<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section
240.14a-12
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
/X/ $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2) or
Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ / $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Total fee paid:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Filing Party:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Date Filed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
[LOGO]
August 14, 1995
To Our Stockholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,
which will be held in the auditorium of the Children's Theatre Company, 2400
Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Monday, September 18, 1995, at
11:00 a.m. Central Daylight Savings Time. All holders of the Company's
outstanding common stock as of July 20, 1995 are entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
Time will be set aside for discussion of each item of business described in
the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement. A current report
on the business operations of the Company will be presented at the meeting and
stockholders will have an opportunity to ask questions. We plan to adjourn the
meeting at approximately 12:15 p.m., but members of senior management will
remain to answer any additional questions you may have. Also, a report of the
Annual Meeting will be included in the mid-year report that is mailed to all
stockholders in January.
WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU NEED SPECIAL
ASSISTANCE AT THE MEETING BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY, PLEASE CONTACT THE SECRETARY
OF THE COMPANY AT THE ADDRESS ABOVE. WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND, YOU
ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE IN ORDER TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR SHARES WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE
ANNUAL MEETING.
Sincerely,
[SIGNATURE]
Stephen W. Sanger
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS -- SEPTEMBER 18, 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of General Mills,
Inc. will be held on Monday, September 18, 1995, at 11:00 a.m., Central Daylight
Savings Time, in the auditorium of the Children's Theatre Company, 2400 Third
Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the following purposes:
1. To elect twelve directors;
2. To approve the selection of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP to audit the consolidated
financial statements of General Mills, Inc. for the fiscal year beginning
May 29, 1995;
3. To consider and act upon the General Mills, Inc. 1995 Salary Replacement
Stock Option Plan; and
4. To act upon any other business which may properly be brought before the
meeting.
The close of business on July 20, 1995 has been fixed as the record date for
determining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
By Order of the Board of
Directors,
SIRI S. MARSHALL
Secretary
August 14, 1995
<PAGE>
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1995
VOTING PROCEDURES
This Proxy Statement is being sent beginning on August 14, 1995, to all holders
of the common stock ($.10 par value) (the "Common Stock") of General Mills,
Inc., P.O. Box 1113, Minneapolis, MN 55440 (the "Company") entitled to vote at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on September 18, 1995, in order to furnish
information relating to the business to be transacted. Stockholders of record at
the close of business on July 20, 1995 are entitled to vote at the meeting. As
of that date, there were 158,433,123 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Each
share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote. The 45,720,209 shares of
Common Stock held in the Company's treasury will not be voted.
A proxy card is enclosed for your use. YOU ARE SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD IN THE ACCOMPANYING
ENVELOPE, which is postage-paid if mailed in the United States or Canada.
You have three choices on each matter to be voted upon at the Annual
Meeting. For the election of directors, by checking the appropriate box on your
proxy card you may: (i) vote for all of the director nominees as a group; (ii)
withhold authority to vote for all director nominees as a group; or (iii) vote
for all director nominees as a group except those nominees you identify on the
appropriate line. See "General Information" under Item No. 1. Concerning the
other items, by checking the appropriate box you may: (i) vote "FOR" the item;
(ii) vote "AGAINST" the item; or (iii) "ABSTAIN" from voting on the item.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is actually voted at the
Annual Meeting by delivering written notice of revocation to the Secretary of
the Company, by submitting a subsequently dated proxy, or by attending the
meeting and withdrawing the proxy. You may also be represented by another person
present at the meeting through executing a form of proxy designating such person
to act on your behalf. Each unrevoked proxy card properly executed and received
prior to the close of the meeting will be voted as
1
<PAGE>
indicated. Where specific instructions are not indicated, the proxy will be
voted FOR the election of all directors as nominated, FOR the approval of the
selection of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent auditors and FOR the adoption
of the General Mills, Inc. 1995 Salary Replacement Stock Option Plan. The
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the Common Stock present or
represented at the Annual Meeting is required for approval of the General Mills,
Inc. 1995 Salary Replacement Stock Option Plan. Abstentions and broker non-votes
will be counted as present or represented at the Annual Meeting for purposes of
determining whether a quorum exists. However, abstentions and broker non-votes
with respect to any specific matter will be treated as shares not voted for
purposes of determining whether the requisite vote has been obtained, and
therefore will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on any such matter.
The expense of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement will be
paid by the Company. The Company has engaged Georgeson & Company Inc. to assist
in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders at a fee of $9,000 plus
reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses. In addition to the use of the mail,
proxies may be solicited personally or by telephone by regular employees of the
Company without additional compensation, as well as by employees of Georgeson &
Company Inc. The Company will reimburse banks, brokers and other custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries for their costs in sending the proxy materials to the
beneficial owners of the Common Stock.
A copy of the 1995 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes the
consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ended May
28, 1995, was mailed on or about August 11, 1995 to all stockholders entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting. If upon receipt of your proxy material you have not
received the Annual Report, please call 1-800-245-5703 and a copy will be
forwarded to you.
Shares of Common Stock credited to the accounts of participants in the
Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (including the employee payroll deduction
stock purchase plan) of the Company have been added to such persons' other
holdings on their proxy cards. If a stockholder is a participant in the
Voluntary Investment Plan of the Company and shares of Common Stock have been
allocated to such person's account in the plan, the proxy also serves as voting
instructions to the trustee of such plan. The plan trustee also votes allocated
shares of Common Stock for which it has not received direction, as well as
unallocated shares held by the trustee, in the same proportion as directed
shares are voted.
2
<PAGE>
CERTAIN OWNERS OF COMMON STOCK
State Street Bank and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts, has advised the
Company that as of June 30, 1995, it held 9,381,686 shares of Common Stock
(5.93% of the then outstanding Common Stock) and that (i) 7,678,735 shares were
held in its capacity as trustee of the Company's savings plan and 1,702,951
shares were held in its capacity as trustee for various personal trust accounts,
other employee benefit plans and index accounts; and (ii) it had sole power to
vote 1,333,612 of such shares, shared voting power on 8,048,074 shares, sole
dispositive power on 1,422,858 shares and shared dispositive power on 7,958,828
shares. The Company knows of no other holder with more than five percent of the
outstanding Common Stock.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
executive officers and directors to file initial reports of ownership and
reports of changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and
the New York Stock Exchange. Executive officers and directors are required by
SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms
they file. Based on a review of the copies of such forms furnished to the
Company and written representations from the Company's executive officers and
directors, the Company notes that the initial filing for Jon L. Finley did not
accurately report the amount of Common Stock held by him due to administrative
error; a corrected report was subsequently filed.
ITEM NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Directors will hold office until the next Annual Meeting and until their
successors are duly chosen and qualify, or until their earlier resignation or
removal. The Board of Directors has inquired of each nominee and has ascertained
that each will serve if elected. In the event that any of these nominees should
become unavailable for election, the Board of Directors may designate substitute
nominees, in which event the shares represented by the proxy cards returned will
be voted for such substitute nominees unless an instruction to the contrary is
indicated on the proxy card.
3
<PAGE>
The Board of Directors has a policy regarding tenure that provides that
non-employee directors serve on the Board for no more than 15 years after first
election, subject to retirement at age 70 or at the end of five years from such
director's retirement from his or her principal organization, whichever comes
first.
BOARD COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Employee directors do not receive additional compensation for serving on the
Board of Directors. Non-employee directors received an annual retainer for the
1995 fiscal year of $25,000 plus $1,000 for each Board meeting attended and $700
for each committee meeting attended. The non-employee directors' remuneration is
paid quarterly. Each year the non-employee directors may elect to receive all or
a portion of their remuneration: (i) in cash payments; (ii) in cash payments
deferred until the director retires, with such amounts earning interest; or
(iii) in Common Stock having a market value equal to the remuneration due. In
1995 L. D. DeSimone, K. A. Macke and C. A. Wurtele elected to receive all of
their remuneration in Common Stock; W. T. Esrey, J. R. Hope, G. Putnam and D. A.
Terrell received cash payments; R. M. Bressler and M. D. Rose deferred cash
payments; and A. M. Spence received 25% in Common Stock, 15% in cash and 60% in
deferred cash. Under the Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors, each such
director receives 400 shares of restricted stock annually upon election or
re-election; the restrictions lapse at the later of the next year's annual
meeting date or the director's termination of service on the Board. Each non-
employee director also receives a one-time stock option grant for 2,500 shares
upon first election to the Board. A retirement plan for non-employee directors
provides for an annual retirement benefit for directors who have served at least
five years in an amount equal to the retainer fee in effect at the date of the
director's retirement, payable for the lesser of (i) the number of years of the
director's service; or (ii) the lifetime of the director. The Company also pays
the premiums on directors' and officers' liability and travel accident insurance
policies covering the directors.
