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PENSION BENEFITS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2024
Pension Benefits [Abstract]  
Pension Benefits [Text Block]
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. See Note 14 for more information regarding the Company’s participation in multiemployer plans. 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 a December 31 measurement date for these plans and, when necessary, adjusts for plan contributions and significant events between December 31 and its fiscal year-end.
Obligations and funded status
The aggregate change in projected benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status is presented in the following tables.
(millions)20242023
Change in projected benefit obligation
Beginning of year$3,077 $2,877 
Service cost16 17 
Interest cost140 149 
Amendments1 38 
Actuarial (gain)loss(238)198 
Benefits paid(210)(256)
Curtailment and special termination benefits1 — 
Other(3)— 
Foreign currency adjustments(35)54 
End of year$2,749 $3,077 
Change in plan assets
Fair value beginning of year$2,650 $2,589 
Actual return on plan assets(107)211 
Employer contributions51 25 
Benefits paid(190)(238)
Other(43)— 
Foreign currency adjustments(39)63 
Fair value end of year$2,322 $2,650 
Funded status$(427)$(427)
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet consist of
Other assets$185 $201 
Other current liabilities(13)(15)
Pension liability(599)(613)
Net amount recognized$(427)$(427)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income consist of
Prior service cost$64 $71 
Net amount recognized$64 $71 
The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $2.7 billion at December 28, 2024 and $3.0 billion at December 30, 2023.

Information for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were:
(millions)20242023
Projected benefit obligation$1,722 $1,844 
Accumulated benefit obligation$1,713 $1,834 
Fair value of plan assets$1,109 $1,224 
Information for pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were:
(millions)20242023
Projected benefit obligation$1,722 $1,924 
Accumulated benefit obligation$1,713 $1,893 
Fair value of plan assets$1,109 $1,299 
Expense
The components of pension expense are presented in the following table. Service cost is recorded in COGS and SGA expense. All other components of net periodic benefit cost are included in OIE. Pension expense for defined contribution plans relates to certain foreign-based defined contribution plans and multiemployer plans in the United States in which the Company participates on behalf of certain unionized workforces.
(millions)202420232022
Service cost$16 $17 $20 
Interest cost140 149 109 
Expected return on plan assets(164)(183)(215)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service cost7 6 6 
Other expense (income)— — (1)
Recognized net (gain) loss35 171 153 
Net periodic benefit cost34 160 72 
Curtailment and special termination benefits1 — — 
Pension (income) expense:
Defined benefit plans35 160 72 
Defined contribution plans5 5 5 
Total$40 $165 $77 
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries sponsor 401(k) or similar savings plans for active employees. Expenses related to these plans were: 2024 – $33 million; 2023 – $40 million; 2022 – $41 million. These amounts are not included in the preceding expense table. 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:
202420232022
Discount rate5.4 %4.8 %5.3 %
Long-term rate of compensation increase3.3 %3.3 %3.5 %

The worldwide weighted-average actuarial assumptions used to determine annual net periodic benefit cost were:
202420232022
Discount rate4.8 %5.3 %2.2 %
Discount rate - interest4.7 %5.2 %2.1 %
Long-term rate of compensation increase3.3 %3.5 %3.5 %
Long-term rate of return on plan assets6.7 %7.2 %5.9 %

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 56% of consolidated pension and other postretirement benefit plan assets, incorporates a long-term inflation assumption of 2.5% and an active management premium of 0.84% (net of fees) validated by historical analysis. Similar methods are used for various foreign plans with invested assets, reflecting local economic conditions. The expected rate of return for 2024 of 8.00% for the U.S. plans equated to approximately the 58th percentile expectation. Refer to Note 1.

