v3.26.1
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
Defined Benefit Pension Plans. We have defined benefit pension plans that cover certain employees in the U.S., Germany, the UK, Switzerland, India and Israel. Pension benefits under defined benefit pension plans are based on years of service and, for certain plans, on average compensation for specified years preceding retirement. We fund pension costs in accordance with the funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended, for U.S. plans and in accordance with local regulations or customs for non-U.S. plans. The accrued benefit for all participants in the Kennametal Inc. Retirement Income Plan was frozen as of December 31, 2016. The majority of our defined benefit pension plans are closed to future participation.
We have an Executive Retirement Plan for certain executives and a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan both of which were closed to future participation as of June 15, 2017 and July 26, 2006, respectively.
We presently provide varying levels of postretirement health care and life insurance benefits to certain employees and retirees. By fiscal 2019, participants over the age of 65 were transitioned to a private exchange and some received a fixed Health Retirement Account (HRA) contribution to offset the cost of their coverage. Postretirement health and life benefits were closed to future participants as of December 31, 2016.
We use a June 30 measurement date for all of our plans. During 2025, the Company completed the wind-up of its Canadian defined benefit pension plans and recorded a settlement charge of $0.8 million. During 2023 and 2025, the Company annuitized portions of its UK defined benefit pension plans through the purchase of full buy-in policies. The Company expects to progress to a buy-out and an eventual wind-up of the UK plans after completing customary procedures including obtaining relevant regulatory approvals. The wind-up of the UK plans is expected to occur in fiscal 2027.
The funded status of our pension plans and amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30 were as follows:
(in thousands)20262025
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year$669,030 $677,054 
Service cost1,103 909 
Interest cost32,449 34,013 
Participant contributions439 438 
Actuarial gains(7,249)(1,772)
Benefits and expenses paid(57,544)(54,192)
Currency translation adjustments(4,874)14,887 
Plan amendments— 12 
Plan settlements(1,102)(3,480)
Other adjustments191 1,161 
Benefit obligation, end of year$632,443 $669,030 
Change in plans' assets:
Fair value of plans' assets, beginning of year$629,588 $636,088 
Actual return on plans' assets37,324 35,556 
Company contributions8,963 7,755 
Participant contributions439 438 
Plan settlements(1,002)(3,480)
Benefits and expenses paid(57,544)(54,192)
Currency translation adjustments(3,398)7,330 
Other adjustments206 93 
Fair value of plans' assets, end of year$614,576 $629,588 
Funded status of plans$(17,867)$(39,442)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:
Long-term prepaid benefit$87,268 $75,062 
Short-term accrued benefit obligation(8,409)(7,541)
Accrued pension benefits(96,726)(106,963)
Net amount recognized$(17,867)$(39,442)
The pre-tax amounts related to our defined benefit pension plans recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss were as follows at June 30:
(in thousands)20262025
Unrecognized net actuarial losses$272,996 $292,946 
Unrecognized net prior service costs1,748 1,762 
Total$274,744 $294,708 
To the best of our knowledge and belief, the asset portfolios of our defined benefit pension plans do not contain our capital stock. Apart from the annuitization of the UK plans as previously mentioned, we do not issue insurance contracts to cover future annual benefits of defined benefit pension plan participants. The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $629.9 million and $666.0 million as of June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
Included in the above information are plans with accumulated benefit obligations exceeding the fair value of plan assets as of June 30 as follows:
(in thousands)20262025
Projected benefit obligation$112,580 $122,521 
Accumulated benefit obligation111,770 121,636 
Fair value of plan assets8,534 7,871 
The components of net periodic pension income include the following as of June 30:
(in thousands)202620252024
Service cost$1,103 $909 $1,181 
Interest cost32,449 34,013 35,551 
Expected return on plans' assets(38,265)(42,655)(44,592)
Amortization of transition obligation— — 76 
Amortization of prior service cost(18)(9)(4)
Settlement190 954 (4)
Recognition of actuarial losses11,736 8,411 5,753 
Other adjustments82 302 14 
Net periodic pension expense (income)$7,277 $1,925 $(2,025)
As of June 30, 2026, the projected benefit payments, including future service accruals for these plans for 2027 through 2031, are $59.1 million, $56.9 million, $55.3 million, $54.3 million and $52.7 million, respectively, and $245.8 million in 2032 through 2036.
The amounts of accumulated other comprehensive loss expected to be recognized in net periodic pension cost during 2027 related to net actuarial losses are $11.8 million. The amount of accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized in net periodic pension cost during 2027 related to transition obligations and prior service cost is immaterial.
We expect to contribute approximately $10.0 million to our pension plans in 2027, which is primarily for international plans.
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans. The funded status of our other postretirement benefit plans and the related amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets were as follows:
(in thousands)20262025
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, beginning of year$6,700 $7,340 
Interest cost348 393 
Actuarial losses(83)(78)
Benefits paid(987)(851)
Other214 (104)
Benefit obligation, end of year$6,192 $6,700 
Funded status of plan$(6,192)$(6,700)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheets consist of:
Short-term accrued benefit obligation$(869)$(948)
Accrued postretirement benefits(5,323)(5,752)
Net amount recognized$(6,192)$(6,700)
The pre-tax amounts related to our other postretirement benefit plans which were recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss were as follows at June 30:
(in thousands)20262025
Unrecognized net actuarial losses$1,487 $1,680 
Unrecognized net prior service credits(617)(870)
Total$870 $810 
The components of net periodic other postretirement benefit cost include the following for the years ended June 30:
(in thousands)202620252024
Interest cost$348 $393 $424 
Amortization of prior service credit(254)(254)(254)
Recognition of actuarial loss126 139 142 
Net periodic other postretirement benefit cost$220 $278 $312 
As of June 30, 2026, the projected benefit payments, including future service accruals for our other postretirement benefit plans for 2027 through 2031, are $0.9 million, $0.8 million, $0.7 million, $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively, and $2.4 million in 2032 through 2036.
The amounts of accumulated other comprehensive loss expected to be recognized in net periodic other postretirement benefits cost during 2027 related to net actuarial losses and related to prior service credit are costs of $0.1 million and income of $0.3 million, respectively.
We expect to contribute $0.9 million to our other postretirement benefit plans in 2027.
The service cost component of net periodic pension expense (income) of $1.1 million, $0.9 million and $1.2 million for 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively, was reported as a component of cost of goods sold and operating expense. The other components of net periodic pension expense (income) and net periodic other postretirement benefit cost totaling a net expense of $6.4 million and $1.3 million for 2026 and 2025, respectively, and a net benefit of $2.9 million for 2024 were presented as a component of other income, net.
Assumptions. The significant actuarial assumptions used to determine the present value of net benefit obligations for our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans were as follows:
202620252024
Discount Rate:
U.S. plans
4.8-5.8%
5.0-5.6%
5.7-5.8%
International plans
1.1-6.9%
1.2-6.8%
1.3-7.2%
Rates of future salary increases:
U.S. plans (Executive Retirement Plan only)
4.0%
4.0%
4.0%
International plans
1.5-8.5%
1.5-7.5%
1.8-8.0%
The significant assumptions used to determine the net periodic expense (income) for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans were as follows:
202620252024
Discount Rate:
U.S. plans
4.7-5.6%
5.7-5.8%
5.6-6.3%
International plans
1.2-6.8%
1.3-7.2%
1.8-7.3%
Rates of future salary increases:
U.S. plans (Executive Retirement Plan only)
4.0%
4.0%
4.0%
International plans
1.5-7.5%
1.8-8.0%
1.8-8.0%
Rate of return on plans assets:
U.S. plans
6.4%
6.5%
6.3%
International plans
1.3-7.3%
1.3-7.5%
1.8-7.3%
The rates of return on plan assets are based on historical performance, as well as future expected returns by asset class considering macroeconomic conditions, current portfolio mix, long-term investment strategy and other available relevant information.
Plan Assets. The primary objective of certain of our pension plans' investment policies is to ensure that sufficient assets are available to provide the benefit obligations at the time the obligations come due. The overall investment strategy for the defined benefit pension plans' assets combines considerations of preservation of principal and moderate risk-taking. The assumption of an acceptable level of risk is warranted in order to achieve satisfactory results consistent with the long-term objectives of the portfolio. Fixed income securities comprise a significant portion of the portfolio due to their plan-liability-matching characteristics and to address the plans' cash flow requirements. Additionally, diversification of investments within each asset class is utilized to further reduce the effect of losses in single investments.
Investment management practices for U.S. defined benefit pension plans must comply with ERISA and all applicable regulations and rulings thereof. The use of derivative instruments is permitted where appropriate and necessary for achieving overall investment policy objectives. Currently, the use of derivative instruments is not significant when compared to the overall investment portfolio.
The Company utilizes a liability driven investment strategy (LDI) for the assets of its U.S. defined benefit pension plans in order to reduce the volatility of the funded status of these plans and to meet the obligations at an acceptable cost over the long term. This LDI strategy entails modifying the asset allocation and duration of the assets of the plans to more closely match the liability profile of these plans. The asset reallocation involves increasing the fixed income allocation, reducing the equity component and adding alternative investments. Longer duration interest rate swaps have been utilized periodically in order to increase the overall duration of the asset portfolio to more closely match the liabilities.
Our defined benefit pension plans’ asset allocations as of June 30, 2026 and 2025 and target allocations for 2027, by asset class, were as follows:
20262025Target %
Equity12 %13 %13 %
Fixed Income74 72 72 
Other14 15 15 
The following sections describe the valuation methodologies used to measure the fair value of the defined benefit pension plan assets, including an indication of the level in the fair value hierarchy in which each type of asset is generally classified (see Note 5 for the definition of fair value and a description of the fair value hierarchy).
Corporate fixed income securities. Investments in corporate fixed income securities consist of corporate debt and asset backed securities. These investments are classified as level two and are valued using independent observable market inputs such as the treasury curve, swap curve and yield curve.
Common stock. Common stocks are classified as level one and are valued at their quoted market price.
Government securities. Investments in government securities consist of fixed income securities such as U.S. government and agency obligations and foreign government bonds and asset and mortgage backed securities such as obligations issued by government sponsored organizations. These investments are classified as level two and are valued using independent observable market inputs such as the treasury curve, credit spreads and interest rates.
Other fixed income securities Investments in other fixed income securities are classified as level two and valued based on observable market data.
Other. Other investments consist primarily of state and local obligations and short term investments including cash, corporate notes, and various short term debt instruments which can be redeemed within a nominal redemption notice period. These investments are primarily classified as level two and are valued using independent observable market inputs.
The fair value methods described may not be reflective of future fair values. Additionally, while the Company believes the valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
The following table presents the fair value of the benefit plans' assets by asset category as of June 30, 2026:
(in thousands)Level 1Level 2Level 3
NAV(3)
Total
Common / collective trusts (3):
Blend funds$— $— $— $41,582 $41,582 
Mutual funds— — — 33,218 33,218 
Corporate fixed income securities— 295,961 — — 295,961 
Common stock16 — — — 16 
Government securities:
U.S. government securities— 119,476 — — 119,476 
Foreign government securities— 677 — — 677 
Other fixed income securities— 39,023 — — 39,023 
Other— 84,623 — — 84,623 
Total investments$16 $539,760 $— $74,800 $614,576 
The following table presents the fair value of the benefit plans' assets by asset category as of June 30, 2025:
(in thousands)Level 1Level 2Level 3
NAV(3)
Total
Common / collective trusts (3):
Blend funds$— $— $— $50,038 $50,038 
Mutual funds— — — 36,643 36,643 
Corporate fixed income securities— 321,975 — — 321,975 
Common stock11 — — — 11 
Government securities:
U.S. government securities— 103,056 — — 103,056 
Foreign government securities— 1,353 — — 1,353 
Other fixed income securities— 31,475 — — 31,475 
Other— 85,037 — — 85,037 
Total investments$11 $542,896 $— $86,681 $629,588 
(3) Investments in common / collective trusts invest primarily in publicly traded securities and are valued using net asset value (NAV) of units of a bank collective trust. Therefore, these amounts have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy and are presented in the tables to reconcile the fair value hierarchy to the total fair value of plan assets.
Defined Contribution Plans. We sponsor several defined contribution retirement plans. Costs for defined contribution plans were $16.3 million, $16.5 million and $16.3 million in 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Certain U.S. employees are eligible to participate in the Kennametal Thrift Plus Plan (Thrift), which is a qualified defined contribution plan under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Thrift, eligible employees receive a full match of their contributions up to 6 percent of eligible compensation.
All contributions, including the company match and discretionary, are made in cash and invested in accordance with participants’ investment elections. There are no minimum amounts that must be invested in company stock, and there are no restrictions on transferring amounts out of company stock to another investment choice, other than excessive trading rules applicable to such investments. Employee contributions and our matching and discretionary contributions vest immediately as of the participants' employment dates.