As part of its overall program to promote charitable giving, the Company has
established a directors' planned gift program funded by life insurance policies
on all directors. Upon the death of an individual director, the Company will
donate $1 million to one or more qualifying charitable organizations recommended
by the individual director and the Company will be reimbursed by life insurance
proceeds. Individual directors derive no financial benefit from this program
since all charitable deductions accrue solely to the Company. The program does
not result in any material cost to the Company.
4
<PAGE>
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
During the fiscal year ended May 28, 1995, the Board of Directors met seven
times and various committees of the Board met a total of ten times. Attendance
at Board meetings and all committee meetings averaged 93%. Each director
attended more than 75% of the Board meetings and the meetings of Board
committees on which the director served, except Richard M. Bressler.
AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Audit Committee consists of six non-employee
directors: Michael D. Rose (Chair), Richard M. Bressler, William T. Esrey,
Judith Richards Hope, A. Michael Spence and C. Angus Wurtele. The Audit
Committee met twice during fiscal 1995. It meets separately with representatives
of the Company's independent auditors and with representatives of senior
management and the internal auditors. The Committee reviews: (i) the general
scope of audit coverages; (ii) the fees charged by the independent auditors;
(iii) matters relating to the internal control systems; (iv) the value of
goodwill and other intangibles; and (v) the expenses of senior executives.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. The Compensation Committee consists of five
non-employee directors: Richard M. Bressler (Chair), Livio D. DeSimone, Kenneth
A. Macke, George Putnam and Michael D. Rose. The Compensation Committee met five
times during fiscal 1995. The Committee administers the stock option and
long-term incentive plans and the Executive Incentive Plan, and in this capacity
it makes or recommends all option grants or awards to Company officers and
executives under these plans. In addition, the Committee makes recommendations
to the Board with respect to the compensation of the Chairman of the Board and
approves the compensation paid to other senior executives. The Committee also
recommends the establishment of policies dealing with various compensation,
pension and profit-sharing plans for the Company and its subsidiaries. See pages
16-21 for its report on executive compensation.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. During fiscal 1995, the Executive Committee consisted
of eight directors: H. Brewster Atwater, Jr. (Chair, retired 5/28/95), Richard
M. Bressler, Livio D. DeSimone, William T. Esrey, Joe R. Lee (resigned as a
director of the Company to become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden
Restaurants, Inc., the company comprising the restaurant operations that was
distributed to General Mills' shareholders effective 5/28/95), George Putnam,
Stephen W. Sanger and Mark H. Willes (resigned effective 5/26/95). The Executive
Committee did not meet in fiscal 1995. Pursuant to the By-Laws, the Committee
has the authority to take all actions that could be taken by the full Board of
Directors. It may meet between regularly scheduled meetings to take such action
as is necessary for the efficient operation of the Company.
5
<PAGE>
Effective May 28, 1995, Stephen W. Sanger became Chair of the Committee.
FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee consists of six non-employee
directors: George Putnam (Chair), Livio D. DeSimone, William T. Esrey, A.
Michael Spence, Dorothy A. Terrell and C. Angus Wurtele. The Finance Committee
met twice during fiscal 1995. It reviews and makes recommendations relating to
public offerings of debt and equity securities, major borrowing commitments and
other significant financial strategies, including the dividend policy of the
Company.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The Nominating Committee consists of six non-employee
directors: William T. Esrey (Chair), Richard M. Bressler, Judith Richards Hope,
Kenneth A. Macke, Michael D. Rose and A. Michael Spence. The Nominating
Committee did not meet during fiscal 1995. The Committee's duties include
proposing a slate of directors for election by the stockholders at each annual
meeting and proposing candidates to fill vacancies on the Board. It conducts
research to identify suitable candidates for Board membership, and seeks
individuals who will make a substantial contribution to the Company. It will
consider candidates proposed by stockholders. Generally, candidates must be
highly qualified and be both willing and affirmatively desirous of serving on
the Board. They should represent the interests of all stockholders and not those
of a special interest group. A stockholder wishing to nominate a candidate
should forward the candidate's name and a detailed background of the candidate's
qualifications to the Secretary of the Company.
PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY COMMITTEE. The Public Responsibility Committee
consists of six non-employee directors: C. Angus Wurtele (Chair), Livio D.
DeSimone, Judith Richards Hope, Kenneth A. Macke, George Putnam and Dorothy A.
Terrell. The Public Responsibility Committee met once in fiscal 1995. The duties
of the Committee are to review and make recommendations regarding the Company's
policies, programs and practices in relation to public issues of significance to
the Company. In addition, it reviews and makes recommendations regarding trends
in the political and social environment that may affect the operations of the
Company.
SHARE OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Set forth in the following table is the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as
of July 31, 1995 for all directors as of the date of this Proxy Statement, each
of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table and all
directors and executive officers as a group. Shares listed as beneficially owned
include shares allocated to participant accounts under the Company's savings
plan as of July 31, 1995, according to the plan administrator.
6
<PAGE>
No director or executive officer owns more than 0.85% of the total outstanding
shares (including exercisable options). All directors and executive officers as
a group own 2.92% of the total outstanding shares (including exercisable
options).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME SHARES (A)
-------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
<S> <C>
H. B. Atwater................................................. 395,497
R. M. Bressler................................................ 9,774
L. D. DeSimone................................................ 6,130
W. T. Esrey................................................... 3,887
C. W. Gaillard................................................ 71,164(b)
J. R. Hope.................................................... 4,438
J. R. Lee..................................................... 83,716(c)
K. A. Macke................................................... 3,958
<CAPTION>
NAME SHARES (A)
-------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
<S> <C>
J. J. O'Hara.................................................. 29,144
G. Putnam..................................................... 82,430
M. D. Rose.................................................... 7,066(d)
S. W. Sanger.................................................. 32,082
A. M. Spence.................................................. 1,824
D. A. Terrell................................................. 611
C. A. Wurtele................................................. 18,162
All directors and executive officers as a group.................................
1,065,589
<FN>
------------------------------
(a) The amounts shown do not include the following shares that may be acquired
pursuant to outstanding exercisable options: H. B. Atwater, 943,426 shares; C.
W. Gaillard, 356,834 shares; J. R. Lee, 269,976 shares; J. J. O'Hara, 136,667
shares; and S. W. Sanger, 289,283 shares; all other listed persons except R. M.
Bressler, 3,038 shares each; and all directors and executive officers as a
group, 3,558,926 shares. (b) Included in the shares for Mr. Gaillard are 626
shares owned by members of his family, in which he disclaims any beneficial
interest. (c) Included in the shares for Mr. Lee are 800 shares owned by a
family member, in which he disclaims any beneficial interest. (d) Included in
the shares for Mr. Rose are 1,600 shares owned by or held in trust for members
of his family, in which he disclaims any beneficial interest.
</TABLE>
INFORMATION CONCERNING NOMINEES
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
RICHARD M. BRESSLER Director since 1984
Richard M. Bressler, age 64, recently retired as Chairman of
the Board of El Paso Natural Gas Company. He joined Burlington
Northern, Inc. as
President and Chief Executive Officer in 1980 and retired from
[PHOTO] that position in 1990. He previously served as a General Mills
director in 1978-79. Mr. Bressler is also a director of H. F.
Ahmanson & Company and Rockwell International Corporation.
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIVIO D. DESIMONE Director since 1989
Livio D. DeSimone, age 59, is Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
(3M).
Mr. DeSimone joined 3M in 1957 and has served in various U.S.
[PHOTO] and international capacities. Mr. DeSimone was elected an
Executive Vice President in 1981 and named Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer in 1991. He is a director of 3M, Cargill,
Incorporated, Dayton Hudson Corporation and Vulcan Materials
Company.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
WILLIAM T. ESREY Director since
1989
William T. Esrey, age 55, is Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Sprint Corporation. He has been Chief Executive
Officer of the company
since 1985. Prior to joining the company in 1980 as Executive
[PHOTO] Vice President-Corporate Planning, he was with Dillon, Read &
Co. Inc., where he served from 1970-79 as a managing director.
