A Dark Vector Cognition product

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

11K characters. Original on sec.gov ·

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

The following risk factors are in addition to our risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2024, that could affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. These risk factors should be considered in connection with the forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q because these factors could cause the actual results and conditions to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements.

The Separation is subject to various risks and uncertainties and may not be completed in accordance with the expected plans or anticipated timeline, or at all, and will involve significant time, expense, and resources, which could disrupt or adversely affect our business.

On September 2, 2025, we announced our intention to separate our company into two independent publicly traded companies through a tax free spin-off. We currently expect to complete the Separation in the second half of 2026. The Separation is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, including final approval by the Kraft Heinz Board of Directors, receipt of favorable tax opinions of our U.S. tax advisors with respect to the tax-free nature of the Separation, and the effectiveness of appropriate filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The failure to satisfy any of the required conditions could delay the completion of the Separation for a significant period of time or prevent it from occurring at all.

The Separation is complex in nature, and unanticipated developments or changes, including changes in the law, macroeconomic environment, regulatory and political conditions and competitive conditions of our markets, the need both to receive regulatory approvals or clearances and to satisfy the requirements to effectuate a generally tax-free transaction, the uncertainty of the financial markets and challenges in executing the Separation, could delay or prevent the completion of the Separation or cause the Separation to occur on terms or conditions that are different or less favorable than expected. Any changes to the Separation or delay in completing the Separation could cause us not to realize some or all of the expected benefits, or realize them on a different timeline than currently expected. Further, our Board of Directors could decide, either because of a failure of conditions or because of market or other factors, to abandon the Separation. No assurance can be given as to whether and when the Separation will occur.

Whether or not we complete the Separation, our ongoing business may be adversely affected and we may be subject to certain risks and consequences as a result of pursuing the Separation, including the following:

  • The process of completing the Separation will be time-consuming and involve significant additional costs and expenses, which may not yield a discernible benefit if the Separation is not completed.

  • Executing the Separation will require significant time and attention from our senior management and employees, which may divert management’s attention from operating and growing our business and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

  • We may also experience increased difficulties in attracting, retaining, and motivating employees during the pendency of the Separation and following completion of the Separation, which could harm our businesses.

  • The assumptions underlying expectations regarding the integration process, including with respect to the Separation may prove to be faulty and/or inaccurate.

  • Some of our customers or suppliers may delay or defer decisions or may end their relationships with us.

  • We may experience negative reactions from the financial markets if we fail to complete the Separation or fail to complete it on a timely basis.

  • The announcement of the Separation may create greater volatility in the trading price of our shares and potentially cause market prices to decline.

Any of the above factors could cause the Separation (or the failure to execute the Separation) to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

The Separation may not achieve the anticipated benefits and will expose us to new risks.

We may not realize the anticipated strategic, financial, operational, or other benefits from the Separation. We cannot predict with certainty when the benefits expected from the Separation will occur or the extent to which they will be achieved. If the

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Separation is completed, our operational and financial profile will change and we will face new risks. As independent, publicly traded companies, the newly created companies will each be smaller, less-diversified companies and may be more vulnerable to changing market conditions. There is no assurance that following the Separation each separated company will be successful. The announcement and/or completion of the Separation may cause uncertainty for or disruptions with our customers, partners, suppliers, and employees, which may negatively impact these relationships or our operations. In addition, we will incur one-time costs and ongoing costs in connection with, or as a result of, the Separation, including costs of operating as independent, publicly-traded companies that the two businesses will no longer be able to share. Those costs may exceed our estimates or could negate some of the benefits we expect to realize. If we do not realize the intended benefits or if our costs exceed our estimates, the separated businesses could suffer a material adverse effect on their respective business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

The Separation may adversely impact our ability to access the capital markets and our cost of capital.

The Separation may have the effect of, among other things:

  • Requiring us to dedicate significant cash flow to our debt, including, without limitation, the payment of principal and interest, payment of costs associated with the refinancing, repayment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, discharge or exchange of the Company’s outstanding debt, and payment of costs associated with the Separation, which will reduce funds we have available for other purposes.

  • Exposing us to interest rate risk at the time of refinancing outstanding debt or on the portion of our debt obligations that are issued at variable rates.

  • Increasing the borrowing costs associated with the re-allocation or taking on of new debt.

  • Although we expect to maintain investment grade ratings, resulting in downgrades of our credit ratings leading to increased borrowing costs to the Company.

Our primary sources of liquidity to finance operations, including stock repurchases and dividends on our common stock, is cash generated by our businesses and access to the debt capital markets. Further, in connection with the Separation, we may repay, redeem, repurchase, defease, discharge or exchange all of our senior notes, of which there are approximately $20.9 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding, with maturities in years starting in 2026 through 2050. If our ability to continue to raise money in the debt capital markets is impaired, or if there is a significant increase in the cost of debt, there could be an adverse effect on our liquidity. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or maintain access to adequate external financing, it could impact our current operations, activities under our current and future stock buyback programs, and our growth opportunities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

If the Separation and/or certain related transactions do not qualify as transactions that are generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we and our stockholders could be subject to significant tax liabilities.

Notwithstanding that we intend to structure the Separation to generally be a tax-free transaction, there is no assurance that the spin-off and/or certain related transactions will qualify for this treatment. If the spin-off and/or certain related transactions are ultimately determined to be taxable, we and our stockholders could be subject to significant U.S. federal income taxes.

Following the Separation, the price of shares of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate significantly.

The Company cannot predict the effect of the Separation on the trading price of shares of its common stock, and the market value of shares of its common stock may be less than, equal to or greater than the market value of shares of its common stock prior to the Separation. In addition, the price of the Company’s common stock may be more volatile around the time of the Separation.

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Our share repurchase activity in the three months ended September 27, 2025 was:

Total Number of Shares Purchased**(a)**Average Price Paid Per ShareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs**(b)**Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in millions)
6/29/2025 — 8/2/202511,418$26.78—$1,502
8/3/2025 — 8/30/20252,94828.55—1,502
8/31/2025 — 9/27/20252,00427.91—1,502
Total16,370—

(a) Includes shares withheld for tax liabilities associated with the vesting of RSUs.

(b) On November 27, 2023, the Company announced that the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to purchase up to $3.0 billion of the Company’s common stock through December 26, 2026. The Company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares and the program may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time. Under the program, shares may be repurchased in open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, privately negotiated transactions, transactions structured through investment banking institutions, or other means.

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