---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000886346-24-000002"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "KAI"
cik: "0000886346"
company_name: "KADANT INC"
filed_at: "2024-01-02T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T05:40:53.840504+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Kadant completes acquisition of Key Knife for $156M cash

## Summary
- Acquisition closed Jan 1, 2024 for ~$156M in cash, financed via revolver.
- Key Knife had TTM revenue of ~$65M and 141 employees in US and Canada.
- Key Knife supplies engineered knife systems for wood product industries.
- Acquisition will be part of Kadant's Industrial Processing segment.
- Conference call on Jan 8, 2024 to discuss the acquisition.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000886346-24-000002
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: KAI
- cik: 0000886346
- company_name: KADANT INC
- filed_at: 2024-01-02T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 8.01, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886346/000088634624000002/0000886346-24-000002-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/886346/000088634624000002/kai-20240101.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886346-24-000002
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886346-24-000002.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000886346-24-000002.txt

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