In 2019, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) published updated mortality tables and an updated improvement scale. In 2021, the SOA released an updated improvement scale that incorporates an additional year of data. In determining the appropriate mortality assumptions as of 2024 fiscal year-end, the Company used the 2019 SOA tables with collar adjustments based on Kellanova’s current population, consistent with the prior year. In addition, based on mortality information available from the Social Security Administration and other sources, the Company developed assumptions for future mortality improvement in line with our expectations for future experience. There were no changes to the year-end pension and postretirement benefit obligations due to mortality assumption changes.
To conduct our annual review of discount rates, we selected the discount rate based on a cash-flow matching analysis using Willis Towers Watson’s proprietary RATE:Link tool and projections of the future benefit payments constituting the projected benefit obligation for the plans. RATE:Link establishes the uniform discount rate that produces the same present value of the estimated future benefit payments, as is generated by discounting each year’s benefit payments by a spot rate applicable to that year. We use a December 31 measurement date for our defined benefit plans. Accordingly, we select yield curves to measure our benefit obligations that are consistent with market indices during December of each year.
The Company may experience material actuarial gains or losses due to differences between assumed and actual experience and due to changing economic conditions. During 2024, the Company recognized a net actuarial loss of approximately $35 million driven by assumption changes including lower than expected asset returns, partially offset by increases in the discount rate. During 2023, the Company recognized a net actuarial loss of approximately $171 million driven by assumption changes, including decreases in the discount rate and from the UK buy-in of annuities, as well as lower than expected asset returns.
Plan assets
The Company categorized Plan assets within a three level fair value hierarchy described as follows:
Investments stated at fair value as determined by quoted market prices (Level 1) include:
Cash and cash equivalents:  Value based on cost, which approximates fair value.
Corporate stock, common:  Value based on the last sales price on the primary exchange.
Investments stated at estimated fair value using significant observable inputs (Level 2) include:
Cash and cash equivalents:  Institutional short-term investment vehicles valued daily.
Mutual funds:  Valued at exit prices quoted in active or non-active markets or based on observable inputs.
Collective trusts:  Valued at exit prices quoted in active or non-active markets or based on observable inputs.
Bonds:  Value based on matrices or models from pricing vendors.
Equity options: Value is based on exit prices quoted in active or non-active markets.
Investments stated at estimated fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) include:

Buy-in annuity contract:  Valued based on the estimated cost to enter an equivalent contract at the balance sheet date.

Secure income fund: Valued at exit prices quoted in non-active markets or based on observable inputs.
The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

The Company’s practice regarding the timing of transfers between levels is to measure transfers in at the beginning of the month and transfers out at the end of the month. For the year ended December 28, 2024, the Company had no transfers between Levels 1 and 2.
The fair value of Plan assets as of December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023 within the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
(millions)Fair Value Hierarchy Level20242023
Cash and cash equivalents1$23 $60 
Corporate stock, common173 53 
Collective trusts:
Equity216 13 
Debt2— 38 
Bonds, corporate2192 222 
Bonds, government272 94 
Bonds, other212 16 
Buy-in annuity contract3702 839 
Other (a)2, 324 29 
Sub-total$1,114 $1,364 
Investments measured at net asset value (NAV) practical expedient (b)1,208 1,286 
Total plan assets$2,322 $2,650 
(a) Other includes Level 2 assets of $0 million and $3 million for 2024 and 2023, respectively, and Level 3 assets of $24 million and $26 million for 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(b) Certain assets that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. These assets consist primarily of funds holding equity securities.

There were no unfunded commitments to purchase investments at December 28, 2024 or December 30, 2023.
The Company’s investment strategy for its major defined benefit plans is to maintain a diversified portfolio of asset classes with the primary goal of meeting long-term cash requirements as they become due. Assets are invested in a prudent manner to maintain the security of funds while maximizing returns within the Plan’s investment policy. The investment policy specifies the type of investment vehicles appropriate for the Plan, asset allocation guidelines, criteria for the selection of investment managers, procedures to monitor overall investment performance as well as investment manager performance. Derivatives, including swaps, forward and futures contracts, may be used as asset class substitutes or for hedging or other risk management purposes. It also provides guidelines enabling Plan fiduciaries to fulfill their responsibilities.
The current weighted-average target asset allocation reflected by this strategy is: equity securities–38.0%; debt securities–40.0%; real estate and other–22.0%. Investment in Company common stock represented 3.2% and 1.9% of consolidated plan assets at December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively. Plan funding strategies are influenced by tax regulations and funding requirements. The Company currently expects to contribute, before consideration of incremental discretionary contributions, approximately $183 million to its defined benefit pension plans during 2025.
Level 3 gains and losses
Changes in fair value of the Plan's Level 3 assets are summarized as follows:
(millions)Annuity ContractOther
December 31, 2022$173 $26 
Additions589 — 
Realized and unrealized loss68 (1)
Currency translation9 1 
December 30, 2023$839 $26 
Subtractions— (2)
Realized and unrealized loss(129)1 
Currency translation(8)(1)
December 28, 2024$702 $24 
Benefit payments
The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid (in millions): 2025–$198; 2026–$206; 2027–$204; 2028–$209; 2029–$211; 2030 to 2034–$1,047.