GENERAL MILLS INC
10-Q, 1999-04-08
GRAIN MILL PRODUCTS
Previous: FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO, 424B3, 1999-04-08
Next: GPU INC /PA/, 35-CERT, 1999-04-08





               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C. 20549
                            FORM 10-Q


(Mark One)
/X/   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY
      PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 1999

/ /   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION
      PERIOD FROM _____ TO _____




Commission file number: 1-1185




                       GENERAL MILLS, INC.
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         Delaware
41-0274440
(State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S.
Employer
 incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)



Number One General Mills Boulevard
        Minneapolis, MN                                 55426
      (Mail: P.O. Box 1113)                          (Mail:
55440)
(Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip Code)

                         (612) 540-2311
      (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No___


As of March 24, 1999, General Mills had 152,829,648 shares of its $.10 par value
common stock outstanding (excluding 51,323,684 shares held in treasury).


                     Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.  Financial Statements

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                          GENERAL MILLS, INC.
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
           (Unaudited) (In Millions, Except per Share Data)


                                  Thirteen Weeks Ended  Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended                      
                               February 28,February 22, February 28,February 22,
                                    1999       1998         1999       1998  
                                  ---------  ---------   ---------  ---------

<S>                                <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>     
Sales                              $1,495.1   $1,424.7    $4,645.6   $4,479.5

Costs and Expenses:
  Cost of sales                       618.8      587.7     1,901.5    1,859.8
  Selling, general and 
     administrative                   618.8      599.6     1,920.7    1,845.5
  Interest, net                        31.4       26.8        90.6       85.3
  Unusual items                           -          -        51.6      166.4
                                    -------    -------     -------    -------
    Total Costs and Expenses        1,269.0    1,214.1     3,964.4    3,957.0
                                    -------    -------     -------    -------

Earnings before Taxes and Earnings
  (Losses) from Joint Ventures        226.1      210.6       681.2      522.5

Income Taxes                           79.5       77.3       246.3      190.4

Earnings(Losses)from Joint Ventures    (5.5)      (2.2)       (5.2)      (2.1)

Net Earnings                        $ 141.1    $ 131.1     $ 429.7    $ 330.0
                                    =======    =======     =======    =======

Earnings per Share                  $   .92    $   .83     $  2.80    $  2.08
                                    =======    =======     =======    =======

Average Number of Common Shares       153.6      158.3       153.5      158.7
                                    =======    =======     =======    =======

Earnings per Share-Assuming 
     Dilution                       $   .89    $   .81     $  2.73    $  2.03
                                    =======    =======     =======    =======
Average Number of Common Shares -
  Assuming Dilution                   158.4      162.8       157.5      162.9
                                    =======    =======     =======    =======

Dividends per Share                 $   .55    $   .53     $  1.61    $  1.59
                                    =======    =======     =======    =======



See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                       GENERAL MILLS, INC.
              CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                          (In Millions)

                                            (Unaudited)  (Unaudited)
                                            February 28, February 22, May 31,
                                               1999        1998        1998                                      
<S>                                          <C>         <C>      <C>     
ASSETS
Current Assets:

  Cash and cash equivalents                  $   18.9    $  16.8  $    6.4
  Receivables                                   469.7      425.1     395.1
  Inventories:
   Valued primarily at FIFO                     190.4      203.8     168.3
   Valued at LIFO (FIFO value exceeds LIFO by
     $39.1, $45.7 and $39.1, respectively)      251.9      243.8     221.4
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets      83.1      102.0     107.2
  Deferred income taxes                         105.5      108.6     136.9
                                             --------    -------  --------
     Total Current Assets                     1,119.5    1,100.1   1,035.3
                                             --------    -------  --------

Land, Buildings and Equipment, at Cost        2,664.3    2,437.2   2,489.0
  Less accumulated depreciation              (1,396.3)  (1,270.9) (1,302.7)
     Net Land, Buildings and Equipment        1,268.0    1,166.3   1,186.3
Intangibles                                     728.2      635.9     630.4
Other Assets                                  1,022.8      997.5   1,009.4
                                             --------    -------   -------

Total Assets                                 $4,138.5   $3,899.8  $3,861.4
                                             ========   ========  ========

