WK Kellogg Form 4 shows cash conversion of shares and DSUs at $23
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
WK Kellogg Co director Arlin Wendy C. reported the disposition of 24,354 shares of Common Stock and the cancellation/conversion of 1,239.99 phantom shares (DSUs) into cash at a per-share price of $23.00 as part of the merger described in the filing. The filing states the company became a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the acquiring parent and that outstanding common shares were cancelled and converted into the right to receive $23.00 per share in cash. Deferred stock units were likewise cancelled and converted into a cash payment equal to the per-share price times the underlying shares, subject to applicable tax withholding and payment timing rules under the DSU terms.
Positive
- Certain shareholders and award holders received a guaranteed cash payment of $23.00 per share for each canceled share, providing immediate liquidity.
- Deferred stock units (DSUs) were converted to cash based on the same per-share price, ensuring consistent treatment across equity types.
Negative
- Public common shares were cancelled, meaning the issuer is no longer publicly held and public equity liquidity ceased.
- Director's reported reduction in beneficial ownership (24,354 shares disposed) reflects elimination of previously held public equity positions.
Insights
TL;DR: Director holdings were cashed out at a fixed merger price; this reflects a completed change in control that eliminates public common equity.
The report documents a change-in-control transaction where outstanding public common shares were cancelled and converted into a fixed cash payment per share. For corporate governance, the key implication is that public shareholders were cashed out and the issuer ceased to have freely traded common stock following the merger, removing traditional public shareholder oversight. The director's disposal was a contractual conversion rather than an open-market sale, and deferred awards were similarly converted per plan terms.
TL;DR: The Form 4 records the cash-out mechanics of a completed merger—equity converted at a set cash price and phantom units settled in cash.
From an M&A perspective, the filing confirms the merger consideration was cash at a stated per-share price, and that equity-based compensation was settled in cash based on the same price. This is a routine post-closing conversion consistent with typical merger agreements where the buyer elects to cash out public shares and outstanding equity awards. No additional contingent consideration or option adjustments are disclosed in the form.