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Kraft Heinz Co - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 26, 2020
or
 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission File Number 001-37482
khc-20200926_g1.jpg
The Kraft Heinz Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 46-2078182
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One PPG Place,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania 15222
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

(412) 456-5700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading SymbolName of exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.01 par valueKHCThe Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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  No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes  No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting companyEmerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  No

As of October 24, 2020, there were 1,222,623,168 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.



Table of Contents
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Kraft Heinz,” and the “Company” each refer to The Kraft Heinz Company and all of its consolidated subsidiaries.



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Net sales$6,441 $6,076 $19,246 $18,441 
Cost of products sold4,097 4,129 12,592 12,401 
Gross profit2,344 1,947 6,654 6,040 
Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding impairment losses897 762 2,677 2,341 
Goodwill impairment losses300 — 2,343 744 
Intangible asset impairment losses— 1,056 479 
Selling, general and administrative expenses1,197 767 6,076 3,564 
Operating income/(loss)1,147 1,180 578 2,476 
Interest expense314 398 1,066 1,035 
Other expense/(income)(73)(380)(232)(893)
Income/(loss) before income taxes906 1,162 (256)2,334 
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes308 264 417 584 
Net income/(loss)598 898 (673)1,750 
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest(1)(3)
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders$597 $899 $(676)$1,753 
Per share data applicable to common shareholders:
Basic earnings/(loss)$0.49 $0.74 $(0.55)$1.44 
Diluted earnings/(loss)0.49 0.74 (0.55)1.43 
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Net income/(loss)$598 $898 $(673)$1,750 
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments289 (407)(315)(257)
Net deferred gains/(losses) on net investment hedges(200)151 (51)147 
Amounts excluded from the effectiveness assessment of net investment hedges21 16 
Net deferred losses/(gains) on net investment hedges reclassified to net income/(loss)(3)(6)(14)(10)
Net deferred gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges17 50 153 24 
Amounts excluded from the effectiveness assessment of cash flow hedges18 21 
Net deferred losses/(gains) on cash flow hedges reclassified to net income/(loss)(29)(50)(90)(55)
Net actuarial gains/(losses) arising during the period(22)(9)(22)(14)
Net postemployment benefit losses/(gains) reclassified to net income/(loss)(29)(59)(78)(176)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)34 (316)(378)(304)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)632 582 (1,051)1,446 
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest(3)(3)12 
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders$635 $580 $(1,048)$1,434 
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 September 26, 2020December 28, 2019
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$2,720 $2,279 
Trade receivables (net of allowances of $57 at September 26, 2020 and $33 at December 28, 2019)
1,979 1,973 
Inventories2,661 2,721 
Prepaid expenses382 384 
Other current assets401 618 
Assets held for sale1,922 122 
Total current assets10,065 8,097 
Property, plant and equipment, net6,558 7,055 
Goodwill32,861 35,546 
Intangible assets, net46,418 48,652 
Other non-current assets2,220 2,100 
TOTAL ASSETS$98,122 $101,450 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Commercial paper and other short-term debt$$
Current portion of long-term debt529 1,022 
Trade payables4,052 4,003 
Accrued marketing1,001 647 
Interest payable333 384 
Other current liabilities1,755 1,804 
Liabilities held for sale18 
Total current liabilities7,694 7,875 
Long-term debt27,882 28,216 
Deferred income taxes11,461 11,878 
Accrued postemployment costs250 273 
Other non-current liabilities1,496 1,459 
TOTAL LIABILITIES48,783 49,701 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 16)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest(2)— 
Equity: 
Common stock, $0.01 par value (5,000 shares authorized; 1,228 shares issued and 1,223 shares outstanding at September 26, 2020; 1,224 shares issued and 1,221 shares outstanding at December 28, 2019)
12 12 
Additional paid-in capital55,544 56,828 
Retained earnings/(deficit)(3,739)(3,060)
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses)(2,258)(1,886)
Treasury stock, at cost (5 shares at September 26, 2020 and 3 shares at December 28, 2019)
(341)(271)
Total shareholders' equity49,218 51,623 
Noncontrolling interest123 126 
TOTAL EQUITY49,341 51,749 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$98,122 $101,450 
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
Common StockAdditional Paid-in CapitalRetained Earnings/(Deficit)Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses)Treasury Stock, at CostNoncontrolling InterestTotal Equity
Balance at December 28, 2019$12 $56,828 $(3,060)$(1,886)$(271)$126 $51,749 
Net income/(loss) excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest— — 378 — — 381 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)— — — (540)— (14)(554)
Dividends declared-common stock ($0.40 per share)
— (492)— — — — (492)
Exercise of stock options, issuance of other stock awards, and other— 42 (4)— — 40 
Balance at March 28, 202012 56,378 (2,686)(2,426)(269)115 51,124 
Net income/(loss) excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest— — (1,651)— — (1)(1,652)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)— — — 130 — 12 142 
Dividends declared-common stock ($0.40 per share)
— (493)— — — — (493)
Exercise of stock options, issuance of other stock awards, and other— 105 — (61)— 45 
Balance at June 27, 202012 55,990 (4,336)(2,296)(330)126 49,166 
Net income/(loss) excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest— — 597 — — 598 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)— — — 38 — (4)34 
Dividends declared-common stock ($0.40 per share)
— (494)— — — — (494)
Exercise of stock options, issuance of other stock awards, and other— 48 — — (11)— 37 
Balance at September 26, 2020$12 $55,544 $(3,739)$(2,258)$(341)$123 $49,341 

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Common StockAdditional Paid-in CapitalRetained Earnings/(Deficit)Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses)Treasury Stock, at CostNoncontrolling InterestTotal Equity
Balance at December 29, 2018$12 $58,723 $(4,853)$(1,943)$(282)$118 $51,775 
Net income/(loss) excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest— — 405 — — — 405 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)— — — 123 — 12 135 
Dividends declared-common stock ($0.40 per share)
— (488)— — — — (488)
Cumulative effect of accounting standards adopted in the period— — (136)136 — — — 
Exercise of stock options, issuance of other stock awards, and other— 17 (2)— (9)— 
Balance at March 30, 201912 58,252 (4,586)(1,684)(291)130 51,833 
Net income/(loss) excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest— — 449 — — — 449 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)— — — (123)— — (123)
Dividends declared-common stock ($0.40 per share)
— (488)— — — — (488)
Exercise of stock options, issuance of other stock awards, and other— (3)— — 
Balance at June 29, 201912 57,769 (4,140)(1,807)(291)132 51,675 
Net income/(loss) excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest— — 899 — — (5)894 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)— — — (319)— (316)
Dividends declared-common stock ($0.40 per share)
— (491)— — — — (491)
Exercise of stock options, issuance of other stock awards, and other— 15 — — 26 42 
Balance at September 28, 2019$12 $57,293 $(3,241)$(2,126)$(265)$131 $51,804 
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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The Kraft Heinz Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income/(loss)$(673)$1,750 
Adjustments to reconcile net income/(loss) to operating cash flows: 
Depreciation and amortization722 737 
Amortization of postretirement benefit plans prior service costs/(credits)(92)(229)
Equity award compensation expense114 26 
Deferred income tax provision/(benefit)(343)(140)
Postemployment benefit plan contributions(20)(23)
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment losses3,399 1,223 
Nonmonetary currency devaluation10 
Loss/(gain) on sale of business(490)
Other items, net143 (34)
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables(6)138 
Inventories(455)(637)
Accounts payable62 113 
Other current assets(15)(73)
Other current liabilities482 (381)
Net cash provided by/(used for) operating activities3,326 1,990 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures(397)(581)
Payments to acquire business, net of cash acquired— (199)
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash disposed— 1,875 
Other investing activities, net35 16 
Net cash provided by/(used for) investing activities(362)1,111 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of long-term debt(4,395)(3,272)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt3,500 2,967 
Debt prepayment and extinguishment costs(101)(91)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility4,000 — 
Repayments of revolving credit facility(4,000)— 
Proceeds from issuance of commercial paper— 377 
Repayments of commercial paper— (377)
Dividends paid(1,467)(1,464)
Other financing activities, net(46)(21)
Net cash provided by/(used for) financing activities(2,509)(1,881)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash(14)(40)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
Net increase/(decrease)441 1,180 
Balance at beginning of period2,280 1,136 
Balance at end of period$2,721 $2,316 
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
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The Kraft Heinz Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1. Basis of Presentation
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been omitted, in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In management’s opinion, these interim financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) and accruals necessary to fairly state our results for the periods presented.
We operate on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in December in each calendar year. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to years and quarters contained herein pertain to our fiscal years and fiscal quarters. Our 2020 fiscal year is scheduled to be a 52-week period ending on December 26, 2020, and the 2019 fiscal year was a 52-week period that ended on December 28, 2019.
The condensed consolidated balance sheet data at December 28, 2019 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. These statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of future or annual results.
Principles of Consolidation
The condensed consolidated financial statements include Kraft Heinz and all of our controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions are eliminated.
Reportable Segments
In the first quarter of 2020, our internal reporting and reportable segments changed. We moved our Puerto Rico business from the Latin America zone to the United States zone to consolidate and streamline the management of our product categories and supply chain. We also combined our Europe, Middle East, and Africa (“EMEA”), Latin America, and Asia Pacific (“APAC”) zones to form the International zone as a result of certain previously announced organizational changes.
Therefore, effective in the first quarter of 2020, we manage and report our operating results through three reportable segments defined by geographic region: United States, International, and Canada. We have reflected these changes in all historical periods presented.
Considerations Related to the Novel Coronavirus
In December 2019, an outbreak of illness caused by a novel coronavirus called COVID-19 (“COVID-19”) was identified in Wuhan, China. On January 31, 2020, the United States declared a public health emergency related to COVID-19 and, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared that the spread of COVID-19 qualified as a global pandemic. In an attempt to minimize transmission of COVID-19, significant social and economic restrictions have been imposed in the United States and abroad. Though various areas have begun relaxing such precautions, varying levels of restrictions remain in many places and may be increased. These restrictions, while necessary and important for public health, have negative and positive implications for portions of our business and the U.S. and global economies. In the preparation of these financial statements and related disclosures we have assessed the impact that COVID-19 has had on our estimates, assumptions, forecasts, and accounting policies and made additional disclosures, as necessary. As COVID-19 and its impacts are unprecedented and ever evolving, future events and effects related to the pandemic cannot be determined with precision and actual results could significantly differ from estimates or forecasts.
See Note 8, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Note 11, Postemployment Benefits, and Note 16, Commitments, Contingencies and Debt, for further discussion of COVID-19 considerations.
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Use of Estimates
We prepare our condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make accounting policy elections, estimates, and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, reserves, and expenses. These accounting policy elections, estimates, and assumptions are based on our best estimates and judgments. We evaluate our policy elections, estimates, and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment. We believe these estimates to be reasonable given the current facts available. We adjust our policy elections, estimates, and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Market volatility, including foreign currency exchange rates, increases the uncertainty inherent in our estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from estimates. If actual amounts differ from estimates, we include the revisions in our consolidated results of operations in the period the actual amounts become known. Historically, the aggregate differences, if any, between our estimates and actual amounts in any year have not had a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Reclassifications
We made reclassifications to certain previously reported financial information to conform to our current period presentation.
Held for Sale
At September 26, 2020, we classified certain assets and liabilities as held for sale in our condensed consolidated balance sheet, primarily relating to the divestiture of certain of the Company’s cheese businesses, businesses in our International segment, and certain manufacturing equipment and land use rights across the globe. At December 28, 2019, the assets and liabilities identified as held for sale in our condensed consolidated balance sheet primarily related to businesses in our International segment, as well as certain manufacturing equipment and land use rights across the globe. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information.
Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following significant accounting policies were updated in the first quarter of 2020 to reflect material changes in our cash equivalents holdings as well as to reflect changes upon the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-15 related to accounting for implementation costs incurred in hosted cloud computing service arrangements. There were no other changes to our accounting policies from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019.
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash equivalents include demand deposits with banks, money market funds, and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. The fair value of cash equivalents approximates the carrying amount. Cash and cash equivalents that are legally restricted as to withdrawal or usage are classified in other current assets or other non-current assets, as applicable, on the consolidated balance sheets.
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost and depreciated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are depreciated over periods ranging from three years to 20 years and buildings and improvements over periods up to 40 years. Capitalized software costs are included in property, plant and equipment if we have the contractual right to take possession of the software at any time and it is feasible for us to either run the software on our own hardware or contract with a third party to host the software. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the software, which do not exceed seven years. We review long-lived assets for impairment when conditions exist that indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Such conditions could include significant adverse changes in the business climate, current-period operating or cash flow losses, significant declines in forecasted operations, or a current expectation that an asset group will be disposed of before the end of its useful life. We perform undiscounted operating cash flow analyses to determine if an impairment exists. When testing for impairment of assets held for use, we group assets at the lowest level for which cash flows are separately identifiable. If an impairment is determined to exist, the loss is calculated based on estimated fair value. Impairment losses on assets to be disposed of, if any, are based on the estimated proceeds to be received, less costs of disposal.
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Hosted Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract:
Deferred implementation costs for hosted cloud computing service arrangements are stated at historical cost and amortized on the straight-line method over the term of the hosting arrangement which the implementation costs relate to. Deferred implementation costs for these arrangements are included in prepaid expenses and amortized to selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”). The corresponding cash flows related to these arrangements will be reported within operating activities. We review the deferred implementation costs for impairment when we believe the deferred costs may no longer be recoverable. Such conditions could include situations where the arrangement is not expected to provide substantive service potential, a significant change occurs in the manner in which the arrangement is used or expected to be used, including early cancellation or termination of the arrangement, or situations where the arrangement has had, or will have, a significant change made to it. In instances where we have concluded that an impairment exists, we accelerate the deferred costs on the consolidated balance sheet for immediate expense recognition in SG&A.
Note 3. New Accounting Standards
Accounting Standards Adopted in the Current Year
Measurement of Current Expected Credit Losses:
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU 2016-13 to update the methodology used to measure current expected credit losses (“CECL”). This ASU applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans, held-to-maturity debt securities, net investments in leases, and trade accounts receivable as well as certain off-balance sheet credit exposures, such as loan commitments. This ASU replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology to reflect CECL and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to explain credit loss estimates. The guidance must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition method through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings/(deficit) in the period of adoption. This ASU became effective in the first quarter of 2020. We adopted this ASU and guidance on our first day of 2020 and, based on the insignificant impact of this ASU on our financial statements, a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings/(deficit) was not deemed necessary.
Fair Value Measurement Disclosures:
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13 related to fair value measurement disclosures. This ASU removes the requirement to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for determining that a transfer has occurred, and valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. Additionally, this ASU modifies the disclosures related to the measurement uncertainty for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements (by removing the requirement to disclose sensitivity to future changes) and the timing of liquidation of investee assets (by removing the timing requirement in certain instances). The guidance also requires new disclosures for Level 3 financial assets and liabilities, including the amount and location of unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income/(loss) and additional information related to significant unobservable inputs used in determining Level 3 fair value measurements. This ASU became effective beginning in the first quarter of 2020. Early adoption of the guidance in whole was permitted. Alternatively, companies could have early adopted the portions of the guidance that removed or modified disclosures and delayed adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. Certain of the amendments in this ASU must be applied prospectively upon adoption, while other amendments must be applied retrospectively upon adoption. We elected to early adopt the provisions related to removing disclosures in the fourth quarter of 2018 on a retrospective basis. Accordingly, we removed certain disclosures from Note 12, Postemployment Benefits, and Note 13, Financial Instruments, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2018. There was no other impact to our financial statement disclosures as a result of early adopting the provisions related to removing disclosures.
Implementation Costs Incurred in Hosted Cloud Computing Service Arrangements:
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15 related to accounting for implementation costs incurred in hosted cloud computing service arrangements. Under the new guidance, implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract should be expensed or deferred based on the nature of the costs and the project stage during which such costs are incurred. If the implementation costs qualify for deferral, they must be amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement and assessed for impairment. Additionally, the ASU requires disclosure of the nature of any hosted cloud computing service arrangement and requires financial statement presentation of the deferred costs be consistent with fees incurred under the hosting arrangement. This ASU became effective in the first quarter of 2020. We adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2020 using a prospective transition method. The adoption of this ASU did not have a significant impact on our financial statements and related disclosures. See Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, for our policy on accounting for hosted cloud computing service arrangements.
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Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
Disclosure Requirements for Certain Employer-Sponsored Benefit Plans:
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14 related to the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The guidance requires sponsors of these plans to provide additional disclosures, including weighted-average interest rates used in the company’s cash balance plans and a narrative description of reasons for any significant gains or losses impacting the benefit obligation for the period. Additionally, this guidance eliminates certain previous disclosure requirements. This ASU will be effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2020 will reflect the adoption of this ASU. This guidance must be applied on a retrospective basis to all periods presented.
Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes:
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12 to simplify the accounting in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, Income Taxes. This guidance removes certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. This guidance also clarifies and simplifies other areas of ASC 740. Certain amendments in this update must be applied on a prospective basis, certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective basis, and certain amendments must be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings/(deficit) in the period of adoption. This ASU will be effective beginning in the first quarter of 2021. We do not expect this guidance to have a significant impact on our financial statements and related disclosures.
Note 4. Acquisitions and Divestitures
Acquisitions
Primal Acquisition:
On January 3, 2019 (the “Primal Acquisition Date”), we acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interests in Primal Nutrition, LLC (“Primal Nutrition”) (the “Primal Acquisition”), a better-for-you brand primarily focused on condiments, sauces, and dressings, with growing product lines in healthy snacks and other categories. The Primal Kitchen brand holds leading positions in the e-commerce and natural channels. We have not included unaudited pro forma results as it would not yield significantly different results.
The Primal Acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The total cash consideration paid for Primal Nutrition was $201 million. We utilized estimated fair values at the Primal Acquisition Date to allocate the total consideration exchanged to the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Such allocation for the Primal Acquisition was final as of September 28, 2019. The Primal Acquisition resulted in $124 million of tax deductible goodwill, which was allocated to the United States segment.
See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for the final purchase price allocation, valuation methodology, and other information related to the Primal Acquisition.
Deal Costs:
Related to our acquisitions, we incurred aggregate deal costs of $2 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. We recognized these deal costs in SG&A. There were no deal costs related to acquisitions for the three months ended September 28, 2019 or the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020.    
Divestitures
Cheese Transaction:
In September 2020, we entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of Groupe Lactalis (“Lactalis”) to sell certain assets in our global cheese business, as well as to license certain trademarks, for total consideration of approximately $3.3 billion, including approximately $3.2 billion of cash consideration and approximately $75 million related to a perpetual license for the Cracker Barrel brand that Lactalis will grant to us for certain products (the “Cheese Transaction”). The Cheese Transaction has two primary components. The first component relates to the perpetual licenses for the Kraft and Velveeta brands that we will grant to Lactalis for certain cheese products (the “Kraft and Velveeta Licenses”). The second component relates to the net assets to be transferred to Lactalis (the “Disposal Group”), for which we recorded a $300 million impairment loss for the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020. We discuss the considerations related to each of these components in more detail below.
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Of the $3.3 billion total consideration, approximately $1.5 billion was attributed to the Kraft and Velveeta Licenses based on the estimated fair value of the licensed portion of each brand. Lactalis will have rights to the Kraft and Velveeta brands in association with the manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and sale of certain cheese products in certain countries. Lactalis will also receive the rights to certain know-how in manufacturing the authorized cheese products. The license income will be recognized in the future as a reduction to SG&A, as it does not constitute our ongoing major or central operations.
The remaining $1.8 billion of consideration was attributed to the Disposal Group. The net assets in the Disposal Group are associated with our natural, grated, cultured, and specialty cheese businesses in the U.S., our grated cheese business in Canada, and our grated, processed, and natural cheese businesses outside the U.S. and Canada. The Disposal Group includes our global intellectual property rights to several brands, including, among others, Cracker Barrel, Breakstone’s, Knudsen, Athenos, Polly-O, and Hoffman’s, along with the Cheez Whiz brand in the majority of the countries outside of the U.S. and Canada. The Disposal Group also includes certain inventories, three manufacturing facilities and one distribution center in the U.S., and certain other manufacturing equipment.
Included in the consideration attributed to the Disposal Group is the perpetual license that Lactalis will grant to us for the Cracker Barrel brand for certain products, including macaroni and cheese. We determined that the Cracker Barrel license will be recognized on our consolidated balance sheet as an intangible asset upon closing of the Cheese Transaction, and increased the total consideration by approximately $75 million as noted above, which was the estimated fair value of the licensed portion of the Cracker Barrel brand.
In the third quarter of 2020, we determined that the Disposal Group met the held for sale criteria. Accordingly, we have presented the assets and liabilities of the Disposal Group as held for sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 26, 2020. As of September 15, 2020, the date the Disposal Group was determined to be held for sale, we tested the individual assets included within the Disposal Group for impairment. The net assets of the Disposal Group had an aggregate carrying amount above their $1.8 billion estimated fair value. We determined that the goodwill within the Disposal Group was partially impaired. Accordingly, we recorded a non-cash impairment loss of $300 million, which was recognized in SG&A, for the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020.
Additional considerations related to the Cheese Transaction include the treatment of the Kraft and Velveeta Licenses upon closing of the transaction. At the time the licensed rights are granted, we will reassess the remaining fair value of the retained portions of the Kraft and Velveeta brands and may record a charge to reduce the intangible asset carrying amounts to reflect the lower future cash flows expected to be generated after monetization of the licensed portion of each brand. Any potential reduction to the intangible asset carrying amounts will depend upon the excess fair value, if any, over carrying amount for each brand at the time we grant the perpetual licenses, which will be on the closing date of the Cheese Transaction. Changes in the fair value of the retained and licensed portions of each brand will impact the amount of any potential charges and the amount of license income that will be recognized, which, at this time, we would not expect to exceed the fair value of the perpetual licenses.
The Cheese Transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Upon closing of the Cheese Transaction, and in addition to any potential impairment losses identified related to the Kraft and Velveeta brands noted above, we may recognize a gain or loss on sale of business. While the consideration for the transaction is not expected to materially change, the actual gain or loss on sale of business to be recognized will depend on, among other things, final transaction proceeds, inventory levels and underlying costs as of the closing date, and changes in the estimated fair values of certain components of the consideration.
We utilized the excess earnings method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of the licensed portion of the Kraft brand and the relief from royalty method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of the licensed portions of the Velveeta brand and the Cracker Barrel brand. Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in estimating these fair values include the estimated future annual net sales and net cash flows for each brand, contributory asset charges, royalty rates (as a percentage of net sales that would hypothetically be charged by a licensor of the brand to an unrelated licensee), income tax considerations, long-term growth rates, and a discount rate that reflects the level of risk associated with the future earnings attributable to each brand. We selected the assumptions used in the financial forecasts using historical data, supplemented by current and anticipated market conditions, estimated product category growth rates, and guideline companies. Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates, and market factors. See Note 8, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information on the underlying assumptions and sensitivities.
The Cheese Transaction is not considered a strategic shift that will have a major effect on our operations or financial results; therefore, it will not be reported as discontinued operations.
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Potential Dispositions:
As of September 26, 2020, we were in negotiations with prospective third-party buyers for the sale of two businesses in our International segment. We expect these potential transactions to close in the next 12 months. Related to the first potential transaction, we recorded an estimated loss of $71 million within other expense/(income) in the fourth quarter of 2019 and classified the related assets and liabilities as held for sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019. Related to the second potential transaction, we recorded an estimated loss of $3 million within other expense/(income) in the first quarter of 2020 and classified the related assets and liabilities as held for sale on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 26, 2020.
See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information related to the first potential transaction.
Heinz India Transaction:
In October 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement with two third-parties, Zydus Wellness Limited and Cadila Healthcare Limited (collectively, the “Buyers”), to sell 100% of our equity interests in Heinz India Private Limited (“Heinz India”) for approximately 46 billion Indian rupees (approximately $655 million at the Heinz India Closing Date (defined below)) (the “Heinz India Transaction”). In connection with the Heinz India Transaction, we transferred to the Buyers, among other assets and operations, our global intellectual property rights to several brands, including Complan, Glucon-D, Nycil, and Sampriti. Our core brands (i.e., Heinz and Kraft) were not transferred. The Heinz India Transaction closed on January 30, 2019 (the “Heinz India Closing Date”). Related to the Heinz India Transaction, we recognized a pre-tax gain in other expense/(income) of $249 million in 2019, including $246 million in the first quarter and $3 million in the third quarter. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2020, we recognized a gain of approximately $1 million related to local India tax recoveries.
In connection with the Heinz India Transaction, we agreed to indemnify the Buyers from and against any tax losses for any taxable period prior to the Heinz India Closing Date, including taxes for which we are liable as a result of any transaction that occurred on or before such date. We recorded tax indemnity liabilities related to the Heinz India Transaction totaling approximately $48 million as of the Heinz India Closing Date. Future changes to the fair value of these tax indemnity liabilities will continue to impact other expense/(income) throughout the life of the exposures as a component of the gain on sale for the Heinz India Transaction.
See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional details related to the gain on sale and tax indemnity associated with the Heinz India Transaction.
Canada Natural Cheese Transaction:
In November 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement with a third-party, Parmalat SpA (“Parmalat”), to sell certain assets in our natural cheese business in Canada for approximately 1.6 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $1.2 billion at the Canada Natural Cheese Closing Date (defined below)) (the “Canada Natural Cheese Transaction”). In connection with the Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, we transferred certain assets to Parmalat, including the intellectual property rights to Cracker Barrel in Canada and P’Tit Quebec globally. The Canada Natural Cheese Transaction closed on July 2, 2019 (the “Canada Natural Cheese Closing Date”). Related to the Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, we recognized a pre-tax gain in other expense/(income) of $241 million for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2019. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Form on 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information related to the Canada Natural Cheese Transaction.
Deal Costs:
Related to our divestitures, we incurred aggregate deal costs of $9 million for the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $6 million for the three months and $17 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. We recognized these deal costs in SG&A.
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Held for Sale
Our assets and liabilities held for sale, by major class, were (in millions):
September 26, 2020December 28, 2019
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$33 $27 
Inventories425 21 
Property, plant and equipment, net277 25 
Goodwill (net of impairment of $300 at September 26, 2020 and $0 at December 28, 2019)
280 — 
Intangible assets, net874 23 
Other33 26 
Total assets held for sale$1,922 $122 
LIABILITIES
Trade payables$$
Other16 
Total liabilities held for sale$18 $
The balances held for sale at September 26, 2020 primarily relate to the Cheese Transaction, businesses in our International segment, and certain manufacturing equipment and land use rights across the globe. The balances held for sale at December 28, 2019 primarily related to businesses in our International segment, as well as certain manufacturing equipment and land use rights across the globe.
Note 5. Restructuring Activities
As part of our restructuring activities, we incur expenses that qualify as exit and disposal costs under U.S. GAAP. These include severance and employee benefit costs and other exit costs. Severance and employee benefit costs primarily relate to cash severance, non-cash severance, including accelerated equity award compensation expense, and pension and other termination benefits. Other exit costs primarily relate to lease and contract terminations. We also incur expenses that are an integral component of, and directly attributable to, our restructuring activities, which do not qualify as exit and disposal costs under U.S. GAAP. These include asset-related costs and other implementation costs. Asset-related costs primarily relate to accelerated depreciation and asset impairment charges. Other implementation costs primarily relate to start-up costs of new facilities, professional fees, asset relocation costs, costs to exit facilities, and costs associated with restructuring benefit plans.
Employee severance and other termination benefit packages are primarily determined based on established benefit arrangements, local statutory requirements, and historical benefit practices. We recognize the contractual component of these benefits when payment is probable and estimable; additional elements of severance and termination benefits associated with non-recurring benefits are recognized ratably over each employee’s required future service period. Charges for accelerated depreciation are recognized on long-lived assets that will be taken out of service before the end of their normal service, in which case depreciation estimates are revised to reflect the use of the asset over its shortened useful life. Asset impairments establish a new fair value basis for assets held for disposal or sale, and those assets are written down to expected net realizable value if carrying value exceeds fair value. All other costs are recognized as incurred.
Restructuring Activities:
We have restructuring programs globally, which are focused primarily on workforce reduction and factory closure and consolidation. For the nine months ended September 26, 2020, we eliminated approximately 220 positions outside of the United States related to these programs. As of September 26, 2020, we expect to eliminate approximately 30 additional positions outside the United States related to these programs. Total restructuring expenses during the nine months ended September 26, 2020 were $13 million and included $8 million of credits in severance and employee benefit costs, $2 million of credits in non-cash asset-related costs, $21 million of other implementation costs, and $2 million of other exit costs. Restructuring expenses during the three months ended September 26, 2020 were $9 million and included $2 million of credits in severance and employee benefit costs, $10 million of other implementation costs, and $1 million of other exit costs. Restructuring expenses totaled $15 million for the three months and $56 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019.
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Our net liability balance for restructuring project costs that qualify as exit and disposal costs under U.S. GAAP (i.e., severance and employee benefit costs and other exit costs) was (in millions):
Severance and Employee Benefit CostsOther Exit CostsTotal
Balance at December 28, 2019$22 $24 $46 
Charges/(credits)(8)(6)
Cash payments(12)(4)(16)
Balance at September 26, 2020$$22 $24 
We expect the liability for severance and employee benefit costs as of September 26, 2020 to be paid by the end of 2021. The liability for other exit costs primarily relates to lease obligations. The cash impact of these obligations will continue for the duration of the lease terms, which expire between 2020 and 2026.
Total Expenses:
Total expense/(income) related to restructuring activities, by income statement caption, were (in millions):
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Severance and employee benefit costs - Cost of products sold$(1)$(1)$(1)$(4)
Severance and employee benefit costs - SG&A(1)(1)(7)(1)
Asset-related costs - Cost of products sold— (2)11 
Asset-related costs - SG&A— — — 
Other costs - Cost of products sold(2)(1)20 
Other costs - SG&A12 23 21 
Other costs - Other expense/(income)— — 
$$15 $13 $56 
We do not include our restructuring activities within Segment Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in Note 18, Segment Reporting). The pre-tax impact of allocating such expenses to our segments would have been (in millions):
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
 September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
United States$$$$34 
International— (2)
Canada12 10 
General corporate expenses— (1)
$$15 $13 $56 

Note 6. Restricted Cash
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, as reported on our condensed consolidated balance sheets, to cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, as reported on our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in millions):
September 26, 2020December 28, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents$2,720 $2,279 
Restricted cash included in other current assets— 
Restricted cash included in other non-current assets— 
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash$2,721 $2,280 
At September 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, cash and cash equivalents excluded amounts classified as held for sale. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information.
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Note 7. Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following (in millions):
September 26, 2020December 28, 2019
Packaging and ingredients$532 $511 
Work in process282 364 
Finished products1,847 1,846 
Inventories$2,661 $2,721 
At September 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, inventories excluded amounts classified as held for sale. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information.
Note 8. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill:
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, by segment, were (in millions):
United StatesInternationalCanadaTotal
Balance at December 28, 2019$29,647 $3,355 $2,544 $35,546 
Impairment losses(655)(368)(1,020)(2,043)
Reclassified to assets held for sale(563)(5)(12)(580)
Translation adjustments and other— (70)(62)
Balance at September 26, 2020$28,429 $2,990 $1,442 $32,861 
At September 26, 2020, goodwill excluded amounts classified as held for sale. Additionally, the table above excludes the $300 million impairment loss related to the Disposal Group’s goodwill held for sale in connection with the Cheese Transaction. Such impairment loss was recognized as a reduction to current assets held for sale. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information related to the Cheese Transaction and its financial statement impacts.
In the first quarter of 2020, our internal reporting and reportable segments changed. We moved our Puerto Rico business from the Latin America zone to the United States zone to consolidate and streamline the management of our product categories and supply chain. We also combined our EMEA, Latin America, and APAC zones to form the International zone as a result of certain previously announced organizational changes.
Therefore, effective in the first quarter of 2020, we manage and report our operating results through three reportable segments defined by geographic region: United States, International, and Canada. We have reflected these changes in all historical periods presented. Accordingly, the segment goodwill balances at December 28, 2019 reflect an increase of $46 million in the United States and a corresponding decrease in International.
The reorganization of our internal reporting and reportable segments changed the composition of certain of our reporting units: (i) Benelux was separated from the historical Northern Europe and Benelux reporting unit and combined with the historical Continental Europe reporting unit, creating two new reporting units, Northern Europe and Continental Europe; (ii) our historical Greater China reporting unit was combined with our historical Southeast Asia and India reporting units, creating the new Asia reporting unit; (iii) our historical Northeast Asia reporting unit was combined with our historical Australia and New Zealand reporting unit to form a single reporting unit called Australia, New Zealand, and Japan ("ANJ"); (iv) our historical Latin America Exports reporting unit (excluding Puerto Rico) was combined with our historical Brazil and Mexico reporting units to form a single reporting unit called Latin America ("LATAM"); and (v) Puerto Rico, which was previously included in our historical Latin America Exports reporting unit, became a standalone reporting unit.
As a result of this reorganization, we reassigned assets and liabilities to the applicable reporting units and allocated goodwill using the relative fair value approach. We performed an interim impairment test (or transition test) on the affected reporting units on both a pre- and post-reorganization basis.
We performed our pre-reorganization impairment test as of December 29, 2019, which was our first day of 2020. There were five reporting units affected by the reassignment of assets and liabilities that maintained a goodwill balance as of our pre-reorganization impairment test date. These reporting units were Latin America Exports, Northeast Asia, Northern Europe and Benelux, Continental Europe, and Greater China. The remaining reporting units affected by the reassignment of assets and liabilities did not maintain a goodwill balance as of our pre-reorganization impairment test date.
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Two of the affected reporting units, Latin America Exports and Northeast Asia, were tested for impairment as of December 28, 2019, as part of our fourth quarter 2019 interim impairment test. Following the impairment test, the goodwill carrying amount of our Latin America Exports reporting unit was approximately $195 million and the goodwill carrying amount of our Northeast Asia reporting unit was approximately $83 million as of December 28, 2019. These carrying amounts were determined to equal the carrying amounts on December 29, 2019, the day of our pre-reorganization impairment test, for the Latin America Exports and Northeast Asia reporting units.
Additionally, as part of our pre-reorganization impairment test, we utilized the discounted cash flow method under the income approach to estimate the fair values as of December 29, 2019 of the three reporting units noted above that were not tested as part of our fourth quarter 2019 interim impairment test (Northern Europe and Benelux, Continental Europe, and Greater China) and concluded that no additional impairment charge was required. The goodwill carrying amount of our Northern Europe and Benelux reporting unit was approximately $2.1 billion and its fair value was between 20-50% over carrying amount. The goodwill carrying amount of our Continental Europe reporting unit was approximately $567 million and the goodwill carrying amount of our Greater China reporting unit was approximately $321 million and each had a fair value over carrying amount in excess of 50%.
We performed our post-reorganization impairment test as of December 29, 2019. There were six reporting units in scope for our post-reorganization impairment test: Northern Europe, Continental Europe, Asia, ANJ, LATAM, and Puerto Rico. As a result of our post-reorganization impairment test, we recognized a non-cash impairment loss of $226 million in SG&A in the first quarter of 2020 related to two reporting units contained within our International segment. We determined the factors contributing to the impairment loss were the result of circumstances described below.
We recognized a non-cash impairment loss of $83 million in our ANJ reporting unit within our International segment. This impairment was driven by the reporting unit reorganization discussed above. The combination of Australia and New Zealand, which was fully impaired in the fourth quarter of 2019, with Northeast Asia, created a new reporting unit with a fair value below carrying amount upon transition. The impairment of the ANJ reporting unit represents all of the goodwill of that reporting unit.
We recognized a non-cash impairment loss of $143 million in our LATAM reporting unit within our International segment. This impairment was driven by the reporting unit reorganization discussed above. The combination of Mexico and Brazil, neither of which had a goodwill balance as of the end of 2019, with Latin America Exports, which was partially impaired in 2019, created a new reporting unit with a fair value below carrying amount upon transition. The impairment of the LATAM reporting unit represents all of the goodwill of that reporting unit.
The remaining reporting units tested as part of our post-reorganization impairment test each had excess fair value over carrying amount as of December 29, 2019. The goodwill carrying amount of our Puerto Rico reporting unit was approximately $58 million and its fair value was less than 10% over carrying amount, the goodwill carrying amount of our Northern Europe reporting unit was approximately $1.7 billion and its fair value was between 20-50% over carrying amount, and the goodwill carrying amount of our Continental Europe reporting unit was approximately $920 million and the goodwill carrying amount of our Asia reporting unit was approximately $321 million and each had a fair value over carrying amount that was in excess of 50%.
We test our reporting units for impairment annually as of the first day of our second quarter, which was March 29, 2020, for our 2020 annual impairment test. In performing this test, we incorporated information that was known through the date of filing our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 27, 2020. We utilized the discounted cash flow method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of our reporting units. Through the performance of the 2020 annual impairment test, we identified impairments related to the U.S. Foodservice, Canada Retail, Canada Foodservice, and EMEA East reporting units. As a result, we recognized a non-cash impairment loss of $1.8 billion in SG&A in the second quarter of 2020 related to these four reporting units, which are located across our United States, International, and Canada segments. These impairments were primarily due to the completion of our enterprise strategy and five-year operating plan in the second quarter of 2020. Management, in completing the five-year operating plan, developed updated expectations regarding revenue growth and profitability opportunities associated with our reporting units and, as a result, has recalibrated our future investments to align with the opportunities for which we see greater potential for a return on those investments. Current expectations for the impacts of COVID-19 were incorporated into near-term cash flow forecasts as well as the discount rate and long-term growth rate valuation assumptions. Accordingly, in conjunction with these updated expectations, management updated and aligned our valuation assumptions, resulting in increases in fair value estimates for certain reporting units and decreases in fair value estimates for others.
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We recognized an $815 million impairment loss in our Canada Retail reporting unit within our Canada segment. Through the completion of our enterprise strategy and five-year operating plan in the second quarter of 2020, we revised downward our outlook for net sales, margin, and cash flows in response to recently observed performance trends for this reporting unit. Additionally, through the 2020 annual impairment test performed in the second quarter, we also lowered our long-term revenue growth rate expectations and reflected declines in forecasted foreign currency exchange rates in Canada. After the impairment, the goodwill carrying amount of the Canada Retail reporting unit is approximately $1.2 billion.
We recognized a $655 million impairment loss in our U.S. Foodservice reporting unit within our United States segment and a $205 million impairment loss in our Canada Foodservice reporting unit within our Canada segment. Through the completion of our enterprise strategy and five-year operating plan in the second quarter of 2020, we established a revised downward outlook for net sales, margin, and cash flows. We also lowered our long-term revenue growth rate expectations for these away-from-home (or foodservice) businesses to reflect, in part, consumer shifts from restaurants to at-home consumption, which is expected to have a more sustained impact than previously anticipated due to the continued spread of COVID-19. Our current expectations for the duration and intensity of the COVID-19 impact on away-from-home establishments was incorporated into the cash flow forecasts as well as into the discount rate and long-term growth rate valuation assumptions. However, given the evolving nature of COVID-19 and its impacts, there continues to be a high degree of uncertainty and these reporting units could be subject to additional impairments if there are further sustained changes in purchasing behaviors or government restrictions. After the impairment, the goodwill carrying amount of the U.S. Foodservice reporting unit is approximately $3.2 billion and the goodwill carrying amount of the Canada Foodservice reporting unit is approximately $148 million.
We recognized a $142 million impairment loss in our EMEA East reporting unit within our International segment. Through the completion of our enterprise strategy and five-year operating plan in the second quarter of 2020, we established a revised downward outlook for net sales, margin, and cash flows in response to lower expectations for margin and revenue growth opportunities for this reporting unit. The impairment of the EMEA East reporting unit represents all of the goodwill of that reporting unit.
On the first day of the third quarter of 2020, we reorganized the composition of our United States zone reporting structure to align to the management of our new platforms, which were established to support the execution of our new enterprise strategy and five-year operating plan. The reorganization of our internal reporting changed the composition of our reporting units wherein certain of our existing U.S. reporting units (U.S. Refrigerated, U.S. Grocery, and U.S. Foodservice) have been reorganized into the following new reporting units: Enhancers, Specialty, and Away From Home (“ESA”); Kids, Snacks and Beverages (“KSB”); and Meal Foundations and Coffee (“MFC”).
As a result of this reorganization, we reassigned assets and liabilities to the applicable reporting units and allocated goodwill using the relative fair value approach. We performed an interim impairment test (or transition test) on the affected reporting units on both a pre- and post-reorganization basis.
We performed our pre-reorganization impairment test as of June 28, 2020, which was our first day of the third quarter of 2020. There were three reporting units (U.S. Refrigerated, U.S. Grocery, and U.S. Foodservice) affected by the reorganization that maintained a goodwill balance as of our pre-reorganization impairment test date. The impairment test did not result in an impairment of the three affected reporting units.
We performed our post-reorganization impairment test as of June 28, 2020. There were three reporting units in scope for our post-reorganization impairment test: ESA, KSB, and MFC. These reporting units, which were tested as part of our post-reorganization impairment test, each had excess fair value over carrying amount as of June 28, 2020. The goodwill carrying amount of our ESA reporting unit was approximately $11.6 billion and its fair value was between 20-50% over carrying amount. The goodwill carrying amount of our KSB reporting unit was approximately $10.8 billion and its fair value was between 10-20% over carrying amount. The goodwill carrying amount of our MFC reporting unit was approximately $6.5 billion and its fair value was less than 10% over carrying amount.
Additionally, in the third quarter of 2020, we announced the Cheese Transaction and determined that the related Disposal Group was held for sale. Accordingly, based on a relative fair value allocation, we reclassified $580 million of goodwill to assets held for sale, which included a portion of goodwill from seven of our reporting units. The goodwill reclassified to held for sale was primarily associated with our MFC reporting unit but also included goodwill from our KSB, ESA, Canada Retail, Puerto Rico, Continental Europe, and Asia reporting units. Two other reporting units, ANJ and LATAM, were impacted but do not have goodwill balances. Following the reclassification of a portion of goodwill from our reporting units, we determined that a triggering event had occurred for the remaining portion of each of the impacted reporting units, and we tested each for impairment as of September 15, 2020, the triggering event date. The triggering event impairment test did not result in an impairment of the remaining portion of any impacted reporting unit.
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In the third quarter of 2020, we recorded a non-cash impairment loss of $300 million in SG&A, which was related to the Disposal Group’s goodwill. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information on the Cheese Transaction and its financial statement impacts.
As of September 26, 2020, we maintain 15 reporting units, nine of which comprise our goodwill balance. These nine reporting units had an aggregate carrying amount of $32.9 billion at September 26, 2020. As of their latest impairment testing date, four reporting units had 10% or less fair value over carrying amount and an aggregate goodwill carrying amount of $7.5 billion, two reporting units had between 10-20% fair value over carrying amount and a goodwill carrying amount of $12.5 billion, two reporting units had between 20-50% fair value over carrying amount and a goodwill carrying amount of $12.5 billion, and one reporting unit had over 50% fair value over carrying amount and a goodwill carrying amount of $326 million. We test our reporting units for impairment annually as of the first day of our second quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.
In connection with the preparation of our first quarter 2019 financial statements, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair values of three of our pre-reorganization reporting units (EMEA East, Brazil, and Latin America Exports) were below their carrying amounts. As such, we performed an interim impairment test on these reporting units as of March 30, 2019. As a result of our interim impairment test, we recognized a non-cash impairment loss of $620 million in SG&A in the first quarter of 2019. We recorded a $286 million impairment loss in our EMEA East reporting unit, a $205 million impairment loss in our Brazil reporting unit, and a $129 million impairment loss in our Latin America Exports reporting unit. The impairment of the Brazil reporting unit represented all of the goodwill of that reporting unit. We determined the factors contributing to the impairment loss were the result of circumstances that arose during the first quarter of 2019. These reporting units are part of our International segment as discussed above.
We performed our 2019 annual impairment test as of March 31, 2019, which was the first day of our second quarter in 2019. We utilized the discounted cash flow method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of our reporting units. Through the performance of the 2019 annual impairment test, we identified an impairment related to the U.S. Refrigerated reporting unit. As a result, we recognized a non-cash impairment loss of $118 million in SG&A in the second quarter of 2019 within our United States segment. This impairment was primarily due to an increase in the discount rate used for fair value estimation.
See Note 9, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information on these impairment losses.
Accumulated impairment losses to goodwill were $10.5 billion as of September 26, 2020.
Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates, and market factors. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, as well as industry, economic, and regulatory conditions. These assumptions and estimates include estimated future annual net cash flows, income tax rates, discount rates, growth rates, and other market factors. If current expectations of future growth rates and margins are not met, if market factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, income tax rates, foreign currency exchange rates, or any factors that could be affected by COVID-19, change, or if management’s expectations or plans otherwise change, including updates to our long-term operating plans, then one or more of our reporting units might become impaired in the future. Additionally, any decisions to divest certain non-strategic assets could lead to the impairment of one or more of our reporting units in the future.
During the third quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to produce a short-term beneficial financial impact for our consolidated results. Retail sales have increased due to higher than anticipated consumer demand for our products. The foodservice channel, however, has experienced a negative impact from prolonged social distancing mandates limiting access to and capacity at away-from-home establishments for a longer period of time than was expected when they were originally put in place. Our ESA and Canada Foodservice reporting units are the most exposed of our reporting units to the long-term impacts to away-from-home establishments. Our U.S. Foodservice (now included within ESA) and Canada Foodservice reporting units were both impaired during our most recent annual impairment test, reflecting our best estimate at that time of the future outlook and risks of these businesses. The ESA and Canada Foodservice reporting units maintain an aggregate goodwill carrying amount of approximately $11.7 billion as of September 26, 2020. A number of factors could result in further future impairments of our away-from-home (or foodservice) businesses, including but not limited to: continued mandates around closures of dining rooms in restaurants, distancing of people within establishments resulting in fewer customers, the total number of restaurant closures, forthcoming changes in consumer preferences or regulatory requirements over product formats (e.g., table top packaging vs. single serve packaging), and consumer trends of dining-in versus dining-out. Given the evolving nature of and uncertainty driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to evaluate the impact on our reporting units as adverse changes to these assumptions could result in future impairments.
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Our reporting units that were impaired in 2019 and 2020 were written down to their respective fair values resulting in zero excess fair value over carrying amount as of the applicable impairment test dates. Accordingly, these and other reporting units that have 20% or less excess fair value over carrying amount as of their latest impairment testing date have a heightened risk of future impairments if any assumptions, estimates, or market factors change in the future. Although the remaining reporting units have more than 20% excess fair value over carrying amount as of their latest impairment testing date, these amounts are also associated with the acquisition of H. J. Heinz Company in 2013 and the merger of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. with and into H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation in 2015 and are recorded on the balance sheet at their estimated acquisition date fair values. Therefore, if any assumptions, estimates, or market factors change in the future, these amounts are also susceptible to impairments.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Changes in the carrying amount of indefinite-lived intangible assets, which primarily consisted of trademarks, were (in millions):
Balance at December 28, 2019$43,400 
Impairment losses(1,056)
Reclassified to assets held for sale(228)
Translation adjustments(116)
Balance at September 26, 2020$42,000 
At September 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, indefinite-lived intangible assets excluded amounts classified as held for sale. Indefinite-lived intangible assets reclassified to assets held for sale included the global Cracker Barrel trademark related to the Cheese Transaction. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information on amounts held for sale.
Our indefinite-lived intangible asset balance primarily consists of a number of individual brands, which had an aggregate carrying amount of $42.0 billion at September 26, 2020. We test our brands for impairment annually as of the first day of our second quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a brand is less than its carrying amount. As a result of the Cheese Transaction an assessment was made as to whether it was more likely or not that the fair value of the Kraft and/or Velveeta brands were less than their carrying value as of September 26, 2020. In performing our assessment, consideration was given to the estimated future cash flows for the retained portion of each brand coupled with the estimated allocation of the sale proceeds to the licensing rights transferred, and in doing so, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of each brand exceeded its carrying amount. Changes in the fair value of the retained and licensed portions of each brand will impact the amount of any potential impairment charges and the amount of license income that will be recognized, which, at this time, we would not expect to exceed the fair value of the perpetual licenses. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information on the Cheese Transaction.
We performed our 2020 annual impairment test as of March 29, 2020, which is the first day of our second quarter in 2020. As a result of our 2020 annual impairment test, we recognized a non-cash impairment loss of $1.1 billion in SG&A in the second quarter of 2020 primarily related to nine brands (Oscar Mayer, Maxwell House, Velveeta, Cool Whip, Plasmon, ABC, Classico, Wattie’s, and Planters). We recorded impairment losses of $949 million in our United States segment, $100 million in our International segment, and $7 million in our Canada segment, consistent with the ownership of the trademarks. The impairment for these brands was largely due to the following factors:
We recognized a $626 million impairment loss related to the Oscar Mayer brand. As the meats business has grown more competitive in the United States, we expect to require additional investments in marketing and packaging to revitalize the brand and drive a higher rate of long-term revenue growth, but at a lower profit margin. As a result, we revised downward our revenue and margin expectations as part of the completion of our enterprise strategy and five-year operating plan in the second quarter of 2020. This brand had a carrying amount of $3.3 billion prior to this impairment and $2.7 billion after impairment.
We recognized a $140 million impairment loss related to the Maxwell House brand, primarily due to downward revised revenue expectations that were established through the completion of our enterprise strategy and five-year operating plan in the second quarter of 2020 to reflect forecasted declines in the mainstream coffee category and distribution losses. Additionally, the discount rate assumption used for the fair value estimation increased to reflect a market participant’s perceived risk in the brand valuation. This brand had a carrying amount of $823 million prior to this impairment and $683 million after impairment.
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We recognized a $290 million impairment loss primarily related to seven other brands (Velveeta, Cool Whip, Plasmon, ABC, Classico, Wattie’s, and Planters). Through the completion of our enterprise strategy and five-year operating plan in the second quarter of 2020 and the development of valuation assumptions through the 2020 annual impairment test, we established new expectations for revenue growth, margins, long-term growth rates, and discount rates. Due to the low level of fair value over carrying amount for these brands, these changes in future cash flow expectations and valuation assumptions reduced the fair value estimates for these brands. These brands had an aggregate carrying value of $5.1 billion prior to this impairment and $4.8 billion after impairment.
The aggregate carrying amount associated with two additional brands (Kraft and Miracle Whip), which each had excess fair value over its carrying amount of 10% or less, was $13.6 billion as of the 2020 annual impairment test date (in this case, both brands had fair value over carrying amount of less than 1% due to impairments recorded in recent prior years). The aggregate carrying amount of an additional six brands (Lunchables, A1, Ore-Ida, Stove Top, Jet Puffed, and Quero), which each had fair value over its carrying amount of between 10-20%, was $4.1 billion as of the 2020 annual impairment test date. The aggregate carrying amount of brands with fair value over carrying amount between 20-50% was $6.9 billion, and the aggregate carrying amount of brands with fair value over carrying amount in excess of 50% was $9.3 billion as of the 2020 annual impairment test date.
We performed our 2019 annual impairment test as of March 31, 2019, which was the first day of our second quarter in 2019. As a result of our 2019 annual impairment test, we recognized a non-cash impairment loss of $474 million in SG&A in the second quarter of 2019 primarily related to six brands (Miracle Whip, Velveeta, Lunchables, Maxwell House, Philadelphia, and Cool Whip). This impairment loss was recorded in our United States segment, consistent with the ownership of the trademarks. The impairment for these brands was largely due to an increase in the discount rate assumptions used for the fair value estimations. The increase in the discount rate was applied to reflect a market participants’ perceived risk in the valuation implied by the sustained reduction in our stock price and, hence, market capitalization (which decreased approximately 25% from December 29, 2018 to the March 31, 2019 annual impairment test date and sustained this decline through June 29, 2019).
For Miracle Whip and Maxwell House, the reduction in fair value was also driven by lower expectations of near and long-term net sales growth that were adjusted in the second quarter of 2019 due to anticipated trends in consumer preferences. For Lunchables, the reduction in fair value was also due to lower forecasted net sales and royalty rate assumptions associated with lower profit margin expectations driven by pricing actions at certain customers. For Velveeta, Philadelphia, and Cool Whip, no assumption changes other than the discount rate had a meaningful impact on the estimated fair value of brands. These brands had an aggregate carrying value of $13.5 billion prior to this impairment and $13.0 billion after impairment.
Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates, and market factors. Estimating the fair value of individual brands requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, as well as industry, economic, and regulatory conditions. These assumptions and estimates include estimated future annual net cash flows, income tax considerations, discount rates, growth rates, royalty rates, contributory asset charges, and other market factors. If current expectations of future growth rates and margins are not met, if market factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, income tax rates, foreign currency exchange rates, or any factors that could be affected by COVID-19, change, or if management’s expectations or plans otherwise change, including updates to our long-term operating plans, then one or more of our brands might become impaired in the future. Additionally, any decisions to divest certain non-strategic assets could lead to the impairment of one or more of our brands in the future.
As we consider the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to our indefinite-lived intangible assets, a number of factors could have a future adverse impact on our brands, including changes in consumer and consumption trends in both the short and long term, the extent of continued government mandates to shelter in place, total number of restaurant closures, economic declines, and reductions in consumer discretionary income. We have seen an increase in our retail business in the short-term that has more than offset declines in our foodservice business over the same period. Our brands are generally common across both the retail and away-from-home (or foodservice) businesses and the fair value of our brands are subject to a similar mix of positive and negative factors. Given the evolving nature and uncertainty driven by COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to evaluate the impact on our brands.
Our brands that were impaired in 2020 and 2019 were written down to their respective fair values resulting in zero excess fair value over carrying amount as of the applicable impairment test dates. Accordingly, these and other individual brands that have 20% or less excess fair value over carrying amount as of their latest impairment testing date have a heightened risk of future impairments if any assumptions, estimates, or market factors change in the future. Although the remaining brands have more than 20% excess fair value over carrying amount as of their latest impairment testing date, these amounts are also associated with the acquisition of H. J. Heinz Company in 2013 and the merger of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. with and into H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation in 2015 and are recorded on the balance sheet at their estimated acquisition date fair values. Therefore, if any assumptions, estimates, or market factors change in the future, these amounts are also susceptible to impairments.
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Definite-lived intangible assets:
Definite-lived intangible assets were (in millions):
 September 26, 2020December 28, 2019
GrossAccumulated
Amortization
NetGrossAccumulated
Amortization
Net
Trademarks$1,975 $(449)$1,526 $2,443 $(469)$1,974 
Customer-related assets3,774 (893)2,881 4,113 (845)3,268 
Other14 (3)11 14 (4)10 
$5,763 $(1,345)$4,418 $6,570 $(1,318)$5,252 
At September 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019, definite-lived intangible assets excluded amounts classified as held for sale. Definite-lived intangible assets reclassified to assets held for sale primarily related to the Cheese Transaction and included certain global trademarks with an aggregate carrying value of $366 million, including Breakstone’s, Knudsen, Athenos, Polly-O, and Hoffman’s, along with a portion of the Cheez Whiz brand, and customer-related assets with an aggregate carrying value of $256 million. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information on amounts held for sale. Amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets was $68 million for the three months and $204 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $66 million for the three months and $214 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. Aside from amortization expense and the amounts held for sale, the change in definite-lived intangible assets from December 28, 2019 to September 26, 2020 primarily reflects the impact of foreign currency.
We estimate that amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets will be approximately $236 million for the next 12 months and approximately $236 million for each of the four years thereafter.
Note 9. Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes consists of provisions for federal, state, and foreign income taxes. We operate in an international environment; accordingly, the consolidated effective tax rate is a composite rate reflecting the earnings in various locations and the applicable tax rates. Additionally, small movements in tax rates due to a change in tax law or a change in tax rates that causes us to revalue our deferred tax balances produces volatility in our effective tax rate. Our quarterly income tax provision is determined based on our estimated full year effective tax rate, adjusted for tax attributable to infrequent or unusual items, which are recognized on a discrete period basis in the income tax provision for the period in which they occur.
Our effective tax rate was an expense of 34.1% for the three months ended September 26, 2020 on pre-tax income compared to an expense of 22.6% for the three months ended September 28, 2019 on pre-tax income. The change in our effective tax rate was primarily driven by an increase in unfavorable net discrete items, primarily related to the revaluation of our deferred tax balances due to changes in international tax laws and non-deductible goodwill impairment (7.1%) related to the Cheese Transaction, which were partially offset by the reversal of uncertain tax position reserves in the U.S. and certain state jurisdictions and favorable changes in estimates of certain 2019 U.S. income and deductions. Prior year unfavorable impacts from net discrete items were primarily related to tax impacts for divestitures, specifically related to the Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, the impact of which was partially offset by the reversal of certain deferred withholding tax liabilities resulting from the ratification of the U.S. tax treaty with Spain.
Our effective tax rate was an expense of 163.1% for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 on pre-tax losses compared to an expense of 25.0% for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 on pre-tax income. The change in our effective tax rate was primarily driven by an increase in unfavorable net discrete items, primarily related to non-deductible goodwill impairments (202.8%) and the revaluation of our deferred tax balances due to changes in international tax laws, which were partially offset by the favorable impact of establishing certain deferred tax assets for state tax deductions. Prior year unfavorable impacts from net discrete items were primarily related to non-deductible goodwill impairments (5.3%) and the tax impacts from the Heinz India Transaction and Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, the impacts of which were partially offset by the reversal of uncertain tax position reserves in the U.S. and certain state jurisdictions and changes in estimates of certain 2018 U.S. income and deductions.
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Note 10. Employees’ Stock Incentive Plans
2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan:
On May 7, 2020, our stockholders approved The Kraft Heinz Company 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2020 Omnibus Plan”), which was adopted by our Board of Directors on March 2, 2020. The 2020 Omnibus Plan is effective March 2, 2020 (the “Plan Effective Date”) and will expire on the tenth anniversary of the Plan Effective Date. The 2020 Omnibus Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 36 million shares of our common stock for awards to employees, non-employee directors, and other key personnel. The 2020 Omnibus Plan provides for the grant of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), deferred stock, performance awards, other stock-based awards, and cash-based awards. Equity awards granted under the 2020 Omnibus Plan include awards that vest in full at the end of a three-year period as well as awards that vest in annual installments over three or four years beginning on the second anniversary of the original grant date. Non-qualified stock options have a maximum exercise term of 10 years from the date of the grant. As of the Plan Effective Date, awards will no longer be granted under The Kraft Heinz Company 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the H. J. Heinz Holding Corporation 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan, Kraft Foods Group, Inc. 2012 Performance Incentive Plan, or any other equity plans other than the 2020 Omnibus Plan.
Stock Options:
Our stock option activity and related information was:
Number of Stock OptionsWeighted Average Exercise Price
(per share)
Outstanding at December 28, 201917,638,500 $41.22 
Granted523,514 30.57 
Forfeited(889,088)63.00 
Exercised(3,461,682)23.44 
Outstanding at September 26, 202013,811,244 43.87 
The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the period was $23 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020.
Restricted Stock Units:
Our RSU activity and related information was:
Number of UnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
(per share)
Outstanding at December 28, 20199,395,909 $33.51 
Granted5,515,529 29.22 
Forfeited(635,274)35.46 
Vested(137,790)66.78 
Outstanding at September 26, 202014,138,374 31.35 
The aggregate fair value of RSUs that vested during the period was $4 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020.
Performance Share Units:
Our performance share unit (“PSU”) activity and related information was:
Number of UnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
(per share)
Outstanding at December 28, 20196,813,659 $36.03 
Granted191,792 22.56 
Forfeited(540,672)51.88 
Outstanding at September 26, 20206,464,779 34.31 