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Accounts payable                           $  627.2    $ 619.5  $  593.1
  Current portion of long-term debt              91.3      153.6     153.2
  Notes payable                                 414.3       34.2     264.1
  Accrued taxes                                 155.3      128.8     148.5
  Other current liabilities                     401.3      294.7     284.8
                                             --------    -------  --------
     Total Current Liabilities                1,689.4    1,230.8   1,443.7

Long-term Debt                                1,700.6    1,656.0   1,640.4
Deferred Income Taxes                           285.3      277.3     284.8
Deferred Income Taxes - Tax Leases              115.8      132.8     129.1
Other Liabilities                               179.5      169.8     173.2
                                             --------    -------  --------
     Total Liabilities                        3,970.6    3,466.7   3,671.2
                                             --------    -------  --------

Stockholders' Equity:
  Cumulative preference stock, none issued        -          -         -
  Common stock, 204.2 shares issued             640.3      608.2     619.6
  Retained earnings                           1,721.7    1,614.1   1,622.8
  Less common stock in treasury, at cost,
   shares of 50.7, 45.9 and 49.4, 
   respectively                              (2,073.6)  (1,675.3) (1,935.7)
  Unearned compensation                         (71.3)     (76.5)    (75.4)
  Accumulated other comprehensive income        (49.2)     (37.4)    (41.1)
                                             --------    -------  --------
     Total Stockholders' Equity                 167.9      433.1     190.2
                                             --------    -------  --------

Total Liabilities and Equity                 $4,138.5   $3,899.8  $3,861.4
                                             ========   ========  ========

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                   GENERAL MILLS, INC.
     CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                (Unaudited) (In Millions)


                                                    Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended                                     
                                                   February 28, February 22,
                                                     1999         1998   
<S>                                                 <C>          <C>   
Cash Flows - Operating Activities:

  Net earnings                                      $429.7       $330.0
  Adjustments to reconcile earnings to cash flow:
    Depreciation and amortization                    142.4        144.2
    Deferred income taxes                             32.2         (3.2)
    Change in current assets and liabilities, net of
      effects from businesses acquired               (98.4)
 (22.8)
    Unusual items                                     51.6        166.4
    Other, net                                       (38.9)       (22.7)
                                                     -----        -----
  Cash provided by continuing operations             518.6        591.9
  Cash used by discontinued operations                (2.9)        (4.8)
                                                     -----        -----
    Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities        515.7        587.1
                                                     -----        -----

Cash Flows - Investment Activities:
  Purchases of land, buildings and equipment        (206.2)      (122.7)
  Investments in businesses, intangibles and
    affiliates, net of investment returns 
    and dividends                                   (148.3)        (3.5)
  Purchases of marketable investments                 (7.3)        (8.1)
  Proceeds from sale of marketable investments        18.3         34.7
  Other, net                                          48.1        (38.6)
                                                     -----        -----
    Net Cash Used by Investment Activities          (295.4)      (138.2)
                                                    ------       ------

Cash Flows - Financing Activities:
  Change in notes payable                            147.6       (165.4)
  Issuance of long-term debt                         181.0        284.1
  Payment of long-term debt                         (170.4)      (135.8)
  Common stock issued                                 82.8         77.0
  Purchases of common stock for treasury            (189.2)      (249.3)
  Dividends paid                                    (247.5)      (252.8)
  Other, net                                         (12.1)        (2.7)
                                                     -----        -----
    Net Cash Used by Financing Activities           (207.8)      (444.9)
                                                     ------       ------

Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents                $12.5       $  4.0

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
</TABLE>




                       GENERAL MILLS, INC.
      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           (Unaudited)

(1) Background

These  financial  statements do not include  certain  information  and footnotes
required by generally  accepted  accounting  principles  for complete  financial
statements.  However, in the opinion of management,  all adjustments  considered
necessary  for a fair  presentation  have  been  included  and  are of a  normal
recurring nature. Operating results for the thirty-nine weeks ended February 28,
1999 are not necessarily  indicative of the results that may be expected for the
fiscal year ending May 30, 1999.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and
footnotes  included in our annual  report for the year ended May 31,  1998.  The
accounting policies used in preparing these financial statements are the same as
those described in our annual report.

Certain amounts in the prior year financial statements have been reclassified to
conform to the current year presentation.