Mr. Esrey is a director of Sprint, The Equitable Life
Assurance Society of the United States and Panhandle Eastern
Corporation, and an individual general partner of Boettcher
Venture Capital Partners, L.P.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHARLES W. GAILLARD Director since 1993
Charles W. Gaillard, age 54, was elected President of General
Mills, effective May 28, 1995. He was named a Vice Chairman of
General
Mills, Inc. in December 1993 with responsibility for Big G,
[PHOTO] Consumer Food Sales and Yoplait. He had previously served as
Chief Executive Officer of Cereal Partners Worldwide, a joint
venture of the Company and Nestle, S.A. Mr. Gaillard joined
General Mills in 1966 and has served in various food marketing
management positions. He was elected a Senior Vice President
in 1985 and Executive Vice President in 1989.
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUDITH RICHARDS HOPE Director since 1989
Judith Richards Hope, age 54, is a senior partner of the law
firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, Los Angeles,
California and Washington,
DC. She has been a partner with the firm since 1981. Ms. Hope
[PHOTO] is a director of The Budd Company, Union Pacific Corporation
and Zurich Reinsurance Center Holdings, Inc. She is also a
member of the Harvard Corporation (The President and Fellows
of Harvard College), a trustee of the National Housing
Partnership Foundation, a director of the U.S. Supreme Court
Historical Society and a member of the Council on Foreign
Relations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
KENNETH A. MACKE Director since 1991
Kenneth A. Macke, age 56, is the retired Chairman of the
Board, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive
Committee of Dayton
Hudson Corporation (DHC). He joined Dayton's as a merchandise
[PHOTO] trainee and advanced through various management positions at
Dayton's and Target. He served as President of DHC from 1981
to 1984. He was elected Chief Operating Officer of DHC in
1982, Chief Executive Officer in 1983, Chairman of the Board
in 1984 and Chairman of the Executive Committee in 1985. He is
a director of Carlson Companies, Inc., First Bank System, Inc.
and Unisys Corporation. He is also the general partner of
Macke Partners, a private venture capital firm.
</TABLE>
9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GEORGE PUTNAM Director since 1981
George Putnam, age 68, is Chairman of The Putnam Investment
Management Company. He is also Chairman and President of each
of The
Putnam Group of Mutual Funds. Mr. Putnam joined The Putnam
[PHOTO] Management Company in 1951 as a security analyst. He became a
director in 1960, Executive Vice President in 1961 and
President and Chief Executive Officer later that year. He has
served as Chairman since 1970. Mr. Putnam is a director of The
Boston Company, Inc., Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co., Inc.,
Freeport-McMoran Inc., Houghton-Mifflin Co., Marsh & McLennan
Companies and Rockefeller Group, Inc.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MICHAEL D. ROSE Director since 1985
Michael D. Rose, age 53, is Chairman of the Board of both
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and Promus Hotel Corporation.
Harrah's is the
largest casino entertainment company in the United States,
[PHOTO] operating 16 casinos in eight states. Promus hotel brands are
Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites hotels. The
two corporations were created when The Promus Companies
Incorporated split in 1995. Rose joined Promus' predecessor
corporation, Holiday Corporation, in 1974 and subsequently
held positions at Holiday and Promus of President (1979-84 and
1988-91), Chief Executive Officer (1981-94) and Chairman
(1984-1995). Mr. Rose is a director of Ashland Oil, Inc.,
Darden Restaurants, Inc. and First Tennessee National Corp.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEPHEN W. SANGER Director since 1992
Stephen W. Sanger, age 49, is Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of General Mills, Inc., a position to which he was
elected effective May 28,
1995. Mr. Sanger joined the Company in 1974 and served as the
[PHOTO] head of several business units, including Yoplait USA and Big
G. He was elected a Senior Vice President in 1989, an
Executive Vice President in 1991, Vice Chairman in 1992 and
President in 1993. He is a director of Donaldson Company, Inc.
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. MICHAEL SPENCE Director since 1992
Dr. A. Michael Spence, age 51, has been Dean of the Graduate
School of Business at Stanford University since July 1990.
Dean Spence served on
the faculty at Harvard University in both the Business School
[PHOTO] and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as professor of economics
and business administration from 1975 to 1990. From 1984 to
1990 he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
at Harvard. Dean Spence is a director of BankAmerica
Corporation, Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Verifone, Inc. He is a
Fellow of the Econometric Society and is Chairman of the
National Research Council Board on Science, Technology and
Economic Policy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOROTHY A. TERRELL Director since 1994
Dorothy A. Terrell, age 50, is President of SunExpress, Inc.
and a corporate executive officer of Sun Microsystems, Inc.,
positions she has held
since 1991. SunExpress is Sun's aftermarketing organization
[PHOTO] devoted to direct order fulfillment of Sun and third party
hardware and software products. She previously served in
various management capacities at Digital Equipment Corporation
from 1976 to 1991, including management of DEC's high-density
interconnect and multichip module operations. Ms. Terrell is a
member of the board of directors of the Massachusetts
Technology Development Corporation and Sears, Roebuck and
Company.
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. ANGUS WURTELE Director since 1985
C. Angus Wurtele, age 60, is Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of The Valspar Corporation. Mr. Wurtele
joined Minnesota
Paints, Inc. (which later merged into Valspar) as a Vice
[PHOTO] President in 1962. He was elected as Executive Vice President
of Minnesota Paints in 1965 and as President and Chief
Executive Officer later that year. In 1970, Mr. Wurtele became
President and Chief Executive Officer of Valspar, and he was
elected to his current position in 1973. Mr. Wurtele is a
director of Donaldson Company, Inc. He is also a director of
the National Paint and Coatings Association and a member of
the American Business Conference.
<FN>
------------------------
THESE TWELVE (12) PERSONS WILL BE PLACED IN NOMINATION FOR ELECTION TO THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THE PROXY CARDS RETURNED WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THESE NOMINEES UNLESS YOU SPECIFY OTHERWISE.
</TABLE>
ITEM NO. 2
APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The stockholders are asked to consider and approve the appointment by the Board
of Directors of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP ("KPMG"), an independent certified public
accounting firm, to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company
for the fiscal year beginning May 29, 1995. KPMG has audited the books of the
Company since 1928. During fiscal 1995, KPMG provided General Mills with audit
and other services, with fees totaling approximately $2,600,000. Representatives
of the firm will attend the Annual Meeting and have the opportunity to make a
statement if they desire, and will also be available to answer questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG PEAT
MARWICK LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS AND YOUR PROXY WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS
YOU SPECIFY OTHERWISE.
12
<PAGE>
ITEM NO. 3
GENERAL MILLS, INC. 1995 SALARY REPLACEMENT STOCK OPTION PLAN
The stockholders are asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the
General Mills, Inc. 1995 Salary Replacement Stock Option Plan (the "1995 Plan").
On June 26, 1995, the Board of Directors adopted the 1995 Plan, subject to
approval by the stockholders, to give management personnel the opportunity to
receive stock option
grants in lieu of merit salary increases or other pay-related benefits. The 1995
Plan replaces the previous plan providing this type of options, the 1990 Salary
Replacement Stock Option Plan, which will expire by its terms on September 30,
1995.
The intent of the 1995 Plan is to increase the proportion of compensation
and benefits for management employees that is tied to stock ownership. The
Company believes that greater stock ownership by employees leads to greater
alignment with shareholder interests and encourages greater focus on long-term
growth and profitability of the Company and its Common Stock. The 1995 Plan also
gives the Company an immediate benefit of lower salaries and lower cash bonuses.
For the past seven years, the Company has offered the opportunity to
management employees to receive stock option grants in lieu of merit salary
increases under expired or expiring salary replacement option plans. Currently,
approximately 850 employees may participate in this program. In fiscal 1995,
more than 80% of officers and approximately 63 percent of all eligible employees
voluntarily chose the options in lieu of the merit salary increase that they
would have otherwise received.
As a result of purchases made for the Company's treasury, total shares
outstanding (adjusted for stock splits) have declined from 163.2 million in 1990
to 158.4 million currently. To the extent participation in the 1995 Plan results
in lower salary-related expenses, Company earnings should increase long-term.
The savings in compensation expense, the cash proceeds and tax benefits
generated from option exercises, and stock repurchases, if continued over time,
will combine to minimize any possible dilution to existing shareholders'
interests as options from the 1995 Plan are granted over the five year term of
the 1995 Plan and eventually exercised over the next ten years.
The summary of the principal features of the 1995 Plan that follows is
subject to the specific provisions in the official text as set forth in Appendix
A to this Proxy Statement.
STOCK OPTIONS. The aggregate number of shares for which options may be
granted under the 1995 Plan may not exceed 7,000,000 shares, and the number of
shares of
13
<PAGE>
Common Stock subject to stock options granted to any one participant may not
exceed 5% of the total number of shares which may be issued under the 1995 Plan.
The 1995 Plan will be effective as of September 18, 1995, assuming shareholder
approval is obtained. Grants may be made under the 1995 Plan until September 30,
2000. Restricted stock may not be issued under the 1995 Plan.
Shares of Common Stock to be issued under the 1995 Plan may be made
available from the authorized but unissued Common Stock of the Company, from
shares of Common Stock held in the treasury or from shares purchased on the open
market or otherwise. In the event of any stock dividend, reorganization,
recapitalization, cash merger, split-up, spin-off, combination, liquidation or
similar event that affects the Common Stock, the number of shares subject to the
1995 Plan, the number of shares then subject to options and the price per share
payable upon exercise of options may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee.
Only employees of the Company and its subsidiaries will be eligible to
receive options. Non-employee directors will not be eligible to receive grants
under the 1995 Plan.
The term of the options granted under the 1995 Plan may not exceed ten years
and one month after the date of grant, and may be for shorter periods at the
discretion of the Committee. Options will terminate three months after the
termination of employment except in the event of an optionee's death, retirement
or, as determined by the Committee, if the termination is for the convenience of
the Company or relates to the discontinuation of a complete line of business. An
option may only be exercised after the date of grant as determined by the
Committee or its delegate, as appropriate. Generally, these option grants become
exercisable over a four-year period, with 20% of the grant immediately
exercisable. The Committee may set the purchase price for an option at more (but
not less) than 100 percent of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the
time of the grant.
No option granted under the 1995 Plan is transferable by the optionee other
than by the optionee's Last Will and Testament or by the laws of descent and
distribution. Options may be exercised during the optionee's lifetime only by
the optionee or his or her guardian or legal representative.
If an optionee should die while in the employ of the Company (or a
subsidiary) or subsequent to retirement, any option theretofore granted to the
optionee under the 1995 Plan may be exercised by the person designated in such
optionee's Last Will and Testament or, in the absence of such designation, by
the optionee's estate, to the full extent that such option could have been
exercised by such optionee immediately prior to the optionee's
14
<PAGE>
death, subject to the original term of the option. Options that are not
exercisable at the date of death shall become exercisable in a pro rata amount
based on the full months of employment completed during the vesting period.
If an optionee retires, the optionee may exercise an option thereafter,
subject to the original term of the option.
An option may only be exercised upon full payment to the Company of the
option price. Payment can be made (i) in cash (including check, draft, money
order or wire transfer made payable to the order of the Company); (ii) through
the delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the optionee; or (iii) by a
combination of cash and Common Stock. The Common Stock so delivered will have a
value for determining payment equal to the mean of the high and low price of the
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of exercise.
TAX TREATMENT. All option grants will be non-qualified stock options
governed by Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Generally, no federal income tax is payable by an optionee upon the grant of an
option.
If an optionee exercises an option, the optionee will be taxed on the gain
(as compensation income), measured as the difference between the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise and the option price. The
Company is entitled to a corresponding deduction on its income tax return.
Optionees are responsible for the payment of all federal, state and local
withholding taxes in respect of the exercise of an option. To the extent
permitted by law and Committee rules, an optionee may authorize the Company to
withhold shares to be issued for an option exercise in satisfaction of the
withholding tax obligation.
CHANGE OF CONTROL. Outstanding Options become fully exercisable for one
year following a "Change of Control" as defined in the 1995 Plan on pages A-3
through A-5. Also, if an optionee is terminated within two years after such an
event, that person's outstanding options at the date of termination shall become
immediately exercisable for six months.
ADMINISTRATION. The 1995 Plan will be administered by the Compensation
Committee (the "Committee") appointed from time to time by the Board of
Directors and composed of members of the Board who are ineligible to receive
grants under the 1995 Plan (see the description of the Committee on page 5). The
Committee may prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the
1995 Plan, select the employees to whom option grants will be made, determine
the number of shares to be optioned and interpret, construe and
15
<PAGE>
implement the provisions of the 1995 Plan. The Committee may amend, suspend or
terminate the 1995 Plan provided that no such modification without the approval
of the stockholders will be made if such shareholder approval is necessary to
comply with any tax or regulatory requirement, including any prerequisite to
exemptive relief under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. No termination,
suspension, or amendment of the 1995 Plan will alter or impair the rights of any
optionee pursuant to a prior grant, without the consent of the optionee.
No determination has been made as to the aggregate amount of options to be
awarded during any year of the 1995 Plan, and there has been no selection of
persons to participate in the 1995 Plan, although it is expected that corporate
and company officers of the Company as well as staff and divisional executives,
managers and other professionals will have the opportunity to receive grants
under the 1995 Plan on a periodic basis. The 1995 Plan will expire by its terms
on September 30, 2000. Management believes that the shares requested are
necessary to provide sufficient shares to continue this program of offering
option grants in lieu of merit salary increases and other benefits until the
expiration date. The closing quotation for the Common Stock on the New York
Stock Exchange on August 1, 1995 was $52.25 per share.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE
GENERAL MILLS, INC. 1995 SALARY REPLACEMENT STOCK OPTION PLAN AND YOUR PROXY
WILL BE SO VOTED UNLESS YOU SPECIFY OTHERWISE.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Company is not aware of any business to be acted upon at the annual meeting
other than that which is explained in this Proxy Statement. In the event that
any other business calling for a vote of the stockholders is properly presented
at the meeting, the holders of the proxies will vote your shares in accordance
with their best judgment.
REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") is
composed entirely of independent outside directors (see page 5). The Committee
is responsible for setting and administering the policies that govern both
annual compensation and stock ownership programs. The Committee annually
evaluates General Mills' corporate performance, actual compensation and share
ownership compared with large consumer products companies, as well as a broader
group of leading industrial companies.
16
<PAGE>
The compensation programs of the Company are based on performance. Base
salaries are generally lower than comparable companies in the consumer food
business sector, coupled with a highly leveraged incentive system that will pay
more with good performance and less with below par performance. The Compensation
Committee and management believe that broad and deep employee stock ownership
effectively motivates the building of shareholder wealth and aligns the
interests of employees with those of the shareholders. The Committee has set
objectives that overall employee stock ownership should be 10% of the
outstanding shares and that all employees should have some ownership interest in
the Company.
EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE PLAN DESCRIPTION
Awards under the Executive Incentive Plan ("EIP") are made annually to key
management employees and are based on the following factors: corporate
performance, business unit performance and personal performance. The corporate
performance rating is based on the Company's percentage growth in earnings per
share over the prior year and its return on capital. The Committee believes that
these two factors are the primary determinants of share price over time. For
historical performance on these two measures, please refer to page one of the
1995 Annual Report. Business unit ratings are based primarily on profit
performance while market share performance, new product development, workplace
diversity progress and other factors are also considered. Personal ratings can
include such qualitative factors as the quality of the strategic plan, progress
in organizational and management development, as well as industry, public
affairs and civic involvement.
Corporate and business unit ratings can range from 0 to 1.80, with top
quartile performance represented by a 1.50 or higher rating. Personal ratings
can range from 0 to 1.50. For senior executive officers, the participant's
target incentive rate (a percentage of base salary that increases for positions
of greater responsibility within the Company) is multiplied both by the
individual's performance rating and by the corporate rating to determine the
cash incentive award. Both business unit and personal ratings are heavily
dependent on the achievement of financial objectives.
Under the stock matching provisions of the EIP, each participant may deposit
with the Company shares of Common Stock having a value equal to 25% of the
participant's cash incentive award. The Company issues one share of restricted
Common Stock for each share that the participant originally deposits. The
restricted shares vest 50% at three years and 50% at six years, provided the
participant's shares remain on deposit with the Company. A participant may elect
to receive the dividends paid on all stock held in the participant's account or
reinvest such dividends in Common Stock. Shares granted under the EIP are
17
<PAGE>
included in the Summary Compensation Table on page 22 under the "Restricted
Stock Awards" heading. Cash incentive awards under the EIP are included in that
table under the "Bonus" heading.
Receipt of cash incentive awards under the EIP may be deferred to a
subsequent date or to retirement. Participants age 55 or older may elect not to
participate in the stock matching provisions of the EIP and to receive an
additional cash award equal to 15% of the cash incentive award, or they may
participate on a partial basis, depositing shares having a value of 5%, 10% or
15% of the cash incentive award, receiving in those circumstances 12%, 9% or 6%,
respectively, as an additional cash award. A participant under age 55 who elects
not to deposit shares does not receive an additional cash award.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
The Committee meets without the Chief Executive Officer to evaluate his
performance and reports on that evaluation to the independent directors of the
Board.