Note 11. Postemployment Benefits
See our consolidated financial statements and related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information on our postemployment related accounting policies.
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Pension Plans
Components of Net Pension Cost/(Benefit):
Net pension cost/(benefit) consisted of the following (in millions):
For the Three Months Ended
U.S. PlansNon-U.S. Plans
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Service cost$$$$
Interest cost33 41 12 
Expected return on plan assets(52)(58)(26)(34)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)— — — 
Settlements(3)— — — 
Special/contractual termination benefits— — — 
Other— — 
Net pension cost/(benefit)$(20)$(15)$(12)$(14)

For the Nine Months Ended
U.S. PlansNon-U.S. Plans
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Service cost$$$12 $12 
Interest cost98 122 28 38 
Expected return on plan assets(157)(172)(77)(107)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)— — — 
Amortization of unrecognized losses/(gains)— — — 
Settlements(3)— — — 
Special/contractual termination benefits— — — 
Other— — 
Net pension cost/(benefit)$(57)$(44)$(35)$(52)
We present all non-service cost components of net pension cost/(benefit) within other expense/(income) on our condensed consolidated statements of income.
Employer Contributions:
Related to our non-U.S. pension plans, we contributed $11 million during the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and plan to make further contributions of approximately $4 million during the remainder of 2020. We did not contribute to our U.S. pension plans during the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and do not plan to make contributions during the remainder of 2020. Estimated future contributions take into consideration current economic conditions, including the impacts of COVID-19, which at this time are expected to have minimal impact on expected contributions for the remainder of 2020. Our actual contributions and plans may change due to many factors, including changes in tax, employee benefit, or other laws and regulations, tax deductibility, significant differences between expected and actual pension asset performance or interest rates, or other factors.
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Postretirement Plans
Components of Net Postretirement Cost/(Benefit):
Net postretirement cost/(benefit) consisted of the following (in millions):
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Service cost$$$$
Interest cost12 25 35 
Expected return on plan assets(12)(13)(37)(40)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)(31)(77)(92)(230)
Amortization of unrecognized losses/(gains)(3)(2)(10)(6)
Curtailments— (4)— (4)
Net postretirement cost/(benefit)$(36)$(83)$(109)$(241)
We present all non-service cost components of net postretirement cost/(benefit) within other expense/(income) on our condensed consolidated statements of income.
Employer Contributions:
During the nine months ended September 26, 2020, we contributed $9 million to our postretirement benefit plans. We plan to make further contributions of approximately $6 million to our postretirement benefit plans during the remainder of 2020. Estimated future contributions take into consideration current economic conditions, including the impacts of COVID-19, which at this time are expected to have minimal impact on expected contributions for the remainder of 2020. Our actual contributions and plans may change due to many factors, including changes in tax, employee benefit, or other laws and regulations, tax deductibility, significant differences between expected and actual postretirement plan asset performance or interest rates, or other factors.
Note 12. Financial Instruments
See our consolidated financial statements and related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information on our overall risk management strategies, our use of derivatives, and our related accounting policies.
Derivative Volume:
The notional values of our outstanding derivative instruments were (in millions):
Notional Amount
September 26, 2020December 28, 2019
Commodity contracts$482 $475 
Foreign exchange contracts2,336 3,045 
Cross-currency contracts8,189 4,035 
The increase in our derivative volume for cross-currency contracts was driven by the addition of new euro cross-currency contracts in the second quarter of 2020. The new contracts are designated either as cash flow hedges or net investment hedges. The cash flow hedges are being used to mitigate the foreign currency exposure created by non-derivative foreign-denominated debt instruments that are no longer designated as net investment hedges. There was no material change in market risk of the overall cross-currency contract portfolio during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.
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Fair Value of Derivative Instruments:
The fair values and the levels within the fair value hierarchy of derivative instruments recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets were (in millions):
September 26, 2020
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities
(Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Total Fair Value
AssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilities
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign exchange contracts(a)
$— $— $24 $12 $24 $12 
Cross-currency contracts(b)
— — 340 138 340 138 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts(c)
28 39 29 42 
Foreign exchange contracts(a)
— — 
Total fair value$28 $39 $367 $160 $395 $199 
(a)    At September 26, 2020, the fair value of our derivative assets was recorded in other current assets ($21 million) and other non-current assets ($5 million), and the fair value of our derivative liabilities was recorded in other current liabilities ($15 million) and other non-current liabilities ($4 million).
(b)    At September 26, 2020, the fair value of our derivative assets was recorded in other current assets ($39 million) and other non-current assets ($301 million), and the fair value of our derivative liabilities was recorded within other non-current liabilities.
(c)     At September 26, 2020, the fair value of our derivative assets was recorded in other current assets ($28 million) and other non-current assets ($1 million), and the fair value of derivative liabilities was recorded in other current liabilities ($39 million) and other non-current liabilities ($3 million).

December 28, 2019
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities
(Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Total Fair Value
AssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilitiesAssetsLiabilities
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign exchange contracts(a)
$— $— $$20 $$20 
Cross-currency contracts(b)
— — 200 88 200 88 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts(c)
42 — 42 
Foreign exchange contracts(a)
— — 
Total fair value$42 $$213 $113 $255 $119 
(a)    At December 28, 2019, the fair value of derivative assets was recorded in other current assets ($12 million) and other current non-current assets ($1 million), and the fair value of derivative liabilities was recorded in other current liabilities.
(b)    At December 28, 2019, the fair value of derivative assets was recorded in other non-current assets, and the fair value of derivative liabilities was recorded within other non-current liabilities.
(c)    At December 28, 2019, the fair value of derivative assets was recorded in other current assets, and the fair value of derivative liabilities was recorded within other current liabilities.
Our derivative financial instruments are subject to master netting arrangements that allow for the offset of assets and liabilities in the event of default or early termination of the contract. We elect to record the gross assets and liabilities of our derivative financial instruments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. If the derivative financial instruments had been netted on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, the asset and liability positions each would have been reduced by $181 million at September 26, 2020 and $108 million at December 28, 2019. At September 26, 2020, we had posted collateral of $22 million related to commodity derivative margin requirements, which was included in prepaid expenses on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. At December 28, 2019, we had collected collateral of $25 million related to commodity derivative margin requirements, which was included in other current liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Level 1 financial assets and liabilities consist of commodity future and options contracts and are valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
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Level 2 financial assets and liabilities consist of commodity swaps, foreign exchange forwards, options, and swaps, and cross-currency swaps. Commodity swaps are valued using an income approach based on the observable market commodity index prices less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. Foreign exchange forwards and swaps are valued using an income approach based on observable market forward rates less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. Foreign exchange options are valued using an income approach based on a Black-Scholes-Merton formula. This formula uses present value techniques and reflects the time value and intrinsic value based on observable market rates. Cross-currency swaps are valued based on observable market spot and swap rates.
We did not have any Level 3 financial assets or liabilities in any period presented.
Our calculation of the fair value of financial instruments takes into consideration the risk of nonperformance, including counterparty credit risk.
Net Investment Hedging:
At September 26, 2020, we had the following items designated as net investment hedges:
Non-derivative foreign-denominated debt with principal amounts of €650 million and £400 million;
Cross-currency contracts with notional amounts of £1.0 billion ($1.4 billion), C$2.1 billion ($1.6 billion), €1.9 billion ($2.1 billion), and ¥9.6 billion ($85 million); and
Foreign exchange contracts denominated in Chinese renminbi with an aggregate notional amount of $51 million.
We periodically use non-derivative instruments such as non-U.S. dollar financing transactions or non-U.S. dollar assets or liabilities, including intercompany loans, to hedge the exposure of changes in underlying foreign currency denominated subsidiary net assets, and they are designated as net investment hedges. At September 26, 2020, we had Chinese renminbi intercompany loans with an aggregate notional amount of $115 million and a euro intercompany loan with an aggregate notional amount of $48 million.
The component of the gains and losses on our net investment in these designated foreign operations, driven by changes in foreign exchange rates, are economically offset by fair value movements on the effective portion of our cross-currency contracts and foreign exchange contracts and remeasurements of our foreign-denominated debt.
Cash Flow Hedge Coverage:
At September 26, 2020, we had entered into foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges for periods not exceeding the next three years and into cross-currency contracts designated as cash flow hedges for periods not exceeding the next eight years.
Deferred Hedging Gains and Losses on Cash Flow Hedges:
Based on our valuation at September 26, 2020 and assuming market rates remain constant through contract maturities, we expect transfers to net income/(loss) of unrealized gains on foreign currency cash flow hedges during the next 12 months to be insignificant. Additionally, we expect transfers to net income/(loss) of unrealized gains on cross-currency cash flow hedges and unrealized losses on interest rate cash flow hedges during the next 12 months to each be insignificant.
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Derivative Impact on the Statements of Comprehensive Income:
The following table presents the pre-tax amounts of derivative gains/(losses) deferred into accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) and the income statement line item that will be affected when reclassified to net income/(loss) (in millions):
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses) ComponentGains/(Losses) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses) Related to Derivatives Designated as Hedging InstrumentsLocation of Gains/(Losses) When Reclassified to Net Income/(Loss)
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Cash flow hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts$— $— $$(1)Net sales
Foreign exchange contracts(8)41 (19)Cost of products sold
Foreign exchange contracts (excluded component)(1)(2)Cost of products sold
Foreign exchange contracts— — — (22)Other expense/(income)
Cross-currency contracts45 43 138 62 Other expense/(income)
Cross-currency contracts (excluded component)20 21 Other expense/(income)
Cross-currency contracts(4)— (7)— Interest expense
Net investment hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts18 Other expense/(income)
Foreign exchange contracts (excluded component)(1)— (2)(1)Interest expense
Cross-currency contracts(223)66 (91)28 Other expense/(income)
Cross-currency contracts (excluded component)23 22 Interest expense
Total gains/(losses) recognized in statements of comprehensive income$(177)$138 $124 $109 
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Derivative Impact on the Statements of Income:
The following tables present the pre-tax amounts of derivative gains/(losses) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) to net income/(loss) and the affected income statement line items (in millions):
For the Three Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Cost of products soldInterest expenseOther expense/(income)Cost of products soldInterest expenseOther expense/(income)
Total amounts presented in the condensed consolidated statements of income in which the following effects were recorded$4,097 $314 $(73)$4,129 $398 $(380)
Gains/(losses) related to derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Cash flow hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts$$— $— $$— $— 
Foreign exchange contracts (excluded component)— — — — — 
Interest rate contracts— — — — (1)— 
Cross-currency contracts— — 42 — — 38 
Cross-currency contracts (excluded component)— (4)— — 
Net investment hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts (excluded component)— (1)— — — — 
Cross-currency contracts (excluded component)— — — — 
Gains/(losses) related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts44 — — (13)— — 
Foreign exchange contracts— — — — (10)
Cross-currency contracts— — — — — 
Total gains/(losses) recognized in statements of income$49 $— $50 $(7)$$38 

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For the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Cost of products soldInterest expenseOther expense/(income)Cost of products soldInterest expenseOther expense/(income)
Total amounts presented in the condensed consolidated statements of income in which the following effects were recorded$12,592 $1,066 $(232)$12,401 $1,035 $(893)
Gains/(losses) related to derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Cash flow hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts$16 $— $— $22 $— $(22)
Foreign exchange contracts (excluded component)— — — (1)— — 
Interest rate contracts— (2)— — (3)— 
Cross-currency contracts— — 83 — — 44 
Cross-currency contracts (excluded component)— (7)21 — — 21 
Net investment hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts— — — — — (6)
Foreign exchange contracts (excluded component)— (2)— — (1)— 
Cross-currency contracts (excluded component)— 20 — — 22 — 
Gains/(losses) related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts(120)— — 13 — — 
Foreign exchange contracts— — (27)— — (16)
Cross-currency contracts— — — — — 10 
Total gains/(losses) recognized in statements of income$(104)$$77 $34 $18 $31 
Non-Derivative Impact on Statements of Comprehensive Income:
Related to our non-derivative foreign-denominated debt instruments designated as net investment hedges, we recognized pre-tax losses of $46 million for the three months and pre-tax gains of $19 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and pre-tax gains of $128 million for the three months and $147 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. These amounts were recognized in other comprehensive income/(loss).
Other Financial Instruments:
The carrying amounts of cash equivalents approximated fair values at September 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019. Money market funds are included in cash and cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of money market funds was $163 million at September 26, 2020 and $94 million at December 28, 2019. These are considered Level 1 financial assets and are valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
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Note 13. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses)
The components of, and changes in, accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses), net of tax, were as follows (in millions):
Foreign Currency Translation AdjustmentsNet Postemployment Benefit Plan AdjustmentsNet Cash Flow Hedge AdjustmentsTotal
Balance as of December 28, 2019$(2,230)$303 $41 $(1,886)
Foreign currency translation adjustments(309)— — (309)
Net deferred gains/(losses) on net investment hedges(51)— — (51)
Amounts excluded from the effectiveness assessment of net investment hedges21 — — 21 
Net deferred losses/(gains) on net investment hedges reclassified to net income/(loss)(14)— — (14)
Net deferred gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges— — 153 153 
Amounts excluded from the effectiveness assessment of cash flow hedges— — 18 18 
Net deferred losses/(gains) on cash flow hedges reclassified to net income/(loss)— — (90)(90)
Net actuarial gains/(losses) arising during the period— (22)— (22)
Net postemployment benefit losses/(gains) reclassified to net income/(loss)— (78)— (78)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)(353)(100)81 (372)
Balance as of September 26, 2020$(2,583)$203 $122 $(2,258)

The gross amount and related tax benefit/(expense) recorded in, and associated with, each component of other comprehensive income/(loss) were as follows (in millions):
For the Three Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Before Tax AmountTaxNet of Tax AmountBefore Tax AmountTaxNet of Tax Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments$293 $— $293 $(410)$— $(410)
Net deferred gains/(losses) on net investment hedges(268)68 (200)199 (48)151 
Amounts excluded from the effectiveness assessment of net investment hedges(1)(2)
Net deferred losses/(gains) on net investment hedges reclassified to net income/(loss)(4)(3)(8)(6)
Net deferred gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges33 (16)17 51 (1)50 
Amounts excluded from the effectiveness assessment of cash flow hedges— — 
Net deferred losses/(gains) on cash flow hedges reclassified to net income/(loss)(50)21 (29)(50)— (50)
Net actuarial gains/(losses) arising during the period(30)(22)(13)(9)
Net postemployment benefit losses/(gains) reclassified to net income/(loss)(37)(29)(79)20 (59)
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For the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Before Tax AmountTaxNet of Tax AmountBefore Tax AmountTaxNet of Tax Amount
Foreign currency translation adjustments$(309)$— $(309)$(272)$— $(272)
Net deferred gains/(losses) on net investment hedges(69)18 (51)193 (46)147 
Amounts excluded from the effectiveness assessment of net investment hedges21 — 21 21 (5)16 
Net deferred losses/(gains) on net investment hedges reclassified to net income/(loss)(18)(14)(15)(10)
Net deferred gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges173 (20)153 20 24 
Amounts excluded from the effectiveness assessment of cash flow hedges18 — 18 22 (1)21 
Net deferred losses/(gains) on cash flow hedges reclassified to net income/(loss)(111)21 (90)(61)(55)
Net actuarial gains/(losses) arising during the period(30)(22)(14)— (14)
Net postemployment benefit losses/(gains) reclassified to net income/(loss)(104)26 (78)(235)59 (176)

The amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) were as follows (in millions):
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses) Component Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Losses) to Net Income/(Loss)Affected Line Item in the Statements of Income
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Losses/(gains) on net investment hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts(a)
$— $— $— $Other expense/(income)
Foreign exchange contracts(b)
— Interest expense
Cross-currency contracts(b)
(5)(8)(20)(22)Interest expense
Losses/(gains) on cash flow hedges:
Foreign exchange contracts(c)
(5)(6)(16)(21)Cost of products sold
Foreign exchange contracts(c)
— — — 22 Other expense/(income)
Cross-currency contracts(c)
(49)(45)(104)(65)Other expense/(income)
Cross-currency contracts(c)
— — Interest expense
Interest rate contracts(d)
— Interest expense
Losses/(gains) on hedges before income taxes(54)(58)(129)(76)
Losses/(gains) on hedges, income taxes22 25 11 
Losses/(gains) on hedges$(32)$(56)$(104)$(65)
Losses/(gains) on postemployment benefits:
Amortization of unrecognized losses/(gains)(e)
$(3)$(2)$(9)$(6)
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)(e)
(31)(76)(92)(229)
Settlement and curtailment losses/(gains)(e)
(3)(1)(3)(1)
Other losses/(gains) on postemployment benefits— — — 
Losses/(gains) on postemployment benefits before income taxes(37)(79)(104)(235)
Losses/(gains) on postemployment benefits, income taxes20 26 59 
Losses/(gains) on postemployment benefits$(29)$(59)$(78)$(176)
(a)    Represents the reclassification of hedge losses/(gains) resulting from the complete or substantially complete liquidation of our investment in the underlying foreign operations.
(b)    Represents recognition of the excluded component in net income/(loss).
(c)    Includes amortization of the excluded component and the effective portion of the related hedges.
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(d)    Represents amortization of realized hedge losses that were deferred into accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) through the maturity of the related long-term debt instruments.
(e)     These components are included in the computation of net periodic postemployment benefit costs. See Note 11, Postemployment Benefits, for additional information.
In this note we have excluded activity and balances related to noncontrolling interest due to their insignificance. This activity was primarily related to foreign currency translation adjustments.
Note 14. Venezuela - Foreign Currency and Inflation
We have a subsidiary in Venezuela that manufactures and sells a variety of products, primarily in the condiments and sauces and infant and nutrition categories. We apply highly inflationary accounting to the results of our Venezuelan subsidiary and include these results in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Under highly inflationary accounting, the functional currency of our Venezuelan subsidiary is the U.S. dollar (our reporting currency), although the majority of its transactions are in Venezuelan bolivars. As a result, we must revalue the results of our Venezuelan subsidiary to U.S. dollars.
As of September 26, 2020, companies and individuals are allowed to use an auction-based system at private and public banks to obtain foreign currency. This is the only foreign currency exchange mechanism legally available to us for converting Venezuelan bolivars to U.S. dollars. Published daily by the Banco Central de Venezuela, the exchange rate (“BCV Rate”) is calculated as the weighted average rate of participating banking institutions with active exchange operations. We believe the BCV Rate is the most appropriate legally available rate at which to translate the results of our Venezuelan subsidiary. Therefore, we revalue the income statement using the weighted average BCV Rates, and we revalue the bolivar-denominated monetary assets and liabilities at the period-end BCV Rate. The resulting revaluation gains and losses are recorded in current net income/(loss) rather than accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses). These gains and losses are classified within other expense/(income) as nonmonetary currency devaluation on our condensed consolidated statements of income.
The BCV Rate per U.S. dollar was BsS414,379.05 at September 26, 2020 compared to BsS45,874.81 at December 28, 2019. The weighted average rate per U.S. dollar was BsS297,621.20 for the three months and BsS182,863.80 for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and BsS14,919.84 for the three months and BsS7,460.73 for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. Remeasurements of the bolivar-denominated monetary assets and liabilities and operating results of our Venezuelan subsidiary at BCV Rates resulted in nonmonetary currency devaluation losses of $2 million for the three months and $6 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $4 million for the three months and $10 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. These losses were recorded in other expense/(income) in the condensed consolidated statements of income.
Our Venezuelan subsidiary obtains U.S. dollars through private and public bank auctions, customer payments, and royalty payments. These U.S. dollars are primarily used for purchases of tomato paste and spare parts for manufacturing, as well as a limited amount of other operating costs. As of September 26, 2020, our Venezuelan subsidiary had sufficient U.S. dollars to fund these operational needs in the foreseeable future. However, further deterioration of the economic environment or regulation changes could jeopardize our export business.
In addition to the bank auctions described above, there is an unofficial market for obtaining U.S. dollars with Venezuelan bolivars. The exact exchange rate is widely debated but is generally accepted to be substantially higher than the latest published BCV Rate. We have not transacted at any unofficial market rates and have no plans to transact at unofficial market rates in the foreseeable future.
Our results of operations in Venezuela reflect those of a controlled subsidiary. However, the continuing economic uncertainty, strict labor laws, and evolving government controls over imports, prices, currency exchange, and payments present a challenging operating environment. Increased restrictions imposed by the Venezuelan government along with further deterioration of the economic environment could impact our ability to control our Venezuelan operations and could lead us to deconsolidate our Venezuelan subsidiary in the future.
Note 15. Financing Arrangements
We enter into various structured payable and product financing arrangements to facilitate supply from our vendors. Balance sheet classification is based on the nature of the arrangements. For programs determined to be financing arrangements, we have concluded that our obligations to our suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are impacted by their participation in the program and therefore we classify amounts outstanding within other current liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We had approximately $106 million at September 26, 2020 and approximately $253 million at December 28, 2019 on our condensed consolidated balance sheets related to these arrangements.
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Note 16. Commitments, Contingencies and Debt
Legal Proceedings
We are involved in legal proceedings, claims, and governmental inquiries, inspections, or investigations (“Legal Matters”) arising in the ordinary course of our business. While we cannot predict with certainty the results of Legal Matters in which we are currently involved or may in the future be involved, we do not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve the Legal Matters that are currently pending will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Class Actions and Stockholder Derivative Actions:
The Kraft Heinz Company and certain of our current and former officers and directors are currently defendants in a consolidated securities class action lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Union Asset Management Holding AG, et al. v. The Kraft Heinz Company, et al. The consolidated amended class action complaint, which was filed on August 14, 2020 and also names 3G Capital, Inc. and several of its subsidiaries and affiliates (“3G Entities”) as defendants, asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, based on allegedly materially false or misleading statements and omissions in public statements, press releases, investor presentations, earnings calls, Company documents, and SEC filings regarding the Company’s business, financial results, and internal controls, and further alleges the 3G Entities engaged in insider trading and misappropriated the Company’s material, non-public information. The plaintiffs seek damages in an unspecified amount, attorneys’ fees, and other relief.
In addition, our Employee Benefits Administration Board and certain of The Kraft Heinz Company’s current and former officers and employees are currently defendants in an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) class action lawsuit, Osborne v. Employee Benefits Administration Board of Kraft Heinz, et al., which is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit purport to represent a class of current and former employees who were participants in and beneficiaries of various retirement plans which were co-invested in a commingled investment fund known as the Kraft Foods Savings Plan Master Trust (the “Master Trust”) during the period of May 4, 2017 through February 21, 2019. An amended complaint was filed on June 28, 2019. The amended complaint alleges violations of Section 502 of ERISA based on alleged breaches of obligations as fiduciaries subject to ERISA by allowing the Master Trust to continue investing in our common stock, and alleges additional breaches of fiduciary duties by current and former officers for their purported failure to monitor Master Trust fiduciaries. The plaintiffs seek damages in an unspecified amount, attorneys’ fees, and other relief.
Certain of The Kraft Heinz Company’s current and former officers and directors and the 3G Entities are also named as defendants in a stockholder derivative action, In re Kraft Heinz Shareholder Derivative Litigation, which had been previously consolidated in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and is now pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. That complaint, which was filed on July 31, 2019, asserts state law claims for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment, as well as federal claims for contribution for alleged violations of Sections 10(b) and 21D of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, based on allegedly materially false or misleading statements and omissions in public statements and SEC filings, and for implementing cost cutting measures that allegedly damaged the Company. The plaintiffs seek damages in an unspecific amount, attorneys’ fees, and other relief. A further consolidated amended complaint is expected after appointment of a lead plaintiff.
Certain of The Kraft Heinz Company’s current and former officers and directors and the 3G Entities are also named as defendants in a consolidated stockholder derivative action, In re Kraft Heinz Company Derivative Litigation, which was filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The consolidated amended complaint, which was filed on April 27, 2020, alleges state law claims, contending that the 3G Entities were controlling shareholders who owed fiduciary duties to the Company, and that they breached those duties by allegedly engaging in insider trading and misappropriating the Company’s material, non-public information. The complaint further alleges that certain of The Kraft Heinz Company’s current and former officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by purportedly making materially misleading statements and omissions regarding the Company’s financial performance and the impairment of its goodwill and intangible assets, and by supposedly approving or allowing the 3G Entities’ alleged insider trading. The complaint seeks relief against the defendants in the form of damages, disgorgement of all profits obtained from the alleged insider trading, contribution and indemnification, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs.
We intend to vigorously defend against these lawsuits; however, we cannot reasonably estimate the potential range of loss, if any, due to the early stage of these proceedings.
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United States Government Investigations:
As previously disclosed on February 21, 2019, we received a subpoena in October 2018 from the SEC related to our procurement area, specifically the accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls related to our procurement function, including, but not limited to, agreements, side agreements, and changes or modifications to agreements with our suppliers. Following the receipt of this subpoena, we, together with external counsel and forensic accountants, and subsequently, under the oversight of the Audit Committee, conducted an internal investigation into our procurement area and related matters. The SEC has issued additional subpoenas seeking information related to our financial reporting, incentive plans, debt issuances, internal controls, disclosures, personnel, our assessment of goodwill and intangible asset impairments, our communications with certain shareholders, and other related information and materials in connection with its investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois (“USAO”) is also reviewing this matter. We cannot predict the eventual scope, duration, or outcome of any potential SEC legal action or other action or whether it could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. We have been responsive to the ongoing subpoenas and other document requests and will continue to cooperate fully with any governmental or regulatory inquiry or investigation.
Other Commitments and Contingencies
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest:
We have a joint venture with a minority partner to manufacture, package, market, and distribute food products. We control operations and include this business in our consolidated results. Our minority partner has put options that, if it chooses to exercise, would require us to purchase portions of its equity interest at a future date. The minority partner’s put options are reflected on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as a redeemable noncontrolling interest. We accrete the redeemable noncontrolling interest to its estimated redemption value over the term of the put options. At September 26, 2020, we estimate the redemption value to be insignificant. During the second quarter of 2020, we issued a notice of termination to our minority partner, indicating our intent to dissolve and liquidate the joint venture as provided for within our agreement.
Debt
Borrowing Arrangements:
On July 6, 2015, together with Kraft Heinz Foods Company (“KHFC”), our 100% owned operating subsidiary, we entered into a credit agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), which provides for a $4.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility (as amended, the “Senior Credit Facility”). In June 2018, we entered into an agreement that became effective on July 6, 2018 to extend the maturity date of our Senior Credit Facility from July 6, 2021 to July 6, 2023 and to establish a $400 million euro equivalent swing line facility, which is available under the $4.0 billion revolving credit facility limit for short-term loans denominated in euros on a same-day basis. On March 23, 2020, we entered into an extension letter agreement (the “Extension Agreement”), which extends $3.9 billion of the revolving loans and commitments under the Credit Agreement from July 6, 2023 to July 6, 2024. The revolving loans and commitments of each lender that did not agree to the Extension Agreement shall continue to terminate on the existing maturity date of July 6, 2023. On October 9, 2020, we entered into the Commitment Increase Amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, which provides for incremental revolving commitments by two additional lenders in the amount of $50 million each, for an aggregate commitment of $100 million. Following the execution of the Amendment, the revolving loans and commitments available under the Credit Agreement are $4.1 billion through July 6, 2023 and $4.0 billion through July 6, 2024.
On March 12, 2020, as a precautionary measure to preserve financial flexibility in light of the uncertainty in the global economy resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we provided notice to our lenders to borrow the full available amount under our Senior Credit Facility. As such, a total of $4.0 billion was drawn on our Senior Credit Facility during the first quarter of 2020. We repaid the full $4.0 billion revolver draw during the second quarter of 2020. No amounts were drawn on our Senior Credit Facility at September 26, 2020, at December 28, 2019, or during the nine months ended September 28, 2019.
The Senior Credit Facility contains representations, warranties, and covenants that are typical for these types of facilities and could upon the occurrence of certain events of default restrict our ability to access our Senior Credit Facility. Our Senior Credit Facility requires us to maintain a minimum shareholders’ equity (excluding accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses)) of at least $35 billion. We were in compliance with this covenant as of September 26, 2020.
The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by KHFC in the case of indebtedness and other liabilities of any subsidiary borrower and by The Kraft Heinz Company in the case of indebtedness and other liabilities of any subsidiary borrower and KHFC.
In March 2020, together with KHFC, we entered into an uncommitted revolving credit line agreement which provides for borrowings up to $300 million. Each borrowing under this uncommitted revolving credit line agreement is due within six months of the disbursement date and the final maturity date of the agreement is June 9, 2021. As of September 26, 2020, no amounts had been drawn on this facility.
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We have historically obtained funding through our U.S. and European commercial paper programs. We had no commercial paper outstanding at September 26, 2020, at December 28, 2019, or during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The maximum amount of commercial paper outstanding during the nine months ended September 28, 2019 was $200 million.
See Note 18, Debt, to our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information on our borrowing arrangements.
Tender Offers:
In May 2020, KHFC commenced a tender offer to purchase for cash up to the maximum combined aggregate purchase price of $2.2 billion, excluding accrued and unpaid interest, of its outstanding floating rate senior notes due February 2021, 3.500% senior notes due June 2022, 3.500% senior notes due July 2022, floating rate senior notes due August 2022, 4.000% senior notes due June 2023, 3.950% senior notes due July 2025, and 3.000% senior notes due June 2026 (the “Tender Offer”).
The aggregate principal amounts of senior notes before and after the Tender Offer and the amounts validly tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer were (in millions):
Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding Before Tender OfferAmount Validly TenderedAggregate Principal Amount Outstanding After Tender Offer
Floating rate senior notes due February 2021$650 $539 $111 
3.500% senior notes due June 2022
1,119 488 631 
3.500% senior notes due July 2022
446 144 302 
Floating rate senior notes due August 2022500 185 315 
4.000% senior notes due June 2023
838 391 447 
3.950% senior notes due July 2025
2,000 391 1,609 
3.000% senior notes due June 2026
2,000 — 2,000 
In connection with the Tender Offer, we recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $71 million. This loss primarily reflects the payment of early tender premiums and fees associated with the Tender Offer as well as the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs, premiums, and discounts. We recognized this loss on extinguishment of debt within interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The cash payments related to the debt extinguishment are classified as cash outflows from financing activities on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. For the nine months ended September 26, 2020, debt prepayment and extinguishment costs per the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows related to the Tender Offer were $68 million, which reflect the $71 million loss on extinguishment of debt adjusted for the non-cash write-off of unamortized premiums of $1 million, unamortized debt issuance costs of $3 million, and unamortized discounts of $1 million.
In September 2019, KHFC commenced offers to purchase for cash certain of its senior notes and its second lien senior secured notes. As a result of these offers to purchase, KHFC validly tendered $2.9 billion aggregate principal amount of certain senior notes and its second lien senior secured notes in the third quarter of 2019 (the “2019 Tender Offers”). In connection with the 2019 Tender Offers, we recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $88 million within interest expense on the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2019. The cash payments related to the debt extinguishment are classified as cash outflows from financing activities on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. For the nine months ended September 28, 2019, debt prepayment and extinguishment costs per the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows related to the 2019 Tender Offers were $91 million, which reflect the $88 million loss on extinguishment of debt adjusted for the non-cash write-off of unamortized premiums of $10 million, unamortized debt issuance costs of $5 million, and unamortized discounts of $2 million.
Debt Redemptions:
Concurrently with the commencement of the Tender Offer, we issued a notice of conditional redemption by KHFC of all of its $300 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 3.375% senior notes due June 2021 and $976 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 4.875% second lien senior secured notes due 2025 (the “Debt Redemptions”). The Debt Redemptions were effective and completed in the second quarter of 2020.
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In connection with the Debt Redemptions, we recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $38 million. This loss primarily reflects the payment of premiums and fees associated with the redemptions as well as the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs. We recognized this loss on extinguishment of debt within interest expense on the condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The cash payments related to the debt extinguishment are classified as cash outflows from financing activities on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. For the nine months ended September 26, 2020, debt prepayment and extinguishment costs per the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows related to the Debt Redemptions were $33 million, which reflect the $38 million loss on extinguishment of debt adjusted for the non-cash write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs of $5 million.
Following the redemption of our 4.875% second lien senior secured notes due 2025, our 6.250% Pound Sterling senior notes due 2030 are no longer guaranteed on a secured basis. The 6.250% Pound Sterling senior notes due 2030 now rank pari passu in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior obligations.
In September 2020, we issued a notice of redemption by KHFC of all of its 3.500% senior notes due July 2022, of which $302 million aggregate principal amount was outstanding. The effective date of this redemption was October 24, 2020. As a result, these notes were included in the current portion of long-term debt on our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 26, 2020. Our condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 26, 2020 do not reflect the extinguishment of these notes as it occurred in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Debt Issuances:
In May 2020, KHFC issued $1,350 million aggregate principal amount of 3.875% senior notes due May 2027, $1,350 million aggregate principal amount of 4.250% senior notes due March 2031, and $800 million aggregate principal amount of 5.500% senior notes due June 2050 (collectively, the “2020 Notes”). The 2020 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by The Kraft Heinz Company as to payment of principal, premium, and interest on a senior unsecured basis. We used the proceeds from the 2020 Notes to fund the Tender Offer and Debt Redemptions and to pay fees and expenses in connection therewith. A tabular summary of the 2020 Notes is included below.
Aggregate Principal Amount
(in millions)
3.875% senior notes due May 2027
$1,350 
4.250% senior notes due March 2031
1,350 
5.500% senior notes due June 2050
800 
Total senior notes issued$3,500 
In September 2019, KHFC issued $1,000 million aggregate principal amount of 3.750% senior notes due April 2030, $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior notes due October 2039, and $1,500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.875% senior notes due October 2049 (collectively, the “2019 Notes”). Refer to Note 18, Debt, to our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information on our 2019 Notes.
Debt Issuance Costs:
Debt issuance costs related to the 2020 Notes were $31 million.
Debt issuance costs related to the 2019 Notes were $25 million, of which $23 million were paid as of September 28, 2019.
Debt Repayments:
In February 2020, we repaid $405 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes that matured in the period.
In July 2020, we repaid $200 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes and 500 million Canadian dollars aggregate principal amount of senior notes that matured in the period.
In August 2019, we repaid $350 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes that matured in the period.
Fair Value of Debt:
At September 26, 2020, the aggregate fair value of our total debt was $30.7 billion as compared with a carrying value of $28.4 billion. At December 28, 2019, the aggregate fair value of our total debt was $31.1 billion as compared with a carrying value of $29.2 billion. Our short-term debt had a carrying value that approximated its fair value at September 26, 2020 and December 28, 2019. We determined the fair value of our long-term debt using Level 2 inputs. Fair values are generally estimated based on quoted market prices for identical or similar instruments.
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Note 17. Earnings Per Share
Our earnings per common share (“EPS”) were:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
 (in millions, except per share data)
Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders$597 $899 $(676)$1,753 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding1,223 1,221 1,222 1,220 
Net earnings/(loss)$0.49 $0.74 $(0.55)$1.44 
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders$597 $899 $(676)$1,753 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding1,223 1,221 1,222 1,220 
Effect of dilutive equity awards— 
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, including dilutive effect1,229 1,223 1,222 1,223 
Net earnings/(loss)$0.49 $0.74 $(0.55)$1.43 
We use the treasury stock method to calculate the dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards in the denominator for diluted EPS. We had net losses attributable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. Therefore, we have excluded the dilutive effects of equity awards for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 as their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect on EPS. Anti-dilutive shares were 8 million for the three months and 16 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and 13 million for the three months and 11 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019.
Note 18. Segment Reporting
In the first quarter of 2020, our internal reporting and reportable segments changed. We moved our Puerto Rico business from the Latin America zone to the United States zone to consolidate and streamline the management of our product categories and supply chain. We also combined our EMEA, Latin America, and APAC zones to form the International zone as a result of certain previously announced organizational changes.
Therefore, effective in the first quarter of 2020, we manage and report our operating results through three reportable segments defined by geographic region: United States, International, and Canada. We have reflected these changes in all historical periods presented.
Management evaluates segment performance based on several factors, including net sales and Segment Adjusted EBITDA. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income/(loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, other expense/(income), provision for/(benefit from) income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (excluding integration and restructuring expenses); in addition to these adjustments, we exclude, when they occur, the impacts of integration and restructuring expenses, deal costs, unrealized gains/(losses) on commodity hedges (the unrealized gains and losses are recorded in general corporate expenses until realized; once realized, the gains and losses are recorded in the applicable segment’s operating results), impairment losses, and equity award compensation expense (excluding integration and restructuring expenses). Segment Adjusted EBITDA is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations. Management uses Segment Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources.
Management does not use assets by segment to evaluate performance or allocate resources. Therefore, we do not disclose assets by segment.
Net sales by segment were (in millions):
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Net sales:
United States$4,710 $4,385 $14,122 $13,142 
International1,325 1,276 3,931 3,874 
Canada406 415 1,193 1,425 
Total net sales$6,441 $6,076 $19,246 $18,441 
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Segment Adjusted EBITDA was (in millions):
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Segment Adjusted EBITDA:
United States$1,363 $1,160 $4,050 $3,556 
International277 260 797 765 
Canada103 107 268 371 
General corporate expenses(76)(58)(234)(192)
Depreciation and amortization (excluding integration and restructuring expenses)(232)(243)(722)(730)
Integration and restructuring expenses(8)(15)(12)(56)
Deal costs(9)(6)(9)(19)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on commodity hedges70 (9)(47)30 
Impairment losses(300)(5)(3,399)(1,223)
Equity award compensation expense (excluding integration and restructuring expenses)(41)(11)(114)(26)
Operating income/(loss)1,147 1,180 578 2,476 
Interest expense314 398 1,066 1,035 
Other expense/(income)(73)(380)(232)(893)
Income/(loss) before income taxes$906 $1,162 $(256)$2,334 
Net sales by product category were (in millions):
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Condiments and sauces$1,696 $1,611 $5,030 $4,850 
Cheese and dairy1,226 1,104 3,636 3,552 
Ambient foods691 623 2,128 1,782 
Frozen and chilled foods669 643 1,929 1,847 
Meats and seafood637 612 1,871 1,852 
Refreshment beverages438 397 1,281 1,190 
Coffee218 296 808 932 
Infant and nutrition113 120 338 387 
Desserts, toppings and baking274 246 780 693 
Nuts and salted snacks250 233 754 687 
Other229 191 691 669 
Total net sales$6,441 $6,076 $19,246 $18,441 

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Note 19. Other Financial Data
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Information
Other expense/(income) consists of the following (in millions):
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Amortization of prior service costs/(credits)$(31)$(76)$(92)$(229)
Net pension and postretirement non-service cost/(benefit)(a)
(45)(43)(131)(130)
Loss/(gain) on sale of business— (244)(490)
Interest income(6)(10)(23)(24)
Foreign exchange loss/(gain)57 31 81 14 
Other miscellaneous expense/(income)(48)(38)(69)(34)
Other expense/(income)$(73)$(380)$(232)$(893)
(a) Excludes amortization of prior service costs/(credits).
We present all non-service cost components of net pension cost/(benefit) and net postretirement cost/(benefit) within other expense/(income) on our condensed consolidated statements of income. See Note 11, Postemployment Benefits, for additional information on these components as well as information on our prior service credit amortization. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, for additional information related to our loss/(gain) on sale of business. See Note 14, Venezuela - Foreign Currency and Inflation, for information related to our nonmonetary currency devaluation losses. See Note 12, Financial Instruments, for information related to our derivative impacts.
Other expense/(income) was $73 million of income for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $380 million of income for the three months ended September 28, 2019. This change was primarily driven by a $244 million gain on sales of businesses recorded in the third quarter of 2019, primarily related to the Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, a $45 million decrease in amortization of prior service credits as compared to the prior year period, and a $57 million net foreign exchange loss in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to a $31 million net foreign exchange loss in the third quarter of 2019. These impacts were partially offset by a $50 million net gain on derivative activities in the third quarter of 2020 compared to a $38 million net gain on derivative activities in the third quarter of 2019.
Other expense/(income) was $232 million of income for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $893 million of income for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This change was primarily driven by a $2 million net loss on sales of businesses recorded in 2020 compared to a $490 million gain on the Heinz India Transaction and Canada Natural Cheese Transaction recorded in 2019, a $137 million decrease in amortization of prior service credits as compared to the prior year period, and a $81 million net foreign exchange loss in 2020 as compared to a $14 million net foreign exchange loss in 2019. These impacts were partially offset by a $77 million net gain on derivative activities in 2020 compared to a $37 million net gain on derivative activities in 2019.
39


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Overview
Description of the Company:
We manufacture and market food and beverage products, including condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products throughout the world.
In the first quarter of 2020, our internal reporting and reportable segments changed. We moved our Puerto Rico business from the Latin America zone to the United States zone to consolidate and streamline the management of our product categories and supply chain. We also combined our EMEA, Latin America, and APAC zones to form the International zone as a result of certain previously announced organizational changes.
Therefore, effective in the first quarter of 2020, we manage and report our operating results through three reportable segments defined by geographic region: United States, International, and Canada. We have reflected these changes in all historical periods presented.
See Note 18, Segment Reporting, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for our financial information by segment.
Items Affecting Comparability of Financial Results
Impairment Losses:
Our current year results of operations reflect goodwill impairment losses of $300 million for the three months and $2.3 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and intangible asset impairment losses of $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. Our prior year results of operations reflect goodwill impairment losses of $744 million for the nine months September 28, 2019 and intangible asset impairment losses of $5 million for the three months and $479 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, and Note 8, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for additional information on these impairment losses.
COVID-19 Impacts:
Through the first three quarters of 2020, COVID-19 has produced a beneficial impact on our consolidated net sales. Increased demand for our retail products more than offset declines in our away-from-home (or foodservice) business, which resulted in consolidated net sales growth compared to the prior period. This increased demand for our retail products could reverse in the future if consumer purchasing behavior changes. We expect volatility in the demand for away-from-home establishments to continue through the remainder of 2020 and potentially beyond, with any decreased demand negatively impacting our away-from-home (or foodservice) business. However, COVID-19 and its impacts are unprecedented and continuously evolving, and the long-term impacts to our financial condition and results of operations are still uncertain.
See Consolidated Results of Operations and Liquidity and Capital Resources for additional information related to the impact of COVID-19 on our overall results. For information related to the impact of COVID-19 on our segment results see Results of Operations by Segment.
Results of Operations
We disclose in this report certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures assist management in comparing our performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision-making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations. For additional information and reconciliations from our condensed consolidated financial statements see Non-GAAP Financial Measures.
Consolidated Results of Operations
Summary of Results:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019% ChangeSeptember 26, 2020September 28, 2019% Change
(in millions, except per share data)(in millions, except per share data)
Net sales$6,441 $6,076 6.0 %$19,246 $18,441 4.4 %
Operating income/(loss)1,147 1,180 (2.8)%578 2,476 (76.7)%
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders597 899 (33.7)%(676)1,753 (138.6)%
Diluted EPS0.49 0.74 (33.8)%(0.55)1.43 (138.5)%
40