(2) Acquisitions

On January 15, 1999, we acquired  Lloyd's  Barbeque  Company of St. Paul,  Minn.
Lloyd's is a leading producer of high-quality,  refrigerated  convenience foods,
with  the  top-selling  national  brand of  ready-to-heat  barbequed  meats.  On
February 10, 1999, we acquired Farmhouse Foods of Union City, California, a West
Coast marketer of rice and pasta side-dish mixes.

These acquisitions,  both of which were accounted for using the purchase method,
totaled  approximately  $130 million in purchase price,  subject to adjustments.
Goodwill   associated   with  these   acquisitions   is  being  amortized  on  a
straight-line  basis over 40 years. The results of the acquired  businesses have
been included in the  consolidated  financial  statements  since the  respective
acquisition dates.


(3) Unusual Items

In the second quarter of fiscal 1999, we recorded restructuring charges of $51.6
million  pretax,  $32.3  million  after tax ($.21 per diluted  share)  primarily
related to  streamlining  manufacturing  and  distribution  activities  that are
expected to deliver  significant  cost savings and contribute to future earnings
growth. The restructuring  actions primarily reflect further streamlining of our
supply chain as part of the broad consolidation of these activities announced in
May 1998. Actions include  consolidating  manufacturing of certain products into
fewer locations, and consolidating warehouse,  distribution and sales activities
across the company's  packaged  food,  foodservice  and milling  operations.  In
addition, the second-quarter charge includes our share of restructuring by Snack
Ventures  Europe  (SVE),  our  joint  venture  with  PepsiCo,   to  improve  its
manufacturing  cost  structure.  Slightly  more than  half of the  total  charge
reflects  write-down of assets;  the remaining cash portion is primarily related
to severance and asset redeployment expenses. We expect that these restructuring
activities  will be  substantially  completed by the end of fiscal 1999.  Annual
cost savings  beginning in fiscal 2000 are  estimated at $16.8 million after tax
($.11 per diluted share).

In the second  quarter of fiscal  1998,  we  recorded  restructuring  charges of
$166.8  million  pretax,  $100.1  million  after tax ($.62  per  diluted  share)
primarily  related to improving the cost structure of our North American  cereal
operations.  We shut down one cereal system at our Lodi, California facility and
closed  our  two  smallest  plants,  located  in  South  Chicago,  Illinois  and
Etobicoke,  Ontario. The charges included approximately $137 million in non-cash
charges primarily related to asset write-offs,  and approximately $30 million of
cash charges, primarily related to costs to dispose of assets and pay severance.
We expect that these restructuring activities will be substantially completed by
the end of fiscal 1999.

In the first quarter of fiscal 1998, we recorded several unusual items resulting
in a net after-tax  charge of $.1 million.  We received an insurance  settlement
from one of our  carriers  related  to costs  incurred  in fiscal  1995 and 1996
(charged  against  fiscal  1994)  from the  improper  use of a  pesticide  by an
independent  contractor in treating some of the company's oat supplies.  Our SVE
joint  venture  recorded  restructuring  charges  for  productivity  initiatives
primarily  related  to  production  consolidation.   We  also  recorded  charges
associated  with  restructuring  our sales  regions and our trade and  promotion
organization.

(4) Statements of Cash Flows

During the first nine months, we made interest payments of $88.3 million (net of
amount capitalized) and paid $191.6 million in income taxes.

(5) Comprehensive Income

We  adopted  Statement  of  Financial   Accounting  Standards  (SFAS)  No.  130,
"Reporting   Comprehensive  Income,"  effective  June  1,  1998.  SFAS  No.  130
establishes  standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its
components,  including  all  changes  in  equity  during a period  except  those
resulting from investments by owners or  distributions to owners.  The following
table  summarizes  total  comprehensive  income for the  periods  presented  (in
millions):


                              Thirteen Weeks Ended  Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended 
                               Feb. 28    Feb. 22,     Feb. 28,  Feb. 22,
                                1999      1998         1999       1998
                                ----      ----         ----       ----

Net Earnings                   $141.1     $131.1      $429.7      $330.0
Other comprehensive 
   income (loss):
     Unrealized gain
      on securities              (4.1)       2.5         (.1)        8.4
     Foreign currency
      translation adjustments   (11.0)      (5.3)       (8.0)       (8.9)
                                 -----      -----       -----       -----
                                (15.1)      (2.8)       (8.1)        (.5)
                                 -----      -----       -----       -----

Total comprehensive income     $126.0     $128.3      $421.6      $329.5



ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                 AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


FINANCIAL CONDITION

Continuing operations generated $73.3 million less cash in the first nine months
of fiscal 1999 than in the same prior-year period. The decrease in cash provided
by operations  as compared to last year was caused  primarily by a $75.6 million
increase in the working capital change.