In view of the disappointing results for fiscal 1995, the Committee
determined that the corporate rating should be zero, down significantly from the
.88 rating in fiscal 1994 and the 1.70 rating in fiscal 1993. This zero
corporate rating resulted in no incentive payments to three of the five
reporting officers and significantly reduced incentives for most officers and
corporate staff executives. Two of the reporting officers, Mr. Gaillard and Mr.
O'Hara, received incentives related to the satisfactory performance of the
divisions for which they had direct operating responsibility for all or part of
the fiscal year.
Specific cash compensation payments are disclosed in the table on page 22.
Four of the five reporting officers listed in the table elected to receive a
stock option grant in lieu of a merit increase in fiscal 1995. The fifth, Mr.
Atwater, received a final stock option grant in fiscal 1994 and was ineligible
for additional merit increases. Mr. Sanger, Mr. Gaillard, Mr. Lee and Mr. O'Hara
received promotional increases at the time the Company's businesses, foods and
restaurants, were initially restructured into two separate operations,
reflecting the significant increase in responsibilities each assumed.
STOCK OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS
The stockholders approved the current Stock Option and Long-Term Incentive Plan
in 1993 (the "1993 Plan") and the Salary Replacement Stock Option Plan in 1990
with favorable votes of 93.7% and 94.4% respectively. The table on page 24
summarizes the
18
<PAGE>
options granted in fiscal 1995 to all employees and to the top five executive
officers. Included in the totals are options granted under three different
programs: regular stock options, deposit stock options, and options in lieu of a
merit increase in base salary.
Regular stock options are granted to the named officers and other employees
based on their potential impact on corporate results (i.e. the person's level of
responsibility in the organization) and on their individual performance. A total
of 9,222 employees were granted options under that program in fiscal 1995. The
size of regular stock option grants to the Chief Executive Officer and other
executive officers is periodically reviewed against option grants made by other
large consumer products companies to their CEO and other senior executives. The
Company's option grants rank in size above the median range of option grants
made by the comparative organizations, because of (i) the payment of generally
lower base salaries (described above), and (ii) the Company's emphasis on
employee stock ownership and reliance on option grants as the fundamental means
of long-term incentive compensation, both of which are intended to maximize
personal performance of Company managers and align their interests with
shareholders.
The deposit stock option program was introduced in 1987 to encourage
increased stock ownership. The size of this option grant (number of shares times
the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant) is equal to the
executive's prior year incentive award. For the option to become fully
exercisable, the optionee must place on deposit with the Company one share of
owned Common Stock for every two option shares granted and leave the shares on
deposit until five years from the grant date. Shares acquired from the exercise
of these options may not be sold for 12 months following the exercise date.
The salary replacement option program enables an executive to receive stock
options as an alternative to eligibility for a merit increase. The size of an
executive officer's merit increase is determined on the basis of his or her
accomplishments against pre-established annual goals and reflected in the
individual performance rating discussed above. The size of the option grant is
based on the estimated present value of the merit increase and pay-related
benefits (e.g. annual incentive, savings plan match, pension, etc.) foregone
over the term of the option and the present value of the projected stock option
value, assuming an 8.5% growth rate in the Common Stock.
PERFORMANCE UNITS
The Company has discontinued the granting of performance units and omitted them
from the provisions of the 1993 Plan. There remain outstanding some performance
units that were granted under the 1984 and 1988 plans. Performance units are
payable in cash and an
19
<PAGE>
optionee may exercise them as an alternative to the exercise of regular stock
options. The exercise of an option or withdrawal of the corresponding
performance units cancels the other on a one-for-one basis. As of August 1,
1995, only the 1991 and 1992 performance units had a value in excess of the
value of the stock option available for exercise as an alternative to the
performance units.
RESTRICTED STOCK
The 1993 Plan authorizes the Committee to make awards to selected employees of
restricted stock or restricted stock units (for employees of foreign operations)
of up to 4% of the shares authorized under the plan, and in that connection to
determine the number of shares to be awarded, the length of the restricted
period, the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the participant, and whether
any other restrictions will be imposed in respect of such awards.
The majority of restricted shares have been and will be granted as part of
the stock matching program for participants in the Company's management
incentive plan (not including the executive officers of the Company whose
restricted stock awards are issued under the EIP, described above), requiring
the participant to place on deposit one share of Common Stock owned for each
share of restricted stock awarded. The size of each restricted stock award in
that program is equal in value to 15% of the participant's regular cash
incentive award.
DEDUCTIBILITY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Internal Revenue Code now limits the Company's ability to deduct, for
federal income tax purposes, certain compensation in excess of $1 million per
year paid to persons named in the Summary Compensation Table. Because
regulations interpreting this law are not yet final, and the amount of
compensation, subject to this limit, which was paid in fiscal 1995 to individual
officers was less than $1 million, the Company is continuing to monitor whether
its executive plans should be amended to meet the deductibility requirements of
the tax law without compromising the flexibility needed to design effective
compensation plans that meet the Company's executive compensation goals as
described above.
20
<PAGE>
SUMMARY
The Compensation Committee is satisfied that the compensation and long-term
incentive plans provided to the executive officers of the Company are structured
and operated so as to create strong linkage and alignment with the long-term
best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Richard M. Bressler, Chair
Livio D. DeSimone
Kenneth A. Macke
George Putnam
Michael D. Rose
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN TO SHAREHOLDERS
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL RETURN INDEX MAY 90 MAY 91 MAY 92 MAY 93 MAY 94 MAY 95
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
General Mills 100 150 166 174 151 180
S&P Food 100 128 134 140 139 176
S&P 500 100 112 123 137 143 172
</TABLE>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21
<PAGE>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
--------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------
RESTRICTED
OTHER ANNUAL STOCK ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION AWARD(S) OPTIONS COMPENSATION
POSITION YEAR ($) ($) ($) ($)(6) (#)(7) ($)(8)
---------------------------------------- ---- ----------- ------- ------------ ---------- ------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
H. B. ATWATER 1995 610,000 0 -- 0 0 42,305
Chairman of the Board and Chief 1994 608,075 241,600 -- 60,426 374,900 45,150
Executive Officer (1) 1993 607,689 777,800 194,488 137,798 88,533
C. W. GAILLARD 1995 364,792 72,000 -- 17,967 108,375 98,040
Vice Chairman (2) 1994 304,587 231,923 -- 57,975 131,245 103,742
1993 283,921 280,127 70,003 69,611 148,983
J. R. LEE 1995 438,734 0 -- 0 33,969 65,290 81,172
President, Restaurants (3) 1994 388,769 135,900 -- 109,400 66,188 25,014
1993 388,523 437,600 52,008 46,597
J. J. O'HARA 1995 321,154 190,200 -- 47,543 35,860 71,110
Executive Vice President, Restaurants 1994 300,000 254,300 -- 63,583 31,624 23,803
(3) 1993 276,384 203,300 -- 50,868 33,243 18,550
S. W. SANGER 1995 472,917 0 -- 0 36,908 124,811 12,997
President, Foods (4) 1994 398,125 147,700 27,328(5) 82,446 285,482 19,595
1993 297,500 329,800 68,360 25,431
<FN>
------------------------
(1) Mr. Atwater retired effective May 28, 1995.
(2) Mr. Gaillard was elected President of the Company effective May 28, 1995.
(3) Mr. Lee and Mr. O'Hara resigned as officers of the Company effective May
28, 1995 in connection with the Darden Restaurants, Inc. distribution to
Company shareholders effective May 28, 1995 (the "Distribution").
(4) Mr. Sanger was elected Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company effective May 28, 1995.
(5) The amount represents the "above-market" portion of the earnings on
deferred compensation credited and paid to Mr. Sanger for fiscal 1993
which was based on the three-year performance of the Big G cereal division
ending in fiscal 1993. Under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan,
election of such a crediting rate was available only to eligible key
managers with respect to the business operation for which they are
responsible. Mr. Sanger is no longer eligible to elect this crediting rate
and it is no longer offered to other plan participants.
</TABLE>
22
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(6) This amount reflects the value of restricted stock awarded under the EIP.
Recipients must deposit with the Company one personally-owned share of
Common Stock for each share of restricted stock awarded. The restricted
shares vest 50% at three years and 50% at six years, provided the
participant's shares remain on deposit until the end of the corresponding
restricted period. Regular dividends are paid on the restricted shares.
Restricted stock under the EIP vests in the event of a change of control.
At the end of fiscal 1995, the number and value of the aggregate
restricted stockholdings for the named officers, after adjustments
required by the terms of the Darden Distribution, were:
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
H. B. Atwater, Jr. 14,567 shares $ 731,081
C. W. Gaillard 7,122 357,435
J. R. Lee 0 0
J. J. O'Hara 0 0
S. W. Sanger 5,333 267,650
Under the terms of the Distribution, the outstanding restricted shares for
Company officers who became employees of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (Mr. Lee
and Mr. O'Hara) were canceled and re-issued as restricted shares of
Darden. In addition, Mr. O'Hara's restricted stock award for fiscal 1995
was issued in the form of Darden restricted stock.
(7) The number and exercise price of stock options awarded to each officer
have been adjusted for the Darden Distribution, pursuant to the terms of
the applicable plans, to avoid diminution of the benefits granted under
such plans as a result of the Distribution. Mr. Lee and Mr. O'Hara also
had a portion of their outstanding stock options converted to options to
purchase shares of Darden Restaurants, Inc. common stock. The options
granted to Mr. Lee and Mr. O'Hara under Company plans prior to such
conversion and adjustment were:
J. R. Lee 1995 80,180
1994 81,282
1993 63,868
J.J. O'Hara 1995 44,038
1994 38,836
1993 37,472
(8) The amounts for all officers other than Mr. Atwater, Mr. Gaillard and Mr.
O'Hara include only the Company's contributions or allocations relating to
defined contribution (savings) plans (tax-qualified and supplemental) on
behalf of the named officers. Mr. Atwater received $18,769 in payment of
his unused vacation for calendar 1995 upon retirement in accordance with
company policy. The amounts for Mr. Gaillard include $85,586 in 1994 and
$117,253 in 1993 relating to his overseas assignment with Cereal Partners
Worldwide, which ended January 1, 1994, and his return to the United
States. The 1993 amount for Mr. O'Hara includes $5,265 paid to him in cash
for the value of unused vacation in accordance with Company policy at that
time.
</TABLE>
23
<PAGE>
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT ASSUMED ANNUAL
RATES OF STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS (1) OPTION TERM ($)(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
% OF TOTAL
OPTIONS
GRANTED TO
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES EXERCISE
GRANTED IN FISCAL PRICE EXPIRATION 0%
NAME (#) YEAR ($/SHARE) DATE ($)(3) 5% ($) 10% ($)
---------------------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ------ ----------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Atwater 0 0.00% NA NA 0 0 0
0
Gaillard 60,769(4) 1.55% 45.0468 7/27/04 0 1,741,190 4,423,956
42,295(5) 1.08% 46.0235 10/19/04 0 1,238,137 3,145,817
5,311(6) 0.14% 45.1060 1/12/05 0 152,374 387,147
Lee 40,715(4) 1.04% 45.0468 7/27/04 0 1,166,591 2,964,034
22,556(5) 0.58% 46.0235 10/19/04 0 660,301 1,677,670
2,019(6) 0.05% 45.1060 1/12/05 0 57,926 147,175
O'Hara 20,357(4) 0.52% 45.0468 7/27/04 0 583,281 1,481,980
11,726(5) 0.30% 46.0235 10/19/04 0 343,265 872,156
3,777(6) 0.10% 45.1060 1/12/05 0 108,363 275,325
Sanger 91,153(4) 2.32% 45.0468 7/27/04 0 2,611,771 6,635,897
30,384(5) 0.77% 46.0235 10/19/04 0 889,457 2,259,901
3,274(6) 0.08% 45.1060 1/12/05 0 93,932 238,659
All Shareholders NA NA NA NA 0 4,563,417,294(7) 11,594,564,727(7)
All Optionees 3,921,499 100% 45.3675(8) (8) 0 113,161,085 287,515,797
As a % of All
Shareholders Gain NA NA NA NA NA 2.5% 2.5%
<FN>
------------------------------
(1) All options are granted at the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
grant date and generally expire 10 years and one month from the grant date.
All options vest in the event of a change of control. Options include the
right to pay the exercise price in cash or previously-acquired Common Stock
(which must be owned for six months or not used in the previous six months
for an option exercise) and the right to have shares withheld by the
Company to pay withholding tax obligations due in conjunction with the
exercise. The exercise price and number of options have been adjusted as a
result of the Darden Distribution.
(2) These assumed values result from certain prescribed rates of stock price
appreciation. The actual value of these option grants is dependent on
future performance of the
</TABLE>
24
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Common Stock and overall stock market conditions. There is no assurance
that the values reflected in this table will be achieved. The Company did
not use an alternative formula for a grant date valuation, as it is not
aware of any formula which will determine with reasonable accuracy a
present value based on future unknown or volatile factors.
(3) No gain to the optionees is possible without stock price appreciation,
which will benefit all stockholders commensurately. Zero percent stock
price appreciation will result in zero dollars for the optionee.
(4) This stock option grant under the 1993 Plan becomes exercisable on June 27,
1999.
(5) This option, granted under the 1990 Salary Replacement Stock Option Plan,
benefits the Company by reducing the cash compensation paid to executives,
with corresponding reductions in cash bonuses, lower pension accruals and
similar effects on other benefits that are tied to base salary. It further
increases the percentage of key employee compensation and benefits tied to
stock ownership, in keeping with the Company's philosophy to more closely
align stockholder and employee interests. This option becomes exercisable
over a four-year period beginning on the grant date.
(6) To encourage retention of the Common Stock, this deposit stock option grant
(which becomes exercisable five years from the grant date) requires the
deposit of one share of owned Common Stock for every two option shares
granted (pre-Distribution). The maximum number of shares permitted for
deposit is based on the number of shares with a fair market value at the
date of grant equivalent to 50% of the executive's prior year cash
incentive payment.
(7) "All Stockholders" value is calculated from $45.3675, the weighted average
exercise price for all options awarded in fiscal 1995, based on the
outstanding shares of Common Stock on May 28, 1995.
(8) Options expire on various dates through the year 2005. Exercise price shown
is a weighted average of all options awarded in fiscal 1995, as adjusted by
the terms of the Distribution.
</TABLE>
25
<PAGE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION
VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED IN-THE- MONEY OPTIONS AT
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE OPTIONS AT 5/28/95 (#) 5/28/95 ($)(1)
ON EXERCISE REALIZED -------------------------- --------------------------
NAME (#) ($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
----------------- ----------------- --------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Atwater 0 0 937,006 472,078 18,374,393 12,500
Gaillard 0 0 340,062 280,013 5,898,975 914,670
Lee 44,024 1,423,110 259,748 164,709 4,184,320 294,995
O'Hara 63,000 2,075,063 132,319 79,676 2,094,488 163,040
Sanger 0 0 275,501 453,106 4,496,751 1,454,970
<FN>
------------------------------
(1) Value of unexercised options equals fair market value of the shares
underlying in-the-money options at May 28, 1995 ($50.1875), less the
exercise price, times the number of in-the-money options outstanding. The
number and value of unexercised options at May 28, 1995 reflect all
adjustments required by the terms of the Distribution.
</TABLE>
DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLANS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
30 OR MORE
FINAL AVERAGE 10 YEARS OF 15 YEARS OF 20 YEARS OF 25 YEARS OF YEARS OF
EARNINGS (AS DEFINED) SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE*
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 100,000 $ 16,666 $ 25,000 $ 33,333 $ 41,666 $ 50,000
300,000 50,000 75,000 100,000 125,000 150,000
500,000 83,333 125,000 166,666 208,333 250,000
700,000 116,666 175,000 233,333 291,666 350,000
900,000 150,000 225,000 300,000 375,000 450,000
1,000,000 166,666 250,000 333,333 416,666 500,000
1,100,000 183,333 275,000 366,666 458,333 550,000
1,200,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000
1,300,000 216,666 325,000 433,333 541,666 650,000
1,400,000 233,333 350,000 466,666 583,333 700,000
1,500,000 250,000 375,000 500,000 625,000 750,000
1,600,000 266,666 400,000 533,333 666,666 800,000
1,700,000 283,333 425,000 566,666 708,333 850,000
<FN>
------------------------------
* No additional benefits accrue after 30 years of service.
</TABLE>
The table above sets forth the pension benefits payable to the persons named in
the Summary Compensation Table, showing the estimated annual aggregate benefits
payable at normal retirement (age 65) for various classifications of earnings
and years of benefit service. This table is based on the maximum benefit under
the Company's defined benefit
26
<PAGE>
plans of 50% of Final Average Earnings for a participant with 30 years of
benefit service. The effects of integration with Social Security benefits have
been excluded from the table, because the amount of the reduction in benefits
due to integration varies depending on the participant's age at the time of
retirement and changes in the Social Security laws. The table does not reflect
any limitations on benefits imposed by ERISA or federal tax law. The Company's
Supplemental Retirement Plan provides for the payment of additional amounts to
certain executive officers (including certain officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table) so that they will receive in the aggregate, the benefits
they would have been entitled to receive had neither ERISA nor federal law
imposed maximum limitations. In past years, lump-sum prepayments were made to
some participants, including some executive officers, of the vested accrued
retirement benefits earned under the Supplemental Retirement Plan. Accordingly,
at the time of retirement or termination, the total benefit paid to these
participants will be reduced by the value of such prepayment plus interest.
The qualified defined benefit plan in which Mr. Atwater, Mr. Gaillard and
Mr. Sanger participate is the Retirement Income Plan ("RIP"), and they are
credited, respectively, with the following full years of benefit service under
the plan: 37 years, 29 years and 21 years. Mr. O'Hara participated in a
qualified defined benefit plan sponsored by a subsidiary of the Company, and for
a period he earned the equivalent of the qualified plan's benefit formula under
the Supplemental Retirement Plan. He is credited with 24 years of benefit
service under the two plans. Mr. Lee participated in a qualified defined benefit
plan sponsored by a subsidiary of the Company and also had accruals under the
Supplemental Retirement Plan and the RIP. He is credited with a total of 27
years of benefit service under these plans. Although the formulas under the
various defined benefit plans in which the persons named in the Summary
Compensation Table have participated are not identical, they collectively
approximate the benefit amounts set out in the table above.
Under the RIP, retirement benefits consist of a fixed benefit providing a
normal retirement income equal to the sum of the "Past Service Benefit" and the
"Current Service Benefit," subject to a maximum benefit of 50% of "Final Average
Earnings." The Past Service Benefit is equal to an employee's accrued benefit
under the RIP, as of December 31, 1988, adjusted by any increases in Final
Average Earnings. The basic formula for such benefits is 50% of Final Average
Earnings, less 50% of the employee's projected Social Security benefit, times
years of benefit service divided by 30. The Current Service Benefit is equal to
the sum of 1.1% of Final Average Earnings, plus .65% of the excess of Final
Average Earnings over "Covered Compensation," for each year of benefit service
after 1988. Final
27
<PAGE>
Average Earnings is defined as the average of the five highest consecutive
years' remuneration. Such remuneration is generally equal to the salary and
bonus reported in the Summary Compensation Table plus the value of vested
restricted shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the EIP. Covered
Compensation is the average of the Social Security taxable wage bases for the
35-year period ending with the year in which the employee reaches normal
retirement age for Social Security purposes.
CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
The Company maintains management continuity agreements with some of its active
executive officers (including S. W. Sanger and C. W. Gaillard of those officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table) providing for guaranteed severance
payments equal to three times the annual compensation of the officer (salary
plus cash bonus award) and continuation of health and similar benefits for a
three-year period if the officer is terminated within two years after a change
of control. These agreements also provide for a cash payment of the amount
necessary to insure that the foregoing payments are not subject to reduction due
to the imposition of excise taxes payable under Code Section 4999 or any similar
tax.
The Company has entered into two trust agreements to provide for payment of
amounts under its non-qualified deferred compensation plans, including the
directors' compensation plans, the EIP, the management continuity agreements and
the Supplemental Savings and Retirement Plans. Full funding is required in the
event of a change of control. To date, only a nominal amount has been paid into
each trust.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 1996 ANNUAL MEETING
Any stockholder proposal intended to be presented for consideration at the 1996
Annual Meeting and to be included in the Company's proxy statement must be
received at the principal executive offices of the Company by the close of
business on April 16, 1996. Proposals should be sent to the attention of the
Secretary.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
Please sign and promptly return your proxy in the enclosed envelope.
28
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
GENERAL MILLS, INC.
1995 SALARY REPLACEMENT STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
The purpose of the General Mills, Inc. 1995 Salary Replacement Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan") is to give management employees of General Mills, Inc. (the
"Company") and its subsidiaries the opportunity to receive stock option grants
in lieu of salary increases and certain other compensation and benefits thereby
encouraging focus on the growth and profitability of the Company and its Common
Stock. Restricted stock is not permitted to be issued under the terms of this
Plan.
2. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
This Plan shall become effective as of September 18, 1995, subject to the
approval of the stockholders of the Company at the Annual Meeting on September
18, 199q5.
3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee (the
"Committee"). The Committee shall be made up of non-management members of the
Board of Directors (the "Board") appointed in accordance with the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation. The Committee shall have authority to adopt rules
and regulations for carrying out the purpose of the Plan, select the employees
to whom grants will be made ("Optionees"), the number of shares to be optioned
and interpret, construe and implement the provisions of the Plan; provided that
if at any time Rule 16b-3 or any successor rule ("Rule 16b-3") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), so permits without
adversely affecting the ability of the Plan to comply with the conditions for
exemption from Section 16 of the 1934 Act (or any successor provisions) provided
by Rule 16b-3, the Committee may delegate the administration of the Plan in
whole or in part, on such terms and conditions, and to such person or persons as
it may determine in its discretion. Decisions of the Committee (or its delegate
as permitted herein) shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties,
including the Company, stockholders and Optionees.
4. COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
The shares of "Common Stock" of the Company ($.10 par value) to be issued
upon the exercise of a non-qualified option to purchase Common Stock granted
hereunder (an "Option") may be made available from the authorized but unissued
Common Stock, shares of Common Stock held in the treasury, or Common Stock
purchased on the open market or otherwise.
Approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company shall constitute
authorization to use such shares for the Plan, subject to the discretion of the
Board or as such discretion may be delegated to the Committee.
Subject to the provisions of the next succeeding paragraph, the maximum
aggregate number of shares authorized under the Plan for which Options may be
granted under the Plan shall be 7,000,000 shares. If an Option granted under the
Plan is terminated without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased or
forfeited shares or rights to receive shares shall become available for grant to
A-1
<PAGE>
other employees. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to Options granted
under this Plan to any Optionee shall not exceed 5% of the total number of
shares of Common Stock which may be issued under this Plan.
In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other
distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, securities of a
subsidiary of the Company, other securities or other property),
recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Common
Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights
to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar
corporate transaction or event affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment
is determined by the Committee to be appropriate to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available
under the Plan, then the Committee may, in its sole discretion and in such
manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number of shares
of Common Stock subject to the Plan, subject to Section 15, (ii) the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding Options, and (iii) the grant or
exercise price with respect to any Option and, if deemed appropriate, make
provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Option; PROVIDED,
that the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Option denominated in
Common Stock shall always be a whole number.
5. ELIGIBLE PERSONS
Only persons who are officers or management employees of the Company or a
subsidiary shall be eligible to receive grants under the Plan. No grant shall be
made to any member of the Committee or any other non-employee director.
6. PURCHASE PRICE OF STOCK OPTIONS
The purchase price for each share of Common Stock issuable under an Option
shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of the Shares of
Common Stock of the Company subject to such option on the date of grant. "Fair
Market Value" as used in the Plan shall equal the mean of the high and low price
of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the applicable date.
7. OPTION TERM
The term of each Option grant as determined by the Committee shall not
exceed ten (10) years and one (1) month from the date of that grant and shall
expire as of the last day of the designated term, unless terminated earlier
under the provisions of the Plan.
8. OPTION TYPE
Option grants will be non-qualified stock options governed by Section 83 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") or any successor
provision.
9. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS
No Option granted under this Plan shall be transferable by the Optionee
otherwise than by the Optionee's last will and testament or by the applicable
laws of descent and distribution and an Option may be exercised during the
Optionee's lifetime only by the Optionee or his or her guardian or legal
representative. An Optionee shall forfeit any Option assigned or transferred,
voluntarily or involuntarily, other than as permitted under this Section.
A-2
<PAGE>
10. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
Except as provided in Sections 12, 13 and 14, each Option shall be vested
and may be exercised in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be
determined by the Committee for grants to officers or executives and by the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company for grants to other management
participants.
Subject to the provision of this Section 10, each Option may be exercised in
whole or, from time to time, in part with respect to the number of then
exercisable shares in any sequence desired by the Optionee without regard to the
date of grant of stock options under other plans of the Company.
An Optionee exercising an Option shall give notice to the Company of such
exercise and of the number of shares elected to be purchased prior to 4:30 P.M.
CST/CDT on the day of exercise, which must be a business day at the executive
offices of the Company. At the time of purchase, the Optionee shall tender the
full purchase price of the shares purchased. Until such payment has been made
and either a certificate or certificates for the shares purchased has been
issued in the Optionee's name or the ownership of such shares by the Optionee
has been entered by the Company's transfer agent on the master stockholder
records of the Company, the Optionee shall possess no stockholder rights with
respect to any such shares. Payment of such purchase price shall be made to the
Company, subject to any applicable rule or regulation adopted by the Committee:
(i) in cash (including check, draft, money order or wire transfer made
payable to the order of the Company);
(ii) through the delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the
Optionee; or
(iii) by a combination of (i) and (ii) above.
For determining the payment, Common Stock delivered pursuant to (ii) or
(iii) shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on
the date of exercise.
11. WITHHOLDING TAXES ON OPTION EXERCISE
Each Optionee shall deliver to the Company cash in an amount equal to all
federal, state and local withholding taxes required to be collected by the
Company in respect of the exercise of an Option, and until such payment is made,
the Company may, in its discretion, retain all or a portion of the shares to be
issued.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by law and pursuant
to such rules as the Committee may adopt, an Optionee may authorize the Company
to satisfy any such withholding requirement by directing the Company to withhold
from any shares to be issued such number of shares as shall be sufficient to
satisfy the withholding obligation.
12. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS IN EVENT OF CERTAIN CHANGES OF CONTROL
Each outstanding Option shall become immediately and fully exercisable for a
period of one (1) year following the date of the following occurrences, each
constituting a "Change of Control":
(a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act), (a "Person") of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
1934 Act) of voting securities of the Company where such acquisition causes
such Person to own 20% or more of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of
A-3
<PAGE>
directors (the "Outstanding Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for
purposes of this subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not be
deemed to result in a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from
the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition
by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) below; and provided, further, that if any
Person's beneficial ownership of the Outstanding Voting Securities reaches
or exceeds 20% as a result of a transaction described in clause (i) or (ii)
above, and such Person subsequently acquires beneficial ownership of
additional voting securities of the Company, such subsequent acquisition
shall be treated as an acquisition that causes such Person to own 20% or
more of the Outstanding Voting Securities; or
(b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual
becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or
nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a
vote of at least of a majority of the directors then comprising the
Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member
of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or
threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of
directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents
by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company ("Business Combination")
or, if consummation of such Business Combination is subject, at the time of
such approval by stockholders, to the consent of any government or
governmental agency, the obtaining of such consent (either explicitly or
implicitly by consummation); excluding, however, such a Business Combination
pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and
entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Voting Securities
immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the
case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination
(including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of such
transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's
assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business
Combination of the Outstanding Voting Securities, (ii) no Person (excluding
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such
corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership
existed prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of
the members of the board
A-4
<PAGE>
of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination
were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the
initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such
Business Combination; or
(d) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
After such one (1) year period the normal option exercise provisions of the
Plan shall govern. In the event an Optionee is terminated as an employee of the
Company or a Subsidiary within two (2) years of any of the events specified in
(a), (b), (c) or (d), all outstanding Options at that date of termination shall
become immediately exercisable for a period of six (6) months, subject to the
provisions of Section 7.
13. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF AN OPTIONEE
(a) NORMAL TERMINATION. If the Optionee's employment by the Company or
a subsidiary terminates for any reason other than as specified in
subsections (b), (c) or, (d) below, the Options shall terminate three (3)
months after such termination. If the employment by the Company or a
subsidiary of an Optionee is terminated for the convenience of the Company,
as determined by the Committee, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
vest such Optionee in all or any portion of the outstanding Option (which
shall become exercisable) effective as of the date of such termination and
if, at the time of such termination, the sum of the Optionee's age and
service with the Company equals or exceeds 70, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may permit such Option to remain exercisable until the
expiration of the Option in accordance with its original term.
(b) DEATH. If the termination of employment is due to the Optionee's
death, the Options may be exercised as provided in Section 14.
(c) RETIREMENT. If the termination of employment is due to the
Optionee's retirement, the Optionee thereafter may exercise an Option
within the period remaining under the original term of the Option.
(d) DISCONTINUATION OF A COMPLETE LINE OF BUSINESS. If the termination
of employment is due to the cessation, transfer, or spin-off of a
complete line of business of the Company, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may determine that all outstanding Options granted to the
Optionee prior to such termination shall immediately become exercisable for
a period of up to five (5) years after the date of such termination, subject
to the provisions of Section 7.
14. DEATH OF OPTIONEE
If an Optionee should die while employed by the Company or a subsidiary, any
Option previously granted to the Optionee under this Plan may be exercised by
the person designated in such Optionee's last will and testament or, in the
absence of such designation, by the Optionee's estate, to the full extent that
such Option could have been exercised by such Optionee immediately prior to the
Optionee's death, subject to the original term of the Option. Further, with
respect to outstanding Options which, as of the date of death, are not yet
exercisable, any such Option shall vest and become exercisable in a pro rata
amount, based on the number of full months of employment completed during the
full vesting period of the Option from the date of grant to the date of death.
A-5
<PAGE>
15. AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN
The Committee and the Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the
Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that no amendment shall be
made without stockholder approval if such stockholder approval is necessary to
comply with any tax or regulatory requirement, including for these purposes any
approval requirement that is a prerequisite for exemptive relief from Section
16(b) of the 1934 Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, any amendment, suspension or termination made in accordance with this
Section 15 that would adversely affect an Optionee's rights under an Option
granted under the Plan may not be made without such Optionee's consent.
The Committee shall have authority to cause the Company to take any action
related to the Plan which may be required to comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations
prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any such action shall be
at the expense of the Company.
16. FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS
The Committee may adopt, amend, and terminate such arrangements, not
inconsistent with the intent of the Plan, as it may deem necessary or desirable
to make available tax or other benefits of laws of any foreign jurisdiction, to
key employees of the Company who are subject to such laws and who are eligible
to receive Option grants under the Plan.
17. DURATION OF THE PLAN
Grants may be made under the Plan until September 30, 2000.
18. NOTICE
All notices and communications to the Company shall be in writing, effective
as of actual receipt by the Company, and shall be sent to: General Mills, Inc.,
Number One General Mills Boulevard, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426, Attention:
Corporate Compensation; If by Telex: 170360 Gen Mills; If by Facsimile: (612)
540-4925.
19. SECTION 16 OFFICERS
With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, transactions
under the Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule
16b-3. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails
to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law
and deemed advisable by the Committee.
Effective as of September 18, 1995
A-6
<PAGE> General Mills, Inc.
[LOGO] THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PROXY
1995
The undersigned hereby appoints S.W. Sanger and C.W. Gaillard, and each of
them, as proxies with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of common
stock which the undersigned has power to vote at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held on September 18, 1995 at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and
at any adjournment thereof, in accordance with the instructions set forth
herein and with the same effect as though the undersigned were present in
person and voting such shares. The proxies are authorized in their discretion
to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
SHARES
---------------------------
Please sign exactly as name appears above. Joint ---------------------------
owners should each sign. Executors, administrators, (Shareholders Sign Here)
trustees, etc. should so indicate when signing.
If signer is a corporation, please sign full name Dated:______________, 1995
by duly authorized officer.
<PAGE>
THE DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE "FOR" ITEMS 1, 2 AND 3
1. Election of Directors
R.M. Bressler; L.D. DeSimone; W.T. Esrey; C.W. Gaillard; J.R. Hope;
K.A. Macke; G. Putnam; M.D. Rose; S.W. Sanger; A.M. Spence;
D.A. Terrell; C.A. Wurtele
/ / FOR all listed nominees / / WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for
all listed nominees
/ / LISTED NOMINEES except the following: (Instruction: To withhold authority
to vote for any individual nominee, write the name of such nominee(s) in
the space provided below.)
2. Approval of appointment of KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP as independent auditors / / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
3. Approval of 1995 Salary Replacement
Stock Option Plan / / FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN
This Proxy will be voted as directed. If no direction is made, it will be
voted "FOR" Items 1, 2 and 3.