Net Sales:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019% ChangeSeptember 26, 2020September 28, 2019% Change
(in millions)(in millions)
Net sales$6,441 $6,076 6.0 %$19,246 $18,441 4.4 %
Organic Net Sales(a)
6,449 6,069 6.3 %19,399 18,189 6.7 %
(a)     Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Three Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net sales increased 6.0% to $6.4 billion for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $6.1 billion for the three months ended September 28, 2019, despite the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (0.3 pp). Organic Net Sales increased 6.3% to $6.4 billion for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $6.1 billion for the three months ended September 28, 2019, primarily driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organic Net Sales growth was driven by higher pricing (3.7 pp) and favorable volume/mix (2.6 pp). Pricing was higher across all segments, while favorable volume/mix in the United States and International segments more than offset unfavorable volume/mix in Canada.
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net sales increased 4.4% to $19.2 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $18.4 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, despite the unfavorable impacts of divestitures (1.4 pp) and foreign currency (0.9 pp). Organic Net Sales increased 6.7% to $19.4 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $18.2 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, primarily driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organic Net Sales growth was driven by favorable volume/mix (4.1 pp) and higher pricing (2.6 pp) across all segments.
Net Income/(Loss):
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019% ChangeSeptember 26, 2020September 28, 2019% Change
(in millions)(in millions)
Operating income/(loss)$1,147 $1,180 (2.8)%578 2,476 (76.7)%
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders597 899 (33.7)%(676)1,753 (138.6)%
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
1,667 1,469 13.5 %4,881 4,500 8.5 %
(a)    Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Three Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Operating income/(loss) decreased to income of $1.1 billion for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to income of $1.2 billion for the three months ended September 28, 2019. This decrease was primarily driven by a $300 million non-cash goodwill impairment loss in the current period related to the Cheese Transaction, increased variable compensation expenses, unfavorable changes in key commodity costs (which we define as dairy, meat, coffee, and nuts), primarily in dairy, higher supply chain costs, and higher equity award compensation expense, which more than offset higher Organic Net Sales and unrealized gains on commodity hedges. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for additional information on the Cheese Transaction.
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders decreased to income of $597 million for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to income of $899 million for the three months ended September 28, 2019. This decrease was driven by unfavorable changes in other expense/(income), a higher effective tax rate, and the operating income/(loss) factors discussed above, partially offset by lower interest expense.
Other expense/(income) was $73 million of income for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $380 million of income for the three months ended September 28, 2019. This change was primarily driven by a $244 million gain on sales of businesses recorded in the third quarter of 2019, primarily related to the Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, a $45 million decrease in amortization of prior service credits as compared to the prior year period, and a $57 million net foreign exchange loss in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to a $31 million net foreign exchange loss in the third quarter of 2019. These impacts were partially offset by a $50 million net gain on derivative activities in the third quarter of 2020 compared to a $38 million net gain on derivative activities in the third quarter of 2019.
41


Our effective tax rate was an expense of 34.1% for the three months ended September 26, 2020 on pre-tax income compared to an expense of 22.6% for the three months ended September 28, 2019 on pre-tax income. The change in our effective tax rate was primarily driven by an increase in unfavorable net discrete items, primarily related to the revaluation of our deferred tax balances due to changes in international tax laws and non-deductible goodwill impairment (7.1%) related to the Cheese Transaction, which were partially offset by the reversal of uncertain tax position reserves in the U.S. and certain state jurisdictions and favorable changes in estimates of certain 2019 U.S. income and deductions. Prior year unfavorable impacts from net discrete items were primarily related to tax impacts for divestitures, specifically related to the Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, the impact of which was partially offset by the reversal of certain deferred withholding tax liabilities resulting from the ratification of the U.S. tax treaty with Spain.
Interest expense was $314 million for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $398 million for the three months ended September 28, 2019. This decrease was primarily driven by an $88 million loss on extinguishment of debt recognized in the prior year period in connection with the 2019 Tender Offers.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 13.5% to $1.7 billion for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.5 billion for the three months ended September 28, 2019, despite the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (0.1 pp). Adjusted EBITDA growth was primarily driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic as increases in the United States and International segments more than offset higher general corporate expenses and declines in Canada.
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Operating income/(loss) decreased to income of $578 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to income of $2.5 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This decrease was primarily driven by higher non-cash impairment losses in the current period. Non-cash impairment losses were $3.4 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. Excluding the impact of these non-cash impairment losses, operating income/(loss) increased by $279 million primarily due to higher Organic Net Sales, partially offset by increased variable compensation expenses, higher supply chain costs, higher equity award compensation expense, unrealized losses on commodity hedges, unfavorable changes in key commodity costs, primarily in dairy, investments in marketing, the unfavorable impact of divestitures, and higher general corporate expenses. See Note 8, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for additional information on our impairment losses.
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders decreased to a loss of $676 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to income of $1.8 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This decrease was driven by the operating income/(loss) factors described above (primarily higher non-cash impairment losses in the current period), unfavorable changes in other expense/(income), and higher interest expense, partially offset by lower tax expense in the current period.
Other expense/(income) was $232 million of income for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $893 million of income for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This change was primarily driven by a $2 million net loss on sales of businesses recorded in 2020 compared to a $490 million gain on the Heinz India Transaction and Canada Natural Cheese Transaction recorded in 2019, a $137 million decrease in amortization of prior service credits as compared to the prior year period, and a $81 million net foreign exchange loss in 2020 as compared to a $14 million net foreign exchange loss in 2019. These impacts were partially offset by a $77 million net gain on derivative activities in 2020 compared to a $37 million net gain on derivative activities in 2019.
Interest expense was $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.0 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This increase was primarily driven by a $109 million loss on extinguishment of debt recognized in the current period in connection with the Tender Offer and Debt Redemptions and $22 million of interest expense related to the $4.0 billion drawn on our Senior Credit Facility in the first quarter of 2020 and repaid by the end of the second quarter of 2020 compared to an $88 million loss on extinguishment of debt recognized in the prior year period in connection with the 2019 Tender Offers.
Our effective tax rate was an expense of 163.1% for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 on pre-tax losses compared to an expense of 25.0% for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 on pre-tax income. The change in our effective tax rate was primarily driven by an increase in unfavorable net discrete items, primarily related to non-deductible goodwill impairments (202.8%) and the revaluation of our deferred tax balances due to changes in international tax laws, which were partially offset by the favorable impact of establishing certain deferred tax assets for state tax deductions. Prior year unfavorable impacts from net discrete items were primarily related to non-deductible goodwill impairments (5.3%) and the tax impacts from the Heinz India Transaction and Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, the impacts of which were partially offset by the reversal of uncertain tax position reserves in the U.S. and certain state jurisdictions and changes in estimates of certain 2018 U.S. income and deductions.
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Adjusted EBITDA increased 8.5% to $4.9 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $4.5 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, despite the unfavorable impacts from divestitures (1.4 pp) and foreign currency (0.7 pp). Adjusted EBITDA growth was primarily driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic as increases in the United States and International segments more than offset declines in Canada and higher general corporate expenses.
Diluted EPS:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019% ChangeSeptember 26, 2020September 28, 2019% Change
(in millions, except per share data)
Diluted EPS$0.49 $0.74 (33.8)%$(0.55)$1.43 (138.5)%
Adjusted EPS(a)
0.70 0.69 1.4 %2.09 2.13 (1.9)%
(a)    Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Three Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Diluted EPS decreased 33.8% to $0.49 for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $0.74 for the three months ended September 28, 2019 primarily due to the net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders factors discussed above.
For the Three Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019$ Change% Change
Diluted EPS$0.49 $0.74 $(0.25)(33.8)%
Integration and restructuring expenses0.01 0.01 — 
Deal costs— 0.01 (0.01)
Unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges(0.04)0.01 (0.05)
Impairment losses0.24 — 0.24 
Losses/(gains) on sale of business— (0.13)0.13 
Debt prepayment and extinguishment costs— 0.05 (0.05)
Adjusted EPS(a)
$0.70 $0.69 $0.01 1.4 %
Key drivers of change in Adjusted EPS(a):
Results of operations$0.12 
Other expense/(income)(0.05)
Effective tax rate(0.06)
$0.01 
(a)     Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Adjusted EPS increased 1.4% to $0.70 for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $0.69 for the three months ended September 28, 2019 primarily due to higher Adjusted EBITDA, which more than offset higher taxes on adjusted earnings in the current period, unfavorable changes in other expense/(income), and higher equity award compensation expense.
43


Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Diluted EPS decreased 138.5% to a loss of $0.55 for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to earnings of $1.43 for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 primarily due to the net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders factors discussed above.
For the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019$ Change% Change
Diluted EPS$(0.55)$1.43 $(1.98)(138.5)%
Integration and restructuring expenses0.01 0.04 (0.03)
Deal costs— 0.01 (0.01)
Unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges0.03 (0.02)0.05 
Impairment losses2.60 0.90 1.70 
Losses/(gains) on sale of business— (0.29)0.29 
Nonmonetary currency devaluation— 0.01 (0.01)
Debt prepayment and extinguishment costs0.07 0.05 0.02 
U.S. Tax Reform discrete income tax expense/(benefit)(0.07)— (0.07)
Adjusted EPS(a)
$2.09 $2.13 $(0.04)(1.9)%
Key drivers of change in Adjusted EPS(a):
Results of operations$0.24 
Results of divested operations(0.04)
Interest expense(0.01)
Other expense/(income)(0.11)
Effective tax rate(0.12)
$(0.04)
(a)     Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Adjusted EPS decreased 1.9% to $2.09 for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $2.13 for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 primarily due to higher taxes on adjusted earnings in the current period, unfavorable changes in other expense/(income), and higher equity award compensation expense, which more than offset higher Adjusted EBITDA.
Results of Operations by Segment
Management evaluates segment performance based on several factors, including net sales, Organic Net Sales, and Segment Adjusted EBITDA. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income/(loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, other expense/(income), provision for/(benefit from) income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (excluding integration and restructuring expenses); in addition to these adjustments, we exclude, when they occur, the impacts of integration and restructuring expenses, deal costs, unrealized gains/(losses) on commodity hedges (the unrealized gains and losses are recorded in general corporate expenses until realized; once realized, the gains and losses are recorded in the applicable segment’s operating results), impairment losses, and equity award compensation expense (excluding integration and restructuring expenses). Segment Adjusted EBITDA is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations.
Under highly inflationary accounting, the financial statements of a subsidiary are remeasured into our reporting currency (U.S. dollars) based on the legally available exchange rate at which we expect to settle the underlying transactions. Exchange gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities are reflected in net income/(loss), rather than accumulated other comprehensive income/(losses) on the balance sheet, until such time as the economy is no longer considered highly inflationary. The exchange gains and losses from remeasurement are recorded in current net income and are classified within other expense/(income), as nonmonetary currency devaluation. See Note 14, Venezuela - Foreign Currency and Inflation, in Item 1, Financial Statements, and Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019, for additional information.
44


Net Sales:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
(in millions)
Net sales:
United States$4,710 $4,385 $14,122 $13,142 
International1,325 1,276 3,931 3,874 
Canada406 415 1,193 1,425 
Total net sales$6,441 $6,076 $19,246 $18,441 
Organic Net Sales:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
(in millions)
Organic Net Sales(a):
United States$4,710 $4,385 $14,122 $13,142 
International1,329 1,270 4,059 3,841 
Canada410 414 1,218 1,206 
Total Organic Net Sales$6,449 $6,069 $19,399 $18,189 
(a)     Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Drivers of the changes in net sales and Organic Net Sales for the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to the three and nine months ended September 28, 2019 were:
Net SalesCurrencyAcquisitions and DivestituresOrganic Net SalesPriceVolume/Mix
For the Three Months Ended
United States7.4 %0.0 pp0.0 pp7.4 %4.0 pp3.4 pp
International3.9 %(0.7) pp0.0 pp4.6 %2.1 pp2.5 pp
Canada(2.2)%(1.0) pp(0.2) pp(1.0)%4.6 pp(5.6) pp
Kraft Heinz6.0 %(0.3) pp0.0 pp6.3 %3.7 pp2.6 pp

Net SalesCurrencyAcquisitions and DivestituresOrganic Net SalesPriceVolume/Mix
For the Nine Months Ended
United States7.5 %0.0 pp0.0 pp7.5 %2.9 pp4.6 pp
International1.5 %(3.8) pp(0.4) pp5.7 %2.2 pp3.5 pp
Canada(16.3)%(1.8) pp(15.5) pp1.0 %0.1 pp0.9 pp
Kraft Heinz4.4 %(0.9) pp(1.4) pp6.7 %2.6 pp4.1 pp
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Adjusted EBITDA:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
(in millions)
Segment Adjusted EBITDA:
United States$1,363 $1,160 $4,050 $3,556 
International277 260 797 765 
Canada103 107 268 371 
General corporate expenses(76)(58)(234)(192)
Depreciation and amortization (excluding integration and restructuring expenses)(232)(243)(722)(730)
Integration and restructuring expenses(8)(15)(12)(56)
Deal costs(9)(6)(9)(19)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on commodity hedges70 (9)(47)30 
Impairment losses(300)(5)(3,399)(1,223)
Equity award compensation expense (excluding integration and restructuring expenses)(41)(11)(114)(26)
Operating income/(loss)1,147 1,180 578 2,476 
Interest expense314 398 1,066 1,035 
Other expense/(income)(73)(380)(232)(893)
Income/(loss) before income taxes$906 $1,162 $(256)$2,334 
United States:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019% ChangeSeptember 26, 2020September 28, 2019% Change
(in millions)(in millions)
Net sales$4,710 $4,385 7.4 %$14,122 $13,142 7.5 %
Organic Net Sales(a)
4,710 4,385 7.4 %14,122 13,142 7.5 %
Segment Adjusted EBITDA1,363 1,160 17.5 %4,050 3,556 13.9 %
(a)     Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Three Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net sales and Organic Net Sales both increased 7.4% to $4.7 billion for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $4.4 billion for the three months ended September 28, 2019, driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organic Net Sales growth was driven by higher pricing (4.0 pp) and favorable volume/mix (3.4 pp). Higher pricing was primarily driven by reduced promotional activity versus the prior year and higher list prices. Favorable volume/mix was primarily driven by consumption growth across nearly all retail categories, most significantly in condiments and sauces and cream cheese. This growth was partially offset by lower foodservice sales and the negative impact from exiting the McCafé licensing agreement.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 17.5% to $1.4 billion for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.2 billion for the three months ended September 28, 2019. This increase was primarily driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic, as pricing gains, increased volume and favorable product and channel mix, and, to a lesser extent, lower packaging costs versus the year-ago period more than offset increased variable compensation expenses, higher supply chain costs, unfavorable changes in key commodity costs, and investments in marketing.
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net sales and Organic Net Sales both increased 7.5% to $14.1 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $13.1 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organic Net Sales growth was driven by favorable volume/mix (4.6 pp) and higher pricing (2.9 pp). Favorable volume/mix was primarily driven by consumption growth across nearly all retail categories, most significantly in condiments and sauces, cheese, and boxed dinners. This growth was partially offset by lower foodservice sales. Higher pricing was primarily driven by reduced promotional activity versus the prior year, higher list prices, and increases to offset unfavorable key commodity costs, primarily in dairy.
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Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 13.9% to $4.1 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $3.6 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This increase was primarily driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic, as pricing gains, increased volume and favorable product and channel mix, and, to a lesser extent, lower packaging costs versus the year-ago period more than offset higher supply chain costs, increased variable compensation expenses, unfavorable changes in key commodity costs, and investments in marketing.
International:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019% ChangeSeptember 26, 2020September 28, 2019% Change
(in millions)(in millions)
Net sales$1,325 $1,276 3.9 %$3,931 $3,874 1.5 %
Organic Net Sales(a)
1,329 1,270 4.6 %4,059 3,841 5.7 %
Segment Adjusted EBITDA277 260 6.6 %797 765 4.1 %
(a)    Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
Three Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net sales increased 3.9% to $1.3 billion for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.3 billion for the three months ended September 28, 2019, including the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (0.7 pp, including 0.5 pp from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar). Organic Net Sales increased 4.6% to $1.3 billion for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.3 billion for the three months ended September 28, 2019, driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organic Net Sales growth was driven by favorable volume/mix (2.5 pp) and higher pricing (2.1 pp). Favorable volume/mix was primarily driven by consumption-led growth in condiments and sauces and boxed dinners, which more than offset a decline in foodservice-related sales and, to a lesser extent, infant nutrition shipments. Higher pricing was primarily driven by increases in the United Kingdom, Latin America, and Australia.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 6.6% to $277 million for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $260 million for the three months ended September 28, 2019. This increase was primarily driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Organic Net Sales growth more than offset higher supply chain costs, increased variable compensation expenses, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (0.2 pp, including 1.1 pp from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar).
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net sales increased 1.5% to $3.9 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $3.9 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, despite the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency (3.8 pp, including 0.5 pp from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar) and divestitures (0.4 pp). Organic Net Sales increased 5.7% to $4.1 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $3.8 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organic Net Sales growth was driven by favorable volume/mix (3.5 pp) and higher pricing (2.2 pp). Favorable volume/mix was primarily driven by consumption-led growth in condiments and sauces and boxed dinners, which more than offset a significant decline in foodservice-related sales and, to a lesser extent, infant nutrition shipments. Higher pricing was primarily driven by increases in Latin America, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 4.1% to $797 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $765 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This increase was primarily driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Organic Net Sales growth more than offset higher supply chain costs, increased variable compensation expenses, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (3.6 pp, including 1.3 pp from the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar).
Canada:
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019% ChangeSeptember 26, 2020September 28, 2019% Change
(in millions)(in millions)
Net sales$406 $415 (2.2)%$1,193 $1,425 (16.3)%
Organic Net Sales(a)
410 414 (1.0)%1,218 1,206 1.0 %
Segment Adjusted EBITDA103 107 (3.9)%268 371 (27.7)%
(a)    Organic Net Sales is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section at the end of this item.
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Three Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net sales decreased 2.2% to $406 million for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $415 million for the three months ended September 28, 2019 primarily due to the unfavorable impacts of foreign currency (1.0 pp) and divestitures (0.2 pp). Organic Net Sales decreased 1.0% to $410 million for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $414 million for the three months ended September 28, 2019, despite the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organic Net Sales decreased primarily due to unfavorable volume/mix (5.6 pp), which more than offset higher pricing (4.6 pp). Unfavorable volume/mix was primarily due to the negative impact from exiting the McCafé licensing agreement and lower foodservice-related sales, which more than offset consumption gains in boxed dinners and spreads. Pricing was higher primarily driven by list price increases in cheese and reduced promotional activity versus the prior year period.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 3.9% to $103 million for the three months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $107 million for the three months ended September 28, 2019, primarily due to higher supply chain costs, the negative impact from exiting the McCafé licensing agreement, increased variable compensation expenses, and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency (0.9 pp), which more than offset pricing gains and the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net sales decreased 16.3% to $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.4 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 primarily due to the unfavorable impacts of divestitures (15.5 pp) and foreign currency (1.8 pp). Organic Net Sales increased 1.0% to $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, driven by the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organic Net Sales growth was driven by favorable volume/mix (0.9 pp) and higher pricing (0.1 pp). Favorable volume/mix was primarily driven by consumption gains across nearly all retail categories, which more than offset lower foodservice-related sales and the negative impact from exiting the McCafé licensing agreement. Pricing was higher primarily driven by list price increases in cheese, which more than offset decreased pricing in condiments and sauces and foodservice.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased 27.7% to $268 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $371 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019, including the unfavorable impacts of divestitures (13.2 pp) and foreign currency (1.8 pp). Excluding the impact of these factors, the decrease was primarily due to higher supply chain costs and the negative impact from exiting the McCafé licensing agreement, which more than offset the continued growth of at-home consumption due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
In February 2020, Fitch and S&P downgraded our long-term credit rating from BBB- to BB+. These downgrades adversely affect our ability to access the commercial paper market. In addition, we could experience an increase in interest costs as a result of the downgrades. These downgrades do not constitute a default or event of default under any of our debt instruments. Our ability to borrow under the Senior Credit Facility is not affected by the downgrades. As of the date of this filing, we maintain a stable outlook from Fitch and S&P.
On March 12, 2020, we provided notice to our lenders to borrow the full available amount under our Senior Credit Facility so that a total of $4.0 billion was outstanding as of March 28, 2020. This action was a precautionary measure to preserve financial flexibility in light of the uncertainty in the global economy resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We repaid the full $4.0 billion revolver draw during the second quarter of 2020.
We believe that cash generated from our operating activities and Senior Credit Facility will provide sufficient liquidity to meet our working capital needs, future contractual obligations (including repayments of long-term debt), payment of our anticipated quarterly dividends, planned capital expenditures, restructuring expenditures, and contributions to our postemployment benefit plans for the next 12 months. An additional potential source of liquidity is access to capital markets. We intend to use our cash on hand for daily funding requirements.
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Cash Flow Activity For the Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019:
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.3 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $2.0 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This increase was primarily driven by favorable changes in Adjusted EBITDA, reduced cash outflows resulting from lower payments related to the timing of promotional activity versus the prior year period, and favorable changes in inventory, primarily due to reduced inventory levels as a result of COVID-19-related demand.
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Investing Activities:
Net cash used for investing activities was $362 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This change was primarily driven by proceeds from our Canada Natural Cheese Transaction and Heinz India Transaction received in 2019, partially offset by cash paid for the Primal Acquisition in 2019 and lower capital expenditures in 2020 compared to 2019. We expect 2020 capital expenditures to be approximately $600 million as compared to 2019 capital expenditures of $768 million. However, given the COVID-19 outbreak, our estimates of capital expenditures for the period have changed during the year and are still subject to change. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for additional information on the Canada Natural Cheese Transaction, Heinz India Transaction, and the Primal Acquisition.
Net Cash Provided by/Used for Financing Activities:
Net cash used for financing activities was $2.5 billion for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 compared to $1.9 billion for the nine months ended September 28, 2019. This increase was primarily driven by higher repayments of long-term debt and debt prepayment and extinguishment costs, which were partially offset by higher proceeds received from the issuance of the 2020 Notes as compared to the 2019 Notes. Higher repayments of long-term debt were primarily driven by the Tender Offer, Debt Redemptions, and normal course debt repayments in 2020 as compared to the 2019 Tender Offers and normal course debt repayments in 2019. See Note 16, Commitments, Contingencies and Debt, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for additional information on the Tender Offer, 2019 Tender Offers, Debt Redemptions, debt repayments, and long-term debt issuances.
Cash Held by International Subsidiaries:
Of the $2.7 billion cash and cash equivalents on our condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 26, 2020, $1.6 billion was held by international subsidiaries.
Subsequent to January 1, 2018, we consider the unremitted earnings of certain international subsidiaries that impose local country taxes on dividends to be indefinitely reinvested. For those undistributed earnings considered to be indefinitely reinvested, our intent is to reinvest these funds in our international operations, and our current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate the accumulated earnings to fund our U.S. cash requirements. The amount of unrecognized deferred tax liabilities for local country withholding taxes that would be owed related to our 2018, 2019, and 2020 accumulated earnings of certain international subsidiaries is approximately $20 million.
Our undistributed historic earnings in foreign subsidiaries through December 30, 2017 are currently not considered to be indefinitely reinvested. As of September 26, 2020 we had recorded a deferred tax liability of approximately $20 million on approximately $320 million of historic earnings related to local withholding taxes that will be owed when this cash is distributed. As of December 28, 2019, we had recorded a deferred tax liability of approximately $20 million on approximately $300 million of historic earnings.
Trade Payables Programs:
In order to manage our cash flow and related liquidity, we work with our suppliers to optimize our terms and conditions, which include the extension of payment terms. Our current payment terms with our suppliers, which we deem to be commercially reasonable, generally range from 0 to 200 days. We also maintain agreements with third party administrators that allow participating suppliers to track payment obligations from us, and, at the sole discretion of the supplier, sell one or more of those payment obligations to participating financial institutions. We have no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to enter into these agreements and no direct financial relationship with the financial institutions. Our obligations to our suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted. Supplier participation in these agreements is voluntary. We estimate that the amounts outstanding under these programs were $715 million at September 26, 2020 and $370 million at December 28, 2019.
Borrowing Arrangements:
We have historically obtained funding through our U.S. and European commercial paper programs. We had no commercial paper outstanding at September 26, 2020, at December 28, 2019, or during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The maximum amount of commercial paper outstanding during the nine months ended September 28, 2019 was $200 million.
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We maintain our Senior Credit Facility, which, following the execution of the Amendment on October 9, 2020, provides aggregate commitments of $4.1 billion through July 6, 2023 and $4.0 billion through July 6, 2024. Subject to certain conditions, we may increase the amount of revolving commitments and/or add additional tranches of term loans in a combined aggregate amount of up to $900 million. $4.0 billion was drawn on our Senior Credit Facility during the first quarter of 2020. We repaid the full $4.0 billion revolver draw during the second quarter of 2020. No amounts were drawn on our Senior Credit Facility at September 26, 2020, at December 28, 2019, or during the nine months ended September 28, 2019.
The Senior Credit Facility contains representations, warranties, and covenants that are typical for these types of facilities and could upon the occurrence of certain events of default restrict our ability to access our Senior Credit Facility. We were in compliance with all financial covenants during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.
Long-Term Debt:
Our long-term debt, including the current portion, was $28.4 billion at September 26, 2020 and $29.2 billion at December 28, 2019. This decrease was primarily related to the $2.1 billion aggregate principal amount of certain senior notes that were validly tendered in May 2020 in the Tender Offer, the $1.3 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes redeemed in June 2020 in the Debt Redemptions, the $405 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes that were repaid at maturity in February 2020, and the $200 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes and 500 million Canadian dollars aggregate principal amount of senior notes that we repaid at maturity in July 2020. These decreases to long-term debt were partially offset by the $3.5 billion issuance of the 2020 Notes in May 2020. We used the proceeds from the issuance of the 2020 Notes to fund the Tender Offer and to pay fees and expenses in connection therewith, and to fund the Debt Redemptions.
As a result of the issuance of the 2020 Notes and the settlement of the Tender Offer and the Debt Redemptions in the second quarter of 2020, we extinguished aggregate principal amounts of senior notes of approximately $539 million that were due to mature in February 2021 and approximately $300 million that were due to mature in June 2021.
In October 2020, we used cash on hand to fund the redemption of approximately $302 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due July 2022.
We have aggregate principal amounts of senior notes of approximately $111 million maturing in February 2021 and approximately $34 million maturing in September 2021. We expect to fund these long-term debt repayments primarily with cash on hand and cash generated from our operating activities.
In September 2020, we entered into the Cheese Transaction for total consideration of approximately $3.3 billion, including approximately $3.2 billion of cash consideration. The Cheese Transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. We expect to use post-tax transaction proceeds primarily to repay long-term debt. See Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for additional information on the Cheese Transaction.
Our long-term debt contains customary representations, covenants, and events of default. We were in compliance with all financial covenants during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.
See Note 16, Commitments, Contingencies and Debt, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for additional information on our long-term debt activity in 2020 and 2019 and Note 18, Debt, to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information on our borrowing arrangements and long-term debt.
Supplemental Guarantor Information:
In March 2020, the SEC amended Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X regarding financial disclosure requirements for certain debt securities, with an effective date of January 4, 2021 and early adoption permitted. We chose to voluntarily adopt the amended rules effective beginning for the quarterly period ended June 27, 2020 and for all periods thereafter.
The Kraft Heinz Company (as the “Parent Guarantor”) fully and unconditionally guarantees all the senior unsecured registered notes (collectively, the “KHFC Senior Notes”) issued by KHFC, our 100% owned operating subsidiary (the “Guarantee”). See Note 16, Commitments, Contingencies and Debt, in Item 1, Financial Statements, and Note 18, Debt, to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 28, 2019 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional descriptions of these guarantees.
The payment of the principal, premium, and interest on the KHFC Senior Notes is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Parent Guarantor, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the applicable indenture. None of the Parent Guarantor’s subsidiaries guarantee the KHFC Senior Notes.
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The Guarantee is the Parent Guarantor’s senior unsecured obligation and is: (i) pari passu in right of payment with all of the Parent Guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness; (ii) senior in right of payment to all of the Parent Guarantor’s future subordinated indebtedness; (iii) effectively subordinated to all of the Parent Guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets secured by that indebtedness; and (iv) effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of the Parent Guarantor’s subsidiaries.
The KHFC Senior Notes are obligations exclusively of KHFC and the Parent Guarantor and not of any of the Parent Guarantor’s other subsidiaries. Substantially all of the Parent Guarantor’s operations are conducted through its subsidiaries. The Parent Guarantor’s other subsidiaries are separate legal entities that have no obligation to pay any amounts due under the KHFC Senior Notes or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans, or other payments. Except to the extent the Parent Guarantor is a creditor with recognized claims against its subsidiaries, all claims of creditors (including trade creditors) and holders of preferred stock, if any, of its subsidiaries will have priority with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries over its claims (and therefore the claims of its creditors, including holders of the KHFC Senior Notes). Consequently, the KHFC Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to all liabilities of the Parent Guarantor’s subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that it may in the future acquire or establish. The obligations of the Parent Guarantor will terminate and be of no further force or effect in the following circumstances: (i) (a) KHFC’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or, except in the case of a guarantee of any direct or indirect parent of KHFC, covenant defeasance option in accordance with the applicable indenture, or KHFC’s obligations under the applicable indenture have been discharged in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture or (b) as specified in a supplemental indenture to the applicable indenture; and (ii) the Parent Guarantor has delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the applicable indenture have been complied with. The Guarantee is limited by its terms to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the Parent Guarantor without rendering the Guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.
The following tables present summarized financial information for the Parent Guarantor and KHFC (as subsidiary issuer of the KHFC Senior Notes) (together, the “Obligor Group”), on a combined basis after the elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions between the Parent Guarantor and subsidiary issuer and investments in any subsidiary that is a non-guarantor.
Summarized Statement of Income
For the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020
Net sales$13,303 
Gross profit(a)
4,879 
Goodwill impairment losses300 
Intercompany service fees and other recharges3,023 
Operating income/(loss)785 
Equity in earnings/(losses) of subsidiaries(463)
Net income/(loss)(676)
Net income/(loss) attributable to common shareholders(676)
(a)    For the nine months ended September 26, 2020, the Obligor Group recorded $313 million of net sales to the non-guarantor subsidiaries and $39 million of purchases from the non-guarantor subsidiaries.
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Summarized Balance Sheets
September 26, 2020December 28, 2019
ASSETS
Current assets$6,071 $5,261 
Current assets due from affiliates(a)
1,784 2,032 
Non-current assets5,312 5,270 
Goodwill10,510 11,066 
Intangible assets, net2,506 2,860 
Non-current assets due from affiliates(b)
207 207 
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities$4,493 $3,963 
Current liabilities due to affiliates(a)
4,355 5,438 
Non-current liabilities29,871 30,164 
Non-current liabilities due to affiliates(b)
2,000 2,000 
(a)    Represents receivables and short-term lending due from and payables and short-term lending due to non-guarantor subsidiaries.
(b)    Represents long-term lending due from and long-term borrowings due to non-guarantor subsidiaries.
Commodity Trends
We purchase and use large quantities of commodities, including dairy products, meat products, coffee beans, nuts, tomatoes, potatoes, soybean and vegetable oils, sugar and other sweeteners, corn products, wheat products, and cocoa products, to manufacture our products. In addition, we purchase and use significant quantities of resins, metals, and cardboard to package our products and natural gas to operate our facilities. We continuously monitor worldwide supply and cost trends of these commodities.
We define our key commodities in the United States and Canada as dairy, meat, coffee, and nuts. During the nine months ended September 26, 2020, we experienced cost increases for dairy and meat, while costs for nuts and coffee decreased. We manage commodity cost volatility primarily through pricing and risk management strategies. As a result of these risk management strategies, our commodity costs may not immediately correlate with market price trends.
See our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for additional information on how we manage commodity costs.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations
In the second quarter of 2020, we completed the Tender Offer and the Debt Redemptions, which reduced our long-term debt maturing between 2021 and 2025. We also issued the 2020 Notes, which mature between 2027 and 2050. In the third quarter of 2020, we issued a notice of redemption of certain senior notes due in 2022, which were extinguished in October 2020. See Note 16, Commitments, Contingencies and Debt, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for additional information. There were no other material changes to our off-balance sheet arrangements or aggregate contractual obligations from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019.
Equity and Dividends
We paid common stock dividends of $1.5 billion for each of the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019. Additionally, on October 29, 2020, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock, which is payable on December 18, 2020 to shareholders of record on November 27, 2020.
The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends on various factors, including our net income, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant to its analysis and decision making.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 28, 2019 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for updates to our significant accounting policies during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.
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We prepare our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of estimates, judgments, and assumptions. Our critical accounting estimates and assumptions related to goodwill and intangible assets are described below. See Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 for a discussion of our other critical accounting estimates and assumptions.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets:
As of September 26, 2020, we maintain 15 reporting units, nine of which comprise our goodwill balance. These nine reporting units had an aggregate carrying amount of $32.9 billion as of September 26, 2020. Our indefinite-lived intangible asset balance primarily consists of a number of individual brands, which had an aggregate carrying amount of $42.0 billion as of September 26, 2020.
We test our reporting units and brands for impairment annually as of the first day of our second quarter, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or brand is less than its carrying amount. Such events and circumstances could include a sustained decrease in our market capitalization, increased competition or unexpected loss of market share, increased input costs beyond projections (for example due to regulatory or industry changes), disposals of significant brands or components of our business, unexpected business disruptions (for example due to a natural disaster or loss of a customer, supplier, or other significant business relationship), unexpected significant declines in operating results, significant adverse changes in the markets in which we operate, or changes in management strategy. We test reporting units for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying amount. We test brands for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of each brand with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit or brand exceeds its estimated fair value, we record an impairment loss based on the difference between fair value and carrying amount, in the case of reporting units not to exceed to the associated carrying amount of goodwill.
Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions, estimates, and market factors. Estimating the fair value of individual reporting units and brands requires us to make assumptions and estimates regarding our future plans, as well as industry, economic, and regulatory conditions. These assumptions and estimates include estimated future annual net cash flows, income tax considerations, discount rates, growth rates, royalty rates, contributory asset charges, and other market factors. If current expectations of future growth rates and margins are not met, if market factors outside of our control, such as discount rates, income tax rates, foreign currency exchange rates, or any factors that could be affected by COVID-19, change, or if management’s expectations or plans otherwise change, including updates to our long-term operating plans, then one or more of our reporting units or brands might become impaired in the future. Additionally, any decisions to divest certain non-strategic assets could lead to the impairment of one or more of our reporting units or brands in the future.
During the third quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to produce a short-term beneficial financial impact for our consolidated results. Retail sales have increased due to higher than anticipated consumer demand for our products. The foodservice channel, however, has experienced a negative impact from prolonged social distancing mandates limiting access to and capacity at away-from-home establishments for a longer period of time than was expected when they were originally put in place. Our ESA and Canada Foodservice reporting units are the most exposed of our reporting units to the long-term impacts to away-from-home establishments. Our U.S. Foodservice (now included within ESA) and Canada Foodservice reporting units were both impaired during our most recent annual impairment test, reflecting our best estimate at that time of the future outlook and risks of these businesses. The ESA and Canada Foodservice reporting units maintain an aggregate goodwill carrying amount of approximately $11.7 billion as of September 26, 2020. A number of factors could result in further future impairments of our away-from-home (or foodservice) businesses, including but not limited to: continued mandates around closures of dining rooms in restaurants, distancing of people within establishments resulting in fewer customers, the total number of restaurant closures, forthcoming changes in consumer preferences or regulatory requirements over product formats (e.g., table top packaging vs. single serve packaging), and consumer trends of dining-in versus dining-out. Given the evolving nature of and uncertainty driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to evaluate the impact on our reporting units as adverse changes to these assumptions could result in future impairments.
As we consider the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to our indefinite-lived intangible assets, a number of factors could have a future adverse impact on our brands, including changes in consumer and consumption trends in both the short and long term, the extent of continued government mandates to shelter in place, total number of restaurant closures, economic declines, and reductions in consumer discretionary income. We have seen an increase in our retail business in the short-term that has more than offset declines in our foodservice business over the same period. Our brands are generally common across both the retail and away-from-home (or foodservice) businesses and the fair value of our brands are subject to a similar mix of positive and negative factors. Given the evolving nature and uncertainty driven by COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to evaluate the impact on our brands.
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As detailed in Note 8, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, in Item 1, Financial Statements, we recorded impairment losses related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the current year and in the prior year. Our reporting units and brands that were impaired in 2019 and 2020 were written down to their respective fair values resulting in zero excess fair value over carrying amount as of the applicable impairment test dates. Accordingly, these and other reporting units and brands that have 20% or less excess fair value over carrying amount as of their latest impairment testing date have a heightened risk of future impairments if any assumptions, estimates, or market factors change in the future.
Reporting units with 10% or less fair value over carrying amount had an aggregate goodwill carrying amount of $7.5 billion as of their latest impairment testing date and included: MFC, Canada Retail, Canada Foodservice, and Puerto Rico. Reporting units with between 10-20% fair value over carrying amount had an aggregate goodwill carrying amount of $12.5 billion as of their latest impairment testing date and included KSB and Northern Europe. Reporting units with between 20-50% fair value over carrying amount had an aggregate goodwill carrying amount of $12.5 billion as of their latest impairment testing date and included ESA and Continental Europe. The Asia reporting unit had a fair value over carrying amount in excess of 50% and a goodwill carrying amount of $326 million as of its latest impairment testing date. Brands with 10% or less fair value over carrying amount had an aggregate carrying amount after impairment of $21.8 billion as of their latest impairment testing date and included: Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Velveeta, Miracle Whip, Planters, Maxwell House, Cool Whip, Classico, ABC, Plasmon, and Wattie’s (each of these brands had a fair value over carrying amount of less than 1% due to impairments recorded in the current and recent prior years). Brands with 10-20% fair value over carrying amount had an aggregate carrying amount of $4.1 billion as of their latest impairment testing date and included: Lunchables, A1, Ore-Ida, Stove Top, Jet Puffed, and Quero. The aggregate carrying amount of brands with fair value over carrying amount between 20-50% was $6.6 billion as of their latest impairment testing date. Although the remaining brands, with a carrying value of $9.3 billion, have more than 50% excess fair value over carrying amount as of their latest impairment testing date, these amounts are also associated with the acquisition of H. J. Heinz Company in 2013 and the merger of Kraft Foods Group, Inc. with and into H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation in 2015 and are recorded on the balance sheet at their estimated acquisition date fair values. Therefore, if any assumptions, estimates, or market factors change in the future, these amounts are also susceptible to impairments.
We generally utilize the discounted cash flow method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of our reporting units. Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in estimating the fair values include the estimated future annual net cash flows for each reporting unit (including net sales, cost of products sold, SG&A, depreciation and amortization, working capital, and capital expenditures), income tax rates, long-term growth rates, and a discount rate that appropriately reflects the risks inherent in each future cash flow stream. We selected the assumptions used in the financial forecasts using historical data, supplemented by current and anticipated market conditions, estimated product category growth rates, management’s plans, and guideline companies.
We utilize the excess earnings method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of certain of our largest brands. Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in estimating the fair values include the estimated future annual net cash flows for each brand (including net sales, cost of products sold, and SG&A), contributory asset charges, income tax considerations, long-term growth rates, a discount rate that reflects the level of risk associated with the future earnings attributable to the brand, and management’s intent to invest in the brand indefinitely. We selected the assumptions used in the financial forecasts using historical data, supplemented by current and anticipated market conditions, estimated product category growth rates, management’s plans, and guideline companies.
We utilize the relief from royalty method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of our remaining brands. Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in estimating the fair values include the estimated future annual net sales for each brand, royalty rates (as a percentage of net sales that would hypothetically be charged by a licensor of the brand to an unrelated licensee), income tax considerations, long-term growth rates, a discount rate that reflects the level of risk associated with the future cost savings attributable to the brand, and management’s intent to invest in the brand indefinitely. We selected the assumptions used in the financial forecasts using historical data, supplemented by current and anticipated market conditions, estimated product category growth rates, management’s plans, and guideline companies.
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As detailed in Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures, in Item 1, Financial Statements, in the third quarter of 2020, we entered into the Cheese Transaction for total consideration of approximately $3.3 billion. The total consideration includes approximately $1.5 billion attributed to the Kraft and Velveeta licenses that we will grant to Lactalis and approximately $75 million attributed to the Cracker Barrel license that Lactalis will grant to us, the amounts of which were based on the estimated fair values of the licensed portion of each brand. We utilized the excess earnings method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of the licensed portion of the Kraft brand and the relief from royalty method under the income approach to estimate the fair value of the licensed portions of the Velveeta brand and the Cracker Barrel brand. Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in estimating these fair values include the estimated future annual net sales and net cash flows for each brand, contributory asset charges, royalty rates (as a percentage of net sales that would hypothetically be charged by a licensor of the brand to an unrelated licensee), income tax considerations, long-term growth rates, and a discount rate that reflects the level of risk associated with the future earnings attributable to each brand. We selected the assumptions used in the financial forecasts using historical data, supplemented by current and anticipated market conditions, estimated product category growth rates, and guideline companies.
At the time the licensed rights are granted, we will reassess the remaining fair value of the retained portions of the Kraft and Velveeta brands and may record a charge to reduce the intangible asset carrying amounts to reflect the lower future cash flows expected to be generated after monetization of the licensed portion of each brand. Any potential reduction to the intangible asset carrying amounts will depend upon the excess fair value, if any, over carrying amount for each brand at the time we grant the perpetual licenses, which will be on the closing date of the Cheese Transaction. Changes in the fair value of the retained and licensed portions of each brand will impact the amount of any potential charges and the amount of license income that will be recognized, which, at this time, we would not expect to exceed the fair value of the perpetual licenses.
The discount rates, long-term growth rates, and royalty rates used to estimate the fair values of our reporting units and our brands with 10% or less excess fair value over carrying amount, as well as the goodwill or brand carrying amounts, as of the latest impairment testing date for each reporting unit or brand, were as follows:
Goodwill or Brand Carrying Amount
(in billions)
Discount RateLong-Term Growth RateRoyalty Rate
MinimumMaximumMinimumMaximumMinimumMaximum
Reporting units$7.5 6.5 %6.8 %0.5 %1.8 %
Brands
(excess earnings method)
16.3 7.0 %7.8 %0.8 %1.5 %
Brands
(relief from royalty method)
5.5 7.1 %9.0 %0.5 %4.0 %5.0 %20.0 %
The discount rates, long-term growth rates, and royalty rates used to estimate the fair values of our reporting units and our brands with 10-20% excess fair value over carry amount, as well as the goodwill or brand carrying amounts, as of the latest impairment testing date for each reporting unit or brand, were as follows:
Goodwill or Brand Carrying Amount
(in billions)
Discount RateLong-Term Growth RateRoyalty Rate
MinimumMaximumMinimumMaximumMinimumMaximum
Reporting units$12.5 6.8 %7.0 %1.0 %1.5 %
Brands
(excess earnings method)
1.4 7.5 %7.5 %1.0 %1.0 %
Brands
(relief from royalty method)
2.7 7.0 %8.0 %1.5 %3.0 %1.0 %20.0 %
Assumptions used in impairment testing are made at a point in time and require significant judgment; therefore, they are subject to change based on the facts and circumstances present at each annual and interim impairment test date. Additionally, these assumptions are generally interdependent and do not change in isolation. However, as it is reasonably possible that changes in assumptions could occur, as a sensitivity measure, we have presented the estimated effects of isolated changes in discount rates, long-term growth rates, and royalty rates on the fair values of our reporting units and brands with 10% or less excess fair value over carrying amount and 10-20% excess fair value over carrying amount. These estimated changes in fair value are not necessarily representative of the actual impairment that would be recorded in the event of a fair value decline.
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If we had changed the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of our reporting units and brands with 10% or less excess fair value over carrying amount, as of the latest impairment testing date for each of these reporting units and brands, these isolated changes, which are reasonably possible to occur, would have led to the following increase/(decrease) in the aggregate fair value of these reporting units and brands (in billions):
Discount RateLong-Term Growth RateRoyalty Rate
50-Basis-Point25-Basis-Point100-Basis-Point
IncreaseDecreaseIncreaseDecreaseIncreaseDecrease
Reporting units$(2.1)$2.6 $1.1 $(1.0)
Brands (excess earnings method)(1.1)1.3 0.5 (0.5)
Brands (relief from royalty method)(0.3)0.4 0.2 (0.2)$0.4 $(0.4)
If we had changed the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of our reporting units and brands with 10-20% excess fair value over carrying amount, as of the latest impairment testing date for each of these reporting units and brands, these isolated changes, which are reasonably possible to occur, would have led to the following increase/(decrease) in the aggregate fair value of these reporting units and brands (in billions):
Discount RateLong-Term Growth RateRoyalty Rate
50-Basis-Point100-Basis-Point
IncreaseDecreaseIncreaseDecreaseIncreaseDecrease
Reporting units(2.3)2.8 1.1 (1.0)
Brands (excess earnings method)(0.1)0.1 — — 
Brands (relief from royalty method)(0.2)0.3 0.1 (0.1)$0.3 $(0.3)
Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated periods benefited. We review definite-lived intangible assets for impairment when conditions exist that indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Such conditions could include significant adverse changes in the business climate, current-period operating or cash flow losses, significant declines in forecasted operations, or a current expectation that an asset group will be disposed of before the end of its useful life. We perform undiscounted operating cash flow analyses to determine if an impairment exists. When testing for impairment of definite-lived intangible assets held for use, we group assets at the lowest level for which cash flows are separately identifiable. If an impairment is determined to exist, the loss is calculated based on estimated fair value. Impairment losses on definite-lived intangible assets to be disposed of, if any, are based on the estimated proceeds to be received, less costs of disposal.
See Note 8, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for our impairment testing results.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 3, New Accounting Standards, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements.
Contingencies
See Note 16, Commitments, Contingencies and Debt, in Item 1, Financial Statements, for a discussion of our contingencies.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The non-GAAP financial measures we provide in this report should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
To supplement the condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we have presented Organic Net Sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented may differ from similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies, and other companies may not define these non-GAAP financial measures in the same way. These measures are not substitutes for their comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, such as net sales, net income/(loss), diluted EPS, or other measures prescribed by U.S. GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures.
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Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to assist in comparing our performance on a consistent basis for purposes of business decision making by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations. Management believes that presenting our non-GAAP financial measures (i.e., Organic Net Sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS) is useful to investors because it (i) provides investors with meaningful supplemental information regarding financial performance by excluding certain items, (ii) permits investors to view performance using the same tools that management uses to budget, make operating and strategic decisions, and evaluate historical performance, and (iii) otherwise provides supplemental information that may be useful to investors in evaluating our results. We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the corresponding U.S. GAAP financial measures and the reconciliations to those measures, provides investors with additional understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business than could be obtained absent these disclosures.
Organic Net Sales is defined as net sales excluding, when they occur, the impact of currency, acquisitions and divestitures, and a 53rd week of shipments. We calculate the impact of currency on net sales by holding exchange rates constant at the previous year’s exchange rate, with the exception of highly inflationary subsidiaries, for which we calculate the previous year’s results using the current year’s exchange rate. Organic Net Sales is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income/(loss) from continuing operations before interest expense, other expense/(income), provision for/(benefit from) income taxes, and depreciation and amortization (excluding integration and restructuring expenses); in addition to these adjustments, we exclude, when they occur, the impacts of integration and restructuring expenses, deal costs, unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges, impairment losses, and equity award compensation expense (excluding integration and restructuring expenses). Adjusted EBITDA is a tool that can assist management and investors in comparing our performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our underlying operations.
Adjusted EPS is defined as diluted earnings per share excluding, when they occur, the impacts of integration and restructuring expenses, deal costs, unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges, impairment losses, losses/(gains) on the sale of a business, other losses/(gains) related to acquisitions and divestitures (e.g., tax and hedging impacts), nonmonetary currency devaluation (e.g., remeasurement gains and losses), debt prepayment and extinguishment costs, and U.S. Tax Reform discrete income tax expense/(benefit), and including, when they occur, adjustments to reflect preferred stock dividend payments on an accrual basis. We believe Adjusted EPS provides important comparability of underlying operating results, allowing investors and management to assess operating performance on a consistent basis.
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The Kraft Heinz Company
Reconciliation of Net Sales to Organic Net Sales
(dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
Net SalesCurrencyAcquisitions and DivestituresOrganic Net SalesPriceVolume/Mix
Three Months Ended September 26, 2020
United States$4,710 $— $— $4,710 
International1,325 (4)— 1,329 
Canada406 (4)— 410 
Kraft Heinz$6,441 $(8)$— $6,449 
Three Months Ended September 28, 2019
United States$4,385 $— $— $4,385 
International1,276 — 1,270 
Canada415 — 414 
Kraft Heinz$6,076 $$$6,069 

Year-over-year growth rates
United States7.4 %0.0 pp0.0 pp7.4 %4.0 pp3.4 pp
International3.9 %(0.7) pp0.0 pp4.6 %2.1 pp2.5 pp
Canada(2.2)%(1.0) pp(0.2) pp(1.0)%4.6 pp(5.6) pp
Kraft Heinz6.0 %(0.3) pp0.0 pp6.3 %3.7 pp2.6 pp

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The Kraft Heinz Company
Reconciliation of Net Sales to Organic Net Sales
(dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
Net SalesCurrencyAcquisitions and DivestituresOrganic Net SalesPriceVolume/Mix
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020
United States$14,122 $— $— $14,122 
International3,931 (128)— 4,059 
Canada1,193 (25)— 1,218 
Kraft Heinz$19,246 $(153)$— $19,399 
Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019
United States$13,142 $— $— $13,142 
International3,874 20 13 3,841 
Canada1,425 — 219 1,206 
Kraft Heinz$18,441 $20 $232 $18,189 

Year-over-year growth rates
United States7.5 %0.0 pp0.0 pp7.5 %2.9 pp4.6 pp
International1.5 %(3.8) pp(0.4) pp5.7 %2.2 pp3.5 pp
Canada(16.3)%(1.8) pp(15.5) pp1.0 %0.1 pp0.9 pp
Kraft Heinz4.4 %(0.9) pp(1.4) pp6.7 %2.6 pp4.1 pp

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The Kraft Heinz Company
Reconciliation of Net Income/(Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA
(in millions)
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Net income/(loss)$598 $898 $(673)$1,750 
Interest expense314 398 1,066 1,035 
Other expense/(income)(73)(380)(232)(893)
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes308 264 417 584 
Operating income/(loss)1,147 1,180 578 2,476 
Depreciation and amortization (excluding integration and restructuring expenses)232 243 722 730 
Integration and restructuring expenses15 12 56 
Deal costs19 
Unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges(70)47 (30)
Impairment losses300 3,399 1,223 
Equity award compensation expense (excluding integration and restructuring expenses)41 11 114 26 
Adjusted EBITDA $1,667 $1,469 $4,881 $4,500 

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The Kraft Heinz Company
Reconciliation of Diluted EPS to Adjusted EPS
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months EndedFor the Nine Months Ended
September 26, 2020September 28, 2019September 26, 2020September 28, 2019
Diluted EPS$0.49 $0.74 $(0.55)$1.43 
Integration and restructuring expenses(a)
0.01 0.01 0.01 0.04 
Deal costs(b)
— 0.01 — 0.01 
Unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges(c)
(0.04)0.01 0.03 (0.02)
Impairment losses(d)
0.24 — 2.60 0.90 
Losses/(gains) on sale of business(e)
— (0.13)— (0.29)
Nonmonetary currency devaluation(f)
— — — 0.01 
Debt prepayment and extinguishment costs(g)
— 0.05 0.07 0.05 
U.S. Tax Reform discrete income tax expense/(benefit)(h)
— — (0.07)— 
Adjusted EPS$0.70 $0.69 $2.09 $2.13 
(a)    Gross expenses included in integration and restructuring expenses were $9 million ($7 million after-tax) for the three months and $13 million ($10 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $15 million ($15 million after-tax) for the three months and $56 million ($44 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 and were recorded in the following income statement line items:
Cost of products sold included income of $3 million for the three months and $4 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and expenses of $12 million for the three months and $27 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019;
SG&A included expenses of $11 million for three months and $16 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $3 million for the three months and $29 million for the nine months ended September 28, 2019; and
Other expense/(income) included expenses of $1 million for the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020.
(b)    Gross expenses included in deal costs were $9 million ($7 million after-tax) for the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $6 million ($7 million after-tax) for the three months and $19 million ($18 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 and were recorded in SG&A.
(c)    Gross expenses/(income) included in unrealized losses/(gains) on commodity hedges were income of $70 million ($54 million after-tax) for the three months and expenses of $47 million ($35 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and expenses of $9 million ($7 million after-tax) for the three months and income of $30 million ($22 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 and were recorded in cost of products sold.
(d)    Gross impairment losses, which were recorded in SG&A, included the following:
Goodwill impairment losses of $300 million ($300 million after-tax) for the three months and $2.3 billion ($2.3 billion after-tax) for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $744 million ($717 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 28, 2019; and
Intangible asset impairment losses of $1.1 billion ($829 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $5 million ($7 million after-tax) for the three months and $479 million ($381 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 28, 2019.
(e)    Gross expenses/(income) included in losses/(gains) on sale of business were expenses of $2 million ($2 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and income of $244 million ($158 million after-tax) for the three months and $490 million ($348 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 and were recorded in other expense/(income).
(f)    Gross expenses included in nonmonetary currency devaluation were $2 million ($2 million after-tax) for the three months and $6 million ($6 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $4 million ($4 million after-tax) for the three months and $10 million ($10 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 and were recorded in other expense/(income).
(g)    Gross expenses included in debt prepayment and extinguishment costs were $109 million ($82 million after-tax) for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 and $88 million ($62 million after-tax) for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2019 and were recorded in interest expense.
(h)    U.S. Tax Reform discrete income tax expense/(benefit) was a benefit of $81 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The benefit primarily relates to the revaluation of our deferred tax balances due to changes in state tax laws following U.S. Tax Reform and subsequent clarification or interpretation of state tax laws.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains a number of forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “reflect,” “invest,” “see,” “make,” “expect,” “give,” “deliver,” “drive,” “believe,” “improve,” “assess,” “reassess,” “remain,” “evaluate,” “grow,” “will,” “plan,” “intend,” and variations of such words and similar future or conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our plans, impacts of accounting standards and guidance, growth, legal matters, taxes, costs and cost savings, impairments, and dividends. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.
Important factors that may affect our business and operations and that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact of COVID-19; operating in a highly competitive industry; our ability to correctly predict, identify, and interpret changes in consumer preferences and demand, to offer new products to meet those changes, and to respond to competitive innovation; changes in the retail landscape or the loss of key retail customers; changes in our relationships with significant customers, suppliers, and other business relationships; our ability to maintain, extend, and expand our reputation and brand image; our ability to leverage our brand value to compete against private label products; our ability to drive revenue growth in our key product categories, increase our market share, or add products that are in faster-growing and more profitable categories; product recalls or product liability claims; unanticipated business disruptions; our ability to identify, complete, or realize the benefits from strategic acquisitions, alliances, divestitures, joint ventures, or other investments; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from prior or future streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes, and improve our competitiveness; our ability to successfully execute our strategic initiatives; the impacts of our international operations; economic and political conditions in the United States and in various other nations where we do business; changes in our management team or other key personnel and our ability to hire or retain key personnel or a highly-skilled and diverse global workforce; risks associated with information technology and systems, including service interruptions, misappropriation of data, or breaches of security; impacts of natural events in the locations in which we or our customers, suppliers, distributors, or regulators operate; our ownership structure; our indebtedness and ability to pay such indebtedness, as well as our ability to comply with covenants under our debt instruments; our liquidity, capital resources, and capital expenditures, as well as our ability to raise capital; additional impairments of the carrying amounts of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; volatility in commodity, energy, and other input costs; volatility in the market value of all or a portion of the commodity derivatives we use; increased pension, labor and people-related expenses; compliance with laws, regulations, and related interpretations and related legal claims or other regulatory enforcement actions, including additional risks and uncertainties related to any potential actions resulting from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s ongoing investigation, as well as potential additional subpoenas, litigation, and regulatory proceedings; potential future material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting or other deficiencies or our failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls; our failure to prepare and timely file our periodic reports; our ability to protect intellectual property rights; tax law changes or interpretations; the impact of future sales of our common stock in the public markets; our ability to continue to pay a regular dividend and the amounts of any such dividends; volatility of capital markets and other macroeconomic factors; a downgrade in our credit rating; and other factors. For additional information on these and other factors that could affect our forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019 and Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this report, except as required by applicable law or regulation.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
There have been no material changes to our market risk during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. For additional information, refer to Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 26, 2020. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as of September 26, 2020, were effective and provided reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 26, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
See Note 16, Commitments, Contingencies and Debt, in Item 1, Financial Statements.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The following risk factor is 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, 2019, that could affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. This risk factor 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 outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 could negatively impact our business and results of operations.
In December 2019, an outbreak of illness caused by a novel coronavirus called COVID-19 (“COVID-19”) was identified in Wuhan, China. On January 31, 2020, the United States declared a public health emergency related to COVID-19 and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared that the spread of COVID-19 qualified as a global pandemic. The continued spread of COVID-19 throughout the United States and the international community has had, and could continue to have, a negative impact on financial markets, on economic conditions, and on portions of our business. COVID-19 could negatively impact our business and results of operations in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, the following:
a shutdown of one or more of our manufacturing facilities due to illness could significantly disrupt our production capabilities;
a significant portion of our workforce could become unable to work, including as a result of illness or government restrictions;
a decrease in demand for away-from-home establishments, resulting from government restrictions and social distancing measures, has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect our foodservice operations;
an impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or intangible assets or a change in the useful life of definite-lived intangible assets has occurred and may again occur if there are sustained changes in consumer purchasing behaviors, government restrictions, or financial results (e.g. there may be a heightened risk of impairment in our foodservice reporting units if there is a sustained decrease in demand in away-from-home establishments);
an inability to accurately estimate or forecast the financial impact of this pandemic on our actual or future results;
a change in our five-year operating plan, which could impact the allocation of investments among reporting units, growth expectations and fair value estimates;
an increase in working capital needs and/or an increase in trade accounts receivable write-offs as a result of increased financial pressures on our suppliers or customers;
a change in demand resulting from restrictions on social interactions has and could continue to affect customers and consumers plans to purchase our products;
a change in demand for or availability of our products as a result of retailers, distributors, or carriers modifying their restocking, fulfillment, or shipping practices;
a shift in consumer spending as a result of the economic downturn could result in consumers moving to private label or lower margin products;
a change in trade promotion and marketing activities could occur in response to changes in consumer viewing and shopping habits resulting from the cancellation of major events, travel restrictions, and in-store shopping practices;
a slowdown or stoppage in our supply chain could result from government restrictions or if our suppliers, vendors, distributors, or third-party manufacturers fail to meet their obligations to us or experience disruptions in their ability to do so;
a strain on our supply chain could result from increased consumer demand at our retail customers, such as grocery stores, club stores, and value stores;
an increase in commodity and other input costs could result from market volatility;
a fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates or interest rates could result from market uncertainties;
an increase in the cost or the difficulty to obtain debt or equity financing, or to refinance our debt in the future, could affect our financial condition or our ability to fund operations or future investment opportunities; and
an increase in regulatory restrictions or continued market volatility could hinder our ability to execute strategic business activities including acquisitions and divestitures.
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Additionally, COVID-19 could negatively affect our internal controls over financial reporting as a portion of our workforce is required to work from home and therefore new processes, procedures, and controls could be required to respond to changes in our business environment. Further, should any key employees become ill from COVID-19 and unable to work, the attention of the management team and resources could be diverted.
The potential effects of COVID-19 also could heighten the risks we face related to the risk factors disclosed in Part 1, Item 1A, Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019, including, but not limited to changes in our relationships with significant customers, suppliers, and other business relationships; our ability to leverage our brand value to compete against private label products; unanticipated business disruptions; the impacts of our international operations; economic and political conditions in the United States and in various other nations where we do business; changes in our management team or other key personnel and our ability to hire or retain key personnel or a highly-skilled and diverse global workforce; risks associated with information technology and systems, including service interruptions, misappropriation of data, or breaches of security; impacts of natural events in the locations in which we or our customers, suppliers, distributors, or regulators operate; our ownership structure; additional impairments of the carrying amounts of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; volatility in commodity, energy, and other input costs; volatility in the market value of all or a portion of the commodity derivatives we use; increased pension, labor and people-related expenses; additional material weaknesses or other deficiencies in the future or the failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls; volatility of capital markets and other macroeconomic factors. As COVID-19 and its impacts are unprecedented and continuously evolving, the potential impacts to our risk factors that are further described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2019, remain uncertain. As a result, COVID-19 may also materially adversely affect our operating and financial results in a manner that is not currently known to us or that we do not currently consider to present significant risks to our operations.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Our share repurchase activity in the three months ended September 26, 2020 was:
 
Total Number
of Shares Purchased(a)
Average Price 
Paid Per Share
Total 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
6/28/2020 - 8/1/2020136,746 $32.29 — $— 
8/2/2020 - 8/29/2020136,890 35.57 — — 
8/30/2020 - 9/26/202052,541 32.52 — — 
Total326,177 — 
(a)    Composed of the following types of share repurchase activity, when they occur: (1) shares repurchased in connection with the exercise of stock options (including periodic repurchases using option exercise proceeds), (2) shares withheld for tax liabilities associated with the vesting of RSUs, and (3) shares repurchased related to employee benefit programs (including our annual bonus swap program) or to offset the dilutive effect of equity issuances.
(b)    We do not have any publicly-announced share repurchase plans or programs.
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Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Descriptions
22.1
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
101.1The following materials from The Kraft Heinz Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 26, 2020 formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and (vii) document and entity information.
104.1
The cover page from The Kraft Heinz Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 26, 2020, formatted in inline XBRL.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
The Kraft Heinz Company
Date:
October 30, 2020
By:/s/ Paulo Basilio
Paulo Basilio
Global Chief Financial Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

The Kraft Heinz Company
Date:
October 30, 2020
By:/s/ Vince Garlati
Vince Garlati
Vice President, Global Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)

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