Fiscal 1999 capital expenditures are estimated to be approximately $240 million.
During the first nine months, capital expenditures totaled $206.2 million.

Our  short-term  outside  financing  is obtained  through  private  placement of
commercial paper and bank notes. Our level of notes payable  fluctuates based on
cash flow needs.

Our long-term  outside  financing is obtained  primarily through our medium-term
note program.  Activity through nine months under this program  consisted of the
issuance of $174.7 million in notes and debt payments of $167.8 million.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

All per share  references  in the  following  discussion  are  based on  diluted
shares, except where indicated.

Third  quarter  sales of $1,495.1  million  grew 5 percent  from the prior year.
Cumulative sales of $4,645.6 million grew 4 percent. Third quarter earnings from
operations  of $141.1  million  ($.89 per share),  increased  by 8 percent  from
$131.1  million ($.81 per share)  reported last year.  Cumulative  earnings from
operations of $462.0  million  ($2.93 per share)  before  unusual items of $32.3
million  after tax ($.21 per share),  were up 7 percent from last year's  $430.2
million  ($2.64 per share)  before  unusual  items of $100.2  million after tax,
($.62 per share). Earnings per share of $.89 and $2.93 for the third quarter and
first nine months were up 10 percent and 11 percent  from $.81 and $2.64  before
unusual items.  Basic earnings per share of $.92 and $3.01 for the third quarter
and first nine months were both up 11 percent from $.83 and $2.71 before unusual
items. Including unusual items, nine-month earnings this year and last year were
$429.7  million  ($2.73 per  share),  and  $330.0  million  ($2.03  per  share),
respectively.

Third-quarter  earnings  growth was driven by unit volume  increases  across the
company's major businesses and by continued  productivity gains. Results for the
quarter met our  expectations.  Through nine months,  our domestic  volume is up
more than 3  percent.  Our  domestic  unit  volume  increased  5 percent  in the
quarter,  with every major division  reporting volume growth.  The gain excludes
unit volume  contributions from Lloyd's and Farmhouse Foods, two businesses that
were acquired during the quarter.

The company's non-cereal  businesses led volume growth in the quarter with units
up 8 percent overall.  Convenience foods volume (snacks and yogurt) increased 16
percent.  Core Yoplait yogurt lines and new Go-Gurt  portable  yogurt,  Chex Mix
snacks,  fruit snacks and Nature  Valley  granola  bars led this volume  growth.
Volume for the Betty Crocker  baking,  dinner and side dish  businesses was up 2
percent,  with good  contributions  from the new  Chicken  Helper  dinner  mixes
introduced in January 1999 and from the expanding line of  smaller-sized,  Betty
Crocker pouch  desserts.  Foodservice  volume was up 3 percent in the quarter on
gains by cereals, snacks and refrigerated yogurt.

Third-quarter  unit volume for Big G cereals  grew 1 percent,  led by  continued
strong performance from established brands including Cheerios,  Total, Trix, and
Cinnamon  Toast  Crunch.  New Honey Nut Chex,  available  in 20  percent  of the
country  since  August  1998,   continued  to  post  strong  market  shares  and
contributed to Big G volume growth.  Cereal industry trends  strengthened during
the quarter,  with category pound volume in all measured outlets up slightly for
the period.  Big G outpaced the  category,  increasing  its third  quarter pound
market  share to 26.5 percent  from 26.1  percent a year  earlier.  Through nine
months,  Big G pound  market share was 25.8  percent,  and dollar share was 31.4
percent.  On March 1, 1999,  distribution  of Honey Nut Chex was expanded to the
remaining  80 percent of the U.S.  and new Sunrise  organic  cereal was launched
into nationwide distribution.

