Oct 15 (Reuters) - Three senior KFC executives have notified the U.S. fried chicken chain's parent company Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N) that they will take early retirement as rising interest rates threaten to dent lump sum payouts for corporate pensions, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. KFC and Yum Brands did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"Because of these interest rates, some associates across Yum! and its brands who qualify for pensions have decided to retire in 2022," the report quoted one of the KFC messages as saying. A fourth straight 75-basis-point interest rate hike is expected next month after data on Thursday showed inflation accelerating faster than expected in September.

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