Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 27, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Accounting Policies

Accounting policies

Basis of presentation

The unaudited interim financial information of Kellogg Company (the Company) included in this report reflects all adjustments, all of which are of a normal and recurring nature, that management believes are necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations, comprehensive income, financial position, equity and cash flows for the periods presented. This interim information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying footnotes within the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The condensed balance sheet information at December 28, 2019 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The results of operations for the quarter ended June 27, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for other interim periods or the full year.

Accounts payable

The Company has agreements with certain third parties to provide accounts payable tracking systems which facilitates participating suppliers’ ability to monitor and, if elected, sell payment obligations from the Company to designated third-party financial institutions. Participating suppliers may, at their sole discretion, make offers to sell one or more payment obligations of the Company prior to their scheduled due dates at a discounted price to participating financial institutions. The Company’s goal in entering into these agreements is to capture overall supplier savings, in the form of payment terms or vendor funding, created by facilitating suppliers’ ability to sell payment obligations, while providing them with greater working capital flexibility. We have no economic interest in the sale of these suppliers’ receivables and no direct financial relationship with the financial institutions concerning these services. The Company’s obligations to its suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment dates, are not impacted by suppliers’ decisions to sell amounts under these arrangements. However, the Company’s right to offset balances due from suppliers against payment obligations is restricted by this agreement for those payment obligations that have been sold by suppliers. The payment of these obligations by the Company is included in cash used in operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. As of June 27, 2020, $899 million of the Company’s outstanding payment obligations had been placed in the accounts payable tracking system, and participating suppliers had sold $667 million of those payment obligations to participating financial institutions. As of December 28, 2019, $812 million of the Company’s outstanding payment obligations had been placed in the accounts payable tracking system, and participating suppliers had sold $605 million of those payment obligations to participating financial institutions.

Adoption of new accounting standards

Cloud Computing Arrangements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15: Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software: Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. The ASU allows companies to capitalize implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement, including periods covered by renewal options that are reasonably certain to be exercised. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019 and can be applied retrospectively or prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the ASU in the first quarter of 2020 and elected to apply it prospectively. The adoption did not have a material impact to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Accounting standards to be adopted in future periods

Compensation Retirement Benefits. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14: Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. The ASU removed disclosures that no longer are considered cost beneficial, clarified the specific requirements of disclosures, and added disclosure requirements identified as relevant. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2020 and can be applied retrospectively or prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing when to adopt the ASU and the impact of adoption.