Third-quarter unit volume for the company's international  operations was down 2
percent on difficult  comparisons.  In Canada,  quarterly unit volume was down 8
percent  from  record-level  shipments  generated by Winter  Olympics  marketing
programs in the prior year. However,  cereal market-share  performance continued
strong,  as General  Mills  reclaimed  the number two  position in Canada with a
year-to-date  pound share of 17.1 percent.  Quarterly volume for Cereal Partners
Worldwide  (CPW),  the company's  joint venture with Nestle,  was down 1 percent
compared  to prior year  results  that  included  an extra week in CPW's  fiscal
quarter.  For calendar 1998 in total, CPW unit volume grew 9 percent,  worldwide
sales  reached  approximately  $830  million,  and the venture  posted its first
operating  profit.  Third-quarter  volume  for Snack  Ventures  Europe  was up 2
percent overall and up 5 percent for continuing businesses.

As part of our ongoing share repurchase  program,  we repurchased 568,800 shares
of common  stock  during the third  quarter  at an  average  price of $69.69 per
share.  Through nine months,  share repurchases totaled 3.1 million shares at an
average price of $66.47 per share.  Average shares  outstanding  (basic) totaled
153.5  million for the first nine months  compared to 158.7 million in the prior
year,  reflecting  periodic  repurchase  of shares under the  company's  ongoing
program.  Interest  expense in the first nine months totaled $90.6  million,  up
from $85.3  million  last year due to higher debt levels  associated  with share
repurchase activity and acquisitions.

Our tax rates  (excluding  unusual  items) for the third  quarter and first nine
months of fiscal 1999 were 35.2 percent and 36.2 percent, respectively, compared
to 36.7  percent and 37.2  percent in last year's  third  quarter and first nine
months. Our reported tax rates for the first nine months of fiscal 1999 and 1998
were 36.2 percent and 36.4  percent,  respectively.  The lower  quarter and nine
months  effective  tax rates in fiscal  1999 relate  primarily  to the impact of
foreign  and  state  income  taxes.  We  believe  the lower  cumulative  rate is
sustainable in the near term.


YEAR 2000

The year 2000 issue is the result of computer  programs written using two digits
(rather  than  four)  to  define  years.   Computers  or  other  equipment  with
date-sensitive  software may recognize "00" as 1900 rather than 2000. This could
result  in  system  failures  or  miscalculations.  If we,  or  our  significant
customers,  suppliers  or other third  parties fail to correct year 2000 issues,
our ability to operate our businesses could be adversely affected.

We have  completed the  assessment,  inventory and  classification  of year 2000
issues on all of our information systems infrastructure and non-technical assets
(e.g.,  plant production  equipment).  Any systems which are year 2000 deficient
will be  modified,  upgraded  or  replaced  and  tested for  compliance.  We are
concluding   the  testing  of  all  existing,   critical   information   systems
infrastructure  for year 2000  compliance.  Project  plans  anticipate  that all
non-technical  assets  (including   production  equipment)  will  be  year  2000
compliant by the middle of calendar 1999.  Based on  assessments  and testing to
date, we do not expect the financial  impact of addressing  internal system year
2000 issues will be material to our financial position, results of operations or
cash flows. Total costs are estimated to be approximately $26 million,  of which
about three-fourths has been incurred to date.

We have  surveyed  significant  customers,  suppliers  and other  third  parties
critical to our business  operations  to determine  their year 2000  compliance.
Contingency  plans will be developed  by the middle of calendar  1999 to address
any third  party  failures  that may disrupt  our  operations.  These plans will
continue to be evaluated and modified through the year 2000 transition period as
additional  information becomes available.  However these contingency plans will
not guarantee that  circumstances  beyond our control will not adversely  impact
our operations.

Our year 2000 compliance  program is an ongoing process and the risk assessments
and timetable described above are  forward-looking  statements which are subject
to change.  Factors  that may cause such  changes  include,  among  others,  the
ability to timely  remediate all  date-sensitive  computer-related  assets;  the
actions  of third  parties,  such as public  utilities;  and the  occurrence  of
broad-based systemic failures.



                   PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 5.  Other Information.

This report  contains  certain  forward-looking  statements,  which are based on
management's current views and assumptions regarding future events and financial
performance.  These  statements  are  qualified  by  reference  to  the  section
"Cautionary Statement Relevant to Forward-Looking  Information" in Item 1 of our
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31,  1998,  that lists
important  factors that could cause  actual  results to differ  materially  from
those discussed in this report.

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

    (a)  Exhibits

         Exhibit 11   Statement re Computation of Earnings per Share.

         Exhibit 12   Statement re Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

         Exhibit 27   Financial Data Schedule.

    (b)  Reports on Form 8-K

         The  Company  did not file any  reports  on Form 8-K  during  the third
         quarter of fiscal 1999.

                           SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                      GENERAL MILLS, INC.      
                                         (Registrant)


Date  April 7, 1999                            /s/ S. S. Marshall
      -------------            ----------------------------------
                                 S. S. Marshall
                                 Senior Vice President,
                                 General Counsel


Date  April 7, 1999                             /s/ K. L. Thome
      -------------            --------------------------------
                                 K. L. Thome
                                 Senior Vice President,
                                 Financial Operations




                                                                      EXHIBIT 11
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                               GENERAL MILLS, INC.
                        COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
                      (In Millions, Except per Share Data)


                               Thirteen Weeks Ended     Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended   
                             February 28, February 22, February 28, February 22,
                                  1999       1998          1999        1998  
                                ---------  ---------     ---------   ---------

<S>                              <C>        <C>           <C>         <C>   
Net Earnings                     $141.1     $131.1        $429.7      $330.0
                                 ======     ======        ======      ======


Average Number of Common 
     Shares - Basic EPS (a)       153.6      158.3         153.5       158.7

Incremental Share Effect from:

  -Stock options (b)                4.8        4.4           3.9         4.1

  -Restricted stock, stock rights
     and puts                         -         .1            .1          .1
                                  -------     ------       ------     ------


 Average Number of Common Shares -
   Diluted EPS                    158.4      162.8         157.5       162.9
                                  ======     ======       ======      ======

Earnings per Share - Basic       $  .92     $  .83        $ 2.80      $ 2.08
                                  =======   =======       ======      ======

Earnings per Share - Assuming   
     Dilution                    $  .89     $  .81        $ 2.73      $ 2.03
                                  ======    ======        ======      ======


Notes to Exhibit 11:

(a)Computed  as weighted  average of net shares  outstanding  on  stock-exchange
   trading days.

(b) Incremental  shares from stock options are computed by the "treasury  stock"
    method.  This method first  determines  the number of shares  issuable under
    stock  options that had an option  price below the average  market price for
    the  period,  and then  deducts  the  number of shares  that could have been
    repurchased with the proceeds of options exercised.
</TABLE>


                                                            Exhibit 12



                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES



                Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended           Fiscal Year Ended 
              February 28, February 22,  May 31, May 25, May 26, May 28, May 29,
                   1999       1998        1998    1997    1996    1995    1994 
                ---------------------    -------------------------------------

Ratio of 
 Earnings to 
 Fixed Charges     7.10       5.97        5.63    6.54    6.94    4.10    6.18


For  purposes of  computing  the ratio of earnings  to fixed  charges,  earnings
represent  pretax income from  continuing  operations,  plus pretax  earnings or
losses of joint ventures plus fixed charges (net of capitalized interest). Fixed
charges represent  interest (whether expensed or capitalized) and one-third (the
proportion deemed  representative of the interest factor) of rents of continuing
operations.


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
  This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from our
Form 10-Q for the thirty-nine week period ended February 28, 1999, and is 
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

                                           
<S>                                               <C>            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                              9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    MAY-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                        JUN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                         FEB-28-1999
<CASH>                                                18,900,000
<SECURITIES>                                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        469,700,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                          442,300,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   1,119,500,000
<PP&E>                                             2,664,300,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                    (1,396,300,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     4,138,500,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              1,689,400,000
<BONDS>                                            1,700,600,000
                                          0
                                                    0
<COMMON>                                             640,300,000
<OTHER-SE>                                          (472,400,000)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       4,138,500,000
<SALES>                                            4,645,600,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   4,645,600,000
<CGS>                                              1,901,500,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      1,901,500,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    90,600,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      681,200,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                         246,300,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  429,700,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                         429,700,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               2.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               2.73
        



</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission