds to the contractual term of the options granted; whereas, for the Black-Scholes model, historical volatility corresponds to the expected term. The Company generally uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination
within the valuation models; separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately for valuation purposes. The expected term of options granted (which is an input to the Black-Scholes model and an output from the lattice-based model) represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding; the weighted-average expected term for all employee groups is presented in the following table. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the options is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
 
                         
 
Stock option valuation model assumptions
           
for grants within the year ended:   2007   2006   2005
 
Weighted-average expected volatility
    17.46 %     17.94 %     22.00 %
Weighted-average expected term (years)
    3.20       3.21       3.42  
Weighted-average risk-free interest rate
    4.58 %     4.65 %     3.81 %
Dividend yield
    2.40 %     2.40 %     2.40 %
 
 
Weighed-average fair value of options granted
  $ 7.24     $ 6.67     $ 7.35  
 
 
 
 
 
A summary of option activity for the year ended December 29, 2007, is presented in the following table:
 
                                 
 
            Weighted-
   
        Weighted-
  average
  Aggregate
        average
  remaining
  intrinsic
Employee and director
  Shares
  exercise
  contractual
  value
stock options   (millions)   price   term (yrs.)   (millions)
 
Outstanding, beginning of year
    27     $ 41                  
Granted
    8       51                  
Exercised
    (8 )     41                  
Forfeitures and expirations
    (1 )     44                  
 
 
Outstanding, end of year
    26     $ 44       6.0     $ 236  
 
 
Exercisable, end of year
    20     $ 42       5.0     $ 222  
 
 
 
 
Additionally, option activity for comparable prior-year periods is presented in the following table:
 
                 
 
(millions, except per share data)   2006   2005
 
Outstanding, beginning of year
    29       33  
Granted
    10       8  
Exercised
    (11 )     (11 )
Forfeitures and expirations
    (1 )     (1 )
 
 
Outstanding, end of year
    27       29  
 
 
Exercisable, end of year
    20       21  
 
 
Weighted-average exercise price:
               
Outstanding, beginning of year
  $ 38     $ 35  
Granted
    46       44  
Exercised
    37       34  
Forfeitures and expirations
    43       41  
 
 
Outstanding, end of year
  $ 41     $ 38  
 
 
Exercisable, end of year
  $ 40     $ 37  
 
 
 
 
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the periods presented was (in millions): 2007–$86; 2006–$114; 2005–$116.


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Other stock-based awards
 
During the periods presented, other stock-based awards consisted principally of executive performance shares and restricted stock granted under the 2003 Plan.
 
 
In 2007, the Company granted performance shares to a limited number of senior executive-level employees, which entitle these employees to receive a specified number of shares of the Company’s common stock on the vesting date, provided cumulative three-year cash flow targets are achieved. In 2006 and 2005, the Company granted performance shares to a limited number of senior executive-level employees, which entitled these employees to receive a specified number of shares of the Company’s common stock on the vesting date, provided cumulative three-year net sales growth targets were achieved. Subsequent to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), management has estimated the fair value of performance share awards based on the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated dividends foregone during the performance period. The 2007, 2006 and 2005 target grants (as revised for non-vested forfeitures and other adjustments) currently correspond to approximately 205,000, 250,000 and 270,000 shares, respectively; with a grant-date fair value of approximately $46, $41, and $41 per share. The actual number of shares issued on the vesting date could range from zero to 200% of target, depending on actual performance achieved. Based on the market price of the Company’s common stock at year-end 2007, the maximum future value that could be awarded on the vesting date is (in millions): 2007 award–$22; 2006 award–$27; and 2005 award–$28.
 
 
The Company also periodically grants restricted stock and restricted stock units to eligible employees under the 2003 Plan. Restrictions with respect to sale or transferability generally lapse after three years and the grantee is normally entitled to receive shareholder dividends during the vesting period. Management estimates the fair value of restricted stock grants based on the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant. A summary of restricted stock activity for the year ended December 29, 2007, is presented in the following table:
 
                 
 
        Weighted-
        average
Employee restricted stock
  Shares
  grant-date
and restricted stock units   (thousands)   fair value
 
Non-vested, beginning of period
    434     $ 45  
Granted
    55       52  
Vested
    (110 )     42  
Forfeited
    (5 )     43  
 
 
Non-vested, end of period
    374     $ 47  
 
 
 
 
Grants of restricted stock and restricted stock units for comparable prior-year periods were: 2006-190,000; 2005-141,000.
 
 
The total fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock units vesting in the periods presented was (in millions): 2007–$6; 2006–$8; 2005–$4.
 
 
NOTE 9
PENSION BENEFITS
 
 
The Company sponsors a number of U.S. and foreign pension plans to provide retirement benefits for its employees. The majority of these plans are funded or unfunded defined benefit plans, although the Company does participate in a limited number of multiemployer or other defined contribution plans for certain employee groups. Defined benefits for salaried employees are generally based on salary and years of service, while union employee benefits are generally a negotiated amount for each year of service. The Company uses its fiscal year end as the measurement date for its defined benefit plans.
 
 
Obligations and funded status
 
The aggregate change in projected benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status is presented in the following tables. The Company adopted SFAS No. 158 “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans” as of the end of its 2006 fiscal year. The standard generally requires company plan sponsors to reflect the net over- or under-funded position of a defined postretirement benefit plan as an asset or liability on the balance sheet.


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(millions)   2007   2006
 
Change in projected benefit obligation
               
Beginning of year
  $ 3,309     $ 3,145  
Service cost
    96       94  
Interest cost
    188       172  
Plan participants’ contributions
    6       2  
Amendments
    (9 )     24  
Actuarial gain
    (153 )     (97 )
Benefits paid
    (198 )     (160 )
Curtailment and special termination benefits
    12       15  
Foreign currency adjustments and other
    63       114  
 
 
End of year
  $ 3,314     $ 3,309  
 
 
Change in plan assets
               
Fair value beginning of year
  $ 3,426     $ 2,923  
Actual return on plan assets
    206       448  
Employer contributions
    84       86  
Plan participants’ contributions
    6       2  
Benefits paid
    (184 )     (150 )
Special termination benefits
    9        
Foreign currency adjustments and other
    66       117  
 
 
Fair value end of year
  $ 3,613     $ 3,426  
 
 
Funded status
  $ 299     $ 117  
 
 
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet consist of
               
Noncurrent assets
  $ 481     $ 353  
Current liabilities
    (11 )     (10 )
Noncurrent liabilities
    (171 )     (226 )
 
 
Net amount recognized
  $ 299     $ 117  
 
 
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of
               
Net experience loss
  $ 377     $ 503  
Prior service cost
    96       115  
 
 
Net amount recognized
  $ 473     $ 618  
 
 
 
 
The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $3.02 billion and $2.99 billion at December 29, 2007 and December 30, 2006, respectively. Information for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were:
 
                 
 
(millions)   2007   2006
 
Projected benefit obligation
  $ 243     $ 253  
Accumulated benefit obligation
    202       202  
Fair value of plan assets
    62       55  
 
 
 
 
Expense
 
The components of pension expense are presented in the following table. Pension expense for defined contribution plans relates principally to multiemployer plans in which the Company participates on behalf of certain unionized workforces in the United States. The amounts for 2007 and 2006 include charges of approximately $6 million and $4 million, respectively, for the Company’s current estimate of a multiemployer plan withdrawal liability, which is further described in Note 3.
 
                         
 
(millions)   2007   2006   2005
 
Service cost
  $ 96     $ 94     $ 80  
Interest cost
    188       172       160  
Expected return on plan assets
    (282 )     (257 )     (229 )
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost
    13       12       10  
Recognized net loss
    64       80       65  
Curtailment and special termination benefits
- net loss
    4       17       2  
 
 
Pension expense:
                       
Defined benefit plans
    83       118       88  
Defined contribution plans
    25       19       32  
 
 
Total
  $ 108     $ 137     $ 120  
 
 
 
 
Any arising obligation-related experience gain or loss is amortized using a straight-line method over the average remaining service period of active plan participants. Any asset-related experience gain or loss is recognized as described on page 49. The estimated net experience loss and prior service cost for defined benefit pension plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into pension expense over the next fiscal year are approximately $35 million and $13 million, respectively.
 
 
Net losses from curtailment and special termination benefits recognized in 2006 are related primarily to plant workforce reductions in the United States and United Kingdom, as further described in Note 3.
 
 
Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries sponsor 401(k) or similar savings plans for active employees. Expense related to these plans was (in millions): 2007–$36; 2006–$33; 2005–$30. Company contributions to these savings plans approximate annual expense. Company contributions to multiemployer and other defined contribution pension plans approximate the amount of annual expense presented in the preceding table.
 
 
Assumptions
 
The worldwide weighted-average actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit obligations were:
 
                         
 
    2007   2006   2005
 
Discount rate
    6.2%       5.7%       5.4%  
Long-term rate of compensation increase
    4.4%       4.4%       4.4%  
 
 
 
 
The worldwide weighted-average actuarial assumptions used to determine annual net periodic benefit cost were:
 
                         
 
    2007   2006   2005
 
Discount rate
    5.7%       5.4%       5.7%  
Long-term rate of compensation increase
    4.4%       4.4%       4.3%  
Long-term rate of return on plan assets
    8.9%       8.9%       8.9%  
 
 


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To determine the overall expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the Company models expected returns over a 20-year investment horizon with respect to the specific investment mix of its major plans. The return assumptions used reflect a combination of rigorous historical performance analysis and forward-looking views of the financial markets including consideration of current yields on long-term bonds, price-earnings ratios of the major stock market indices, and long-term inflation. The U.S. model, which corresponds to approximately 70% of consolidated pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets, incorporates a long-term inflation assumption of 2.7% and an active management premium of 1% (net of fees) validated by historical analysis. Similar methods are used for various foreign plans with invested assets, reflecting local economic conditions. Although management reviews the Company’s expected long-term rates of return annually, the benefit trust investment performance for one particular year does not, by itself, significantly influence this evaluation. The expected rates of return are generally not revised, provided these rates continue to fall within a “more likely than not” corridor of between the 25th and 75th percentile of expected long-term returns, as determined by the Company’s modeling process. The expected rate of return for 2007 of 8.9% equated to approximately the 50th percentile expectation. Any future variance between the expected and actual rates of return on plan assets is recognized in the calculated value of plan assets over a five-year period and once recognized, experience gains and losses are amortized using a declining-balance method over the average remaining service period of active plan participants.
 
 
Plan assets
 
The Company’s year-end pension plan weighted-average asset allocations by asset category were:
 
                 
 
    2007   2006
 
Equity securities
    74%       76%  
Debt securities