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<title>kn-20250218</title></head><body><div style="display:none"><ix:header><ix:hidden><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityCentralIndexKey" id="f-21">0001587523</ix:nonNumeric><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:AmendmentFlag" format="ixt:fixed-false" id="f-22">FALSE</ix:nonNumeric></ix:hidden><ix:references xml:lang="en-US"><link:schemaRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="kn-20250218.xsd"/></ix:references><ix:resources><xbrli:context id="c-1"><xbrli:entity><xbrli:identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001587523</xbrli:identifier></xbrli:entity><xbrli:period><xbrli:startDate>2022-04-26</xbrli:startDate><xbrli:endDate>2022-04-26</xbrli:endDate></xbrli:period></xbrli:context></ix:resources></ix:header></div><div id="ibd68e983880c468fb6e658a18b9d1551_1"></div><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="-sec-extract:summary;margin-top:2.75pt;padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">UNITED STATES</span></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</span></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</span></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:64.766%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:98.900%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">FORM <ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:DocumentType" id="f-1">8-K</ix:nonNumeric></span></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:64.766%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:98.900%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">CURRENT REPORT</span></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)</span></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</span></div><div style="margin-top:0.4pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): <ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate" format="ixt:date-monthname-day-year-en" id="f-2">February&#160;18, 2025</ix:nonNumeric> </span><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:64.766%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:98.900%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div style="padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:24pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityRegistrantName" id="f-3">Knowles Corporation</ix:nonNumeric></span></div><div style="margin-top:1.35pt;padding-left:7.87pt;padding-right:7.87pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</span><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:64.766%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:98.900%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:37.350%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:22.291%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:37.059%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" format="ixt-sec:stateprovnameen" id="f-4">Delaware</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityFileNumber" id="f-5">001-36102</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" id="f-6">90-1002689</ix:nonNumeric></span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Commission File Number)</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="width:100.000%"><div style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;width:46.491%"><div style="padding-right:-22.5pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-261pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1" id="f-7">1511 Maplewood Drive</ix:nonNumeric>, <ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown" id="f-8">Itasca</ix:nonNumeric>, <ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince" id="f-9">IL</ix:nonNumeric></span></div><div style="padding-right:-22.5pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-261pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</span></div><div style="padding-left:13.5pt;padding-right:13.5pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-261pt"><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="display:inline-block;max-width:7.017%;min-width:6.017%;vertical-align:top"></div><div style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;width:46.492%"><div style="padding-right:-22.5pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-261pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode" id="f-10">60143</ix:nonNumeric></span></div><div style="padding-right:-22.5pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-261pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Zip Code)</span></div></div></div><div style="margin-top:0.55pt;padding-left:150.75pt;padding-right:150.75pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-261pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (<ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:CityAreaCode" id="f-11">630</ix:nonNumeric>) <ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:LocalPhoneNumber" id="f-12">250-5100</ix:nonNumeric></span></div><div style="padding-left:22.5pt;padding-right:22.5pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report)</span></div><div style="padding-left:22.5pt;padding-right:22.5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:64.766%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:98.900%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div style="margin-top:0.55pt;padding-left:22.5pt;padding-right:22.5pt;text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:4.5pt;padding-right:40.5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</span></div><div style="padding-left:20.25pt;padding-right:20.25pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.853%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:3.438%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:94.362%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:WrittenCommunications" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox" id="f-13">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</span></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:SolicitingMaterial" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox" id="f-14">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</span></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox" id="f-15">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</span></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox" id="f-16">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</span></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:</span></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:39.104%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.530%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:19.514%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.530%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:36.622%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Title of each class</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Trading Symbol</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Name of each exchange on which registered</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:Security12bTitle" id="f-17">Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:TradingSymbol" id="f-18">KN</ix:nonNumeric></span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:SecurityExchangeName" format="ixt-sec:exchnameen" id="f-19">New York Stock Exchange</ix:nonNumeric></span></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:4.5pt;padding-right:40.5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:4.5pt;padding-right:40.5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Emerging growth company&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="c-1" name="dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" format="ixt-sec:boolballotbox" id="f-20">&#9744;</ix:nonNumeric></span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="padding-left:4.5pt;padding-right:40.5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">o</span></div><div style="padding-left:22.5pt;padding-right:22.5pt;text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:98.900%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr style="height:3pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:3pt double #000000;padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"/><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.853%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:7.684%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:90.116%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%">Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</span></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%">On February 18, 2025, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Knowles Corporation (the "Company") and the Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Board granted a special equity award of performance share units ("PSUs") to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey S. Niew, pursuant to the Company's 2018 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The PSU award was designed following analysis conducted by the Committee's independent compensation consultant under the Committee's direction. The PSUs are subject to both time- and performance-based vesting requirements and are designed to support the achievement of the Company's strategic plans.<br/></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%"><br/></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%">The PSUs are eligible to vest based on the achievement of a minimum non-GAAP diluted earnings per share ("Adjusted EPS") amount and specified revenue goals, as described below. The target number of PSUs is 81,788, representing a grant date fair value of $1.5 million. Achievement could range from 0% to 400% of the target number of PSUs. Each PSU granted represents the right to receive one share of common stock based on target performance, but the ultimate number of shares of common stock will be determined as of the completion of the Performance Period (as defined below). <br/></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%"><br/></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%">The initial performance period (the "Initial Performance Period") is the three year period beginning on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2027. If no PSUs are earned during the Initial Performance Period, an extended performance period (the "Extended Performance Period," and together with the Initial Performance Period, the "Performance Period") will apply. The Extended Performance Period shall continue for successive calendar quarters for up to eight quarters in total. Any payout amount shall be reduced by ten percent for each quarter that has elapsed during the Extended Performance Period.<br/></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%"><br/></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%">Mr. Niew will receive 100% of the target shares if, at the end of the Performance Period: (i) the Company's Adjusted EPS is $1.50, and (ii) the Company's revenue is $800 million. The percentage payout increases to 200% if the Company's revenue is at least $1 billion, with a straight-line interpolation determining the payout between the target and maximum revenue goals. In the event the Company acquires another company (the "Target Company") during the Performance Period, 50% of the Target Company's revenue, as determined at the time of the acquisition, will be added to the revenue goals, with all future revenue of the Target Company being counted toward the achievement of the revenue goals.  In addition, a multiplier of up to 2.0 will be applied to any payout earned if the Company's Adjusted EPS is at least $2.00, with a straight-line interpolation determining the multiplier between the target and the maximum multiplier. In no event will the payout exceed 400% of the target PSU amount.  <br/></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%"><br/></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%">If the performance metrics set forth above are satisfied at or above target level as of December 31, 2026, Mr. Niew will earn the percentage payout for the achieved revenue goals as adjusted by the Adjusted EPS multiplier (the "Interim Earned PSUs"). Mr. Niew may earn additional PSUs based on performance during the remainder of the Initial Performance Period, but will not earn any fewer than the number of Interim Earned PSUs (even if the performance as measured at the end of the Initial Performance Period would result in a lower number of PSUs being earned). <br/></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%"><br/></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%">In the event of a Change of Control, Mr. Niew will receive 90% of the target shares if, as of the month prior to the closing of the Change of Control: (i) the Company's Adjusted EPS is $1.35 (the "CIC Adjusted EPS Threshold"), and (ii) the Company's revenue for the trailing 12-month period is 90% of the target revenue value (the "CIC Revenue Threshold"). Percentage payout upon satisfaction of the CIC Revenue Threshold is determined with a straight-line interpolation between the CIC Revenue Threshold and the revenue goals set forth above, and the Adjusted EPS multiplier will be determined using a straight-line interpolation between 0.9 (if the Adjusted EPS is at the CIC Adjusted EPS Threshold)  and 2.0 (the maximum  Adjusted EPS multiplier). If applicable, Mr. Niew shall receive the greater of (y) any Interim Earned PSUs, or (z) any payout calculated in connection with a Change of Control.<br/></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%"><br/></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%">If, prior to the end of the Performance Period, Mr. Niew's employment terminates for any reason or Mr. Niew ceases to hold his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the PSU award shall automatically terminate and all PSUs will be forfeited.<br/></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%"><br/></span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:107%">The description of the PSU award described above is qualified by reference to the terms and conditions of the Plan and of the PSU award agreement attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.<br/>&#160;</span></td></tr><tr style="height:11pt"><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr></table></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"/><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:12.350%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:0.530%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:84.720%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.</span></td></tr><tr style="height:9pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(d) Exhibits.</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Exhibit Number</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit101tokn8k022425.htm">10.1</a></span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><span style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline" href="exhibit101tokn8k022425.htm">Special Performance Award Agreement, dated February 18, 2025, between Knowles Corporation and Jeffrey Niew</a></span></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">104</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)</span></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"/><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SIGNATURES</span></div><div style="margin-top:0.25pt"><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-top:4.3pt;padding-right:22.5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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 hereunto duly authorized.</span></div><div style="margin-top:4.3pt;padding-left:11.25pt;padding-right:11.25pt;text-align:center;text-indent:22.5pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:51.092%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td style="width:1.0%"/><td style="width:46.708%"/><td style="width:0.1%"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:justify;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">KNOWLES CORPORATION</span></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 7pt 2px 1pt;text-align:justify;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date: February 24, 2025</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">By: /s/ Robert J. Perna</span></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 30.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Robert J. Perna</span></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"/><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 30.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Senior Vice President, General Counsel &amp; Secretary</span></td><td colspan="3" style="display:none"/></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div></body></html>
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kn-20250218
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
February 18, 2025
Knowles Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-36102
90-1002689
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1511 Maplewood Drive
,
Itasca
,
IL
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
60143
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (
630
)
250-5100
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading Symbol
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
KN
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging 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.
