---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000038725-25-000156"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FELE"
cik: "0000038725"
company_name: "FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO INC"
filed_at: "2025-07-28T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-18T00:36:41.508244+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Franklin Electric transfers $30M pension liability via annuity; expects ~$60M settlement charge

## Summary
- Entered agreement with Principal Life Insurance to buy group annuity for ~684 participants, reducing U.S. pension liabilities by ~$30M.
- Settled $59.9M in lump sum payouts to 1,405 participants on July 9, 2025.
- Expects non-cash pension settlement charge of ~$60M pre-tax (~$40M after-tax, approx. $1 EPS) in Q3 2025.
- Annuity purchase funded by Plan assets; no additional contributions expected; closing targeted by July 29, 2025.
- Insurer will assume benefit payments for transferred participants starting July 29 and Oct 1, 2025.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000038725-25-000156
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FELE
- cik: 0000038725
- company_name: FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO INC
- filed_at: 2025-07-28T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/38725/000003872525000156/0000038725-25-000156-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/38725/000003872525000156/fele-20250722.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000038725-25-000156
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000038725-25-000156.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000038725-25-000156.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.