o
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On February 18, 2025, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Knowles Corporation (the "Company") and the Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Board granted a special equity award of performance share units ("PSUs") to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey S. Niew, pursuant to the Company's 2018 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The PSU award was designed following analysis conducted by the Committee's independent compensation consultant under the Committee's direction. The PSUs are subject to both time- and performance-based vesting requirements and are designed to support the achievement of the Company's strategic plans.
The PSUs are eligible to vest based on the achievement of a minimum non-GAAP diluted earnings per share ("Adjusted EPS") amount and specified revenue goals, as described below. The target number of PSUs is 81,788, representing a grant date fair value of $1.5 million. Achievement could range from 0% to 400% of the target number of PSUs. Each PSU granted represents the right to receive one share of common stock based on target performance, but the ultimate number of shares of common stock will be determined as of the completion of the Performance Period (as defined below).
The initial performance period (the "Initial Performance Period") is the three year period beginning on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2027. If no PSUs are earned during the Initial Performance Period, an extended performance period (the "Extended Performance Period," and together with the Initial Performance Period, the "Performance Period") will apply. The Extended Performance Period shall continue for successive calendar quarters for up to eight quarters in total. Any payout amount shall be reduced by ten percent for each quarter that has elapsed during the Extended Performance Period.
Mr. Niew will receive 100% of the target shares if, at the end of the Performance Period: (i) the Company's Adjusted EPS is $1.50, and (ii) the Company's revenue is $800 million. The percentage payout increases to 200% if the Company's revenue is at least $1 billion, with a straight-line interpolation determining the payout between the target and maximum revenue goals. In the event the Company acquires another company (the "Target Company") during the Performance Period, 50% of the Target Company's revenue, as determined at the time of the acquisition, will be added to the revenue goals, with all future revenue of the Target Company being counted toward the achievement of the revenue goals.  In addition, a multiplier of up to 2.0 will be applied to any payout earned if the Company's Adjusted EPS is at least $2.00, with a straight-line interpolation determining the multiplier between the target and the maximum multiplier. In no event will the payout exceed 400% of the target PSU amount.
If the performance metrics set forth above are satisfied at or above target level as of December 31, 2026, Mr. Niew will earn the percentage payout for the achieved revenue goals as adjusted by the Adjusted EPS multiplier (the "Interim Earned PSUs"). Mr. Niew may earn additional PSUs based on performance during the remainder of the Initial Performance Period, but will not earn any fewer than the number of Interim Earned PSUs (even if the performance as measured at the end of the Initial Performance Period would result in a lower number of PSUs being earned).
In the event of a Change of Control, Mr. Niew will receive 90% of the target shares if, as of the month prior to the closing of the Change of Control: (i) the Company's Adjusted EPS is $1.35 (the "CIC Adjusted EPS Threshold"), and (ii) the Company's revenue for the trailing 12-month period is 90% of the target revenue value (the "CIC Revenue Threshold"). Percentage payout upon satisfaction of the CIC Revenue Threshold is determined with a straight-line interpolation between the CIC Revenue Threshold and the revenue goals set forth above, and the Adjusted EPS multiplier will be determined using a straight-line interpolation between 0.9 (if the Adjusted EPS is at the CIC Adjusted EPS Threshold)  and 2.0 (the maximum  Adjusted EPS multiplier). If applicable, Mr. Niew shall receive the greater of (y) any Interim Earned PSUs, or (z) any payout calculated in connection with a Change of Control.
If, prior to the end of the Performance Period, Mr. Niew's employment terminates for any reason or Mr. Niew ceases to hold his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the PSU award shall automatically terminate and all PSUs will be forfeited.
The description of the PSU award described above is qualified by reference to the terms and conditions of the Plan and of the PSU award agreement attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
Exhibit Number
10.1
Special Performance Award Agreement, dated February 18, 2025, between Knowles Corporation and Jeffrey Niew
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
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 hereunto duly authorized.
KNOWLES CORPORATION
Date: February 24, 2025
By: /s/ Robert J. Perna
Robert J. Perna
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary