GENERAL MILLS INC
10-Q, 2001-01-05
GRAIN MILL PRODUCTS
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                       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 NOVEMBER 26,
      2000

/ /   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)

                                (763) 764-7600
             (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 December 19, 2000,  General Mills had  283,950,021  shares of its $.10 par
value common stock outstanding (excluding 124,356,643 shares held in treasury).



<PAGE>


                   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       Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
                                          ------------------------    ------------------------

                                          November 26, November 28,   November 26, November 28,
                                             2000         1999           2000         1999
                                          -----------  -----------    ----------  -----------


<S>                                         <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Sales                                       $ 1,895.2     $1,817.2      $ 3,570.1     $3,390.8

Costs and Expenses:
  Cost of sales                                 753.1        728.2        1,406.4      1,349.6
  Selling, general and administrative           785.7        760.0        1,511.2      1,437.2
  Interest, net                                  52.4         34.1          107.2         66.8

    Total Costs and Expenses                  1,591.2      1,522.3        3,024.8      2,853.6
                                            ---------     --------      ---------     --------

Earnings before Taxes and Earnings
    from Joint Ventures                         304.0        294.9          545.3        537.2

Income Taxes                                    107.2        104.3          192.6        191.6

Earnings from Joint Ventures                      5.9          3.1            8.9          6.6
                                            ---------     --------      ---------     --------

Net Earnings                                $   202.7     $  193.7      $   361.6     $  352.2
                                            =========     ========      =========     ========

Earnings per Share - Basic                  $     .72     $    .64      $    1.28     $   1.16
                                            =========     ========      =========     ========

Average Number of Common Shares                 282.9        303.5          283.3        303.9
                                            =========     ========      =========     ========

Earnings per Share - Diluted                $     .70     $    .62      $    1.25     $   1.12
                                            =========     ========      =========     ========

Average Number of Common Shares -
   Assuming Dilution                            290.2        313.1          290.3        313.7
                                            =========     ========      =========     ========

Dividends per Share                         $    .275     $   .275      $    .550     $   .550
                                            =========     ========      =========     ========



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



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

                                                  (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
                                                  -----------   -----------
                                                  November 26,  November 28,    May 28,
                                                     2000          1999          2000
                                                  -----------   -----------    -------
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>        <C>
ASSETS
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                         $    66.9     $   70.4   $    25.6
  Receivables                                           588.9        562.5       500.6
  Inventories:
   Valued primarily at FIFO                             251.1        200.5       211.8
   Valued at LIFO (FIFO value exceeds LIFO by
      $30.4, $32.0 and $32.4, respectively)             311.1        296.8       298.7
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets              83.8         80.4        87.7
  Deferred income taxes                                  65.9         94.8        65.9
                                                    ---------     --------   ---------
      Total Current Assets                            1,367.7      1,305.4     1,190.3
                                                    ---------     --------   ---------

Land, Buildings and Equipment, at Cost                3,060.0      2,843.4     2,949.2
  Less accumulated depreciation                      (1,608.8)    (1,469.5)   (1,544.3)
                                                    ---------     --------   ---------
      Net Land, Buildings and Equipment               1,451.2      1,373.9     1,404.9
Intangibles                                             870.3        830.3       870.3
Other Assets                                          1,210.2      1,084.7     1,108.2
                                                    ---------     --------   ---------

Total Assets                                        $ 4,899.4     $4,594.3   $ 4,573.7
                                                    =========     ========   =========

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Accounts payable                                  $   568.9     $  672.4   $   641.5
  Current portion of long-term debt                     347.8         98.7       413.5
  Notes payable                                       1,117.1        893.7     1,085.8
  Accrued taxes                                         160.6        167.2       104.9
  Other current liabilities                             256.2        259.7       283.4
                                                    ---------     --------   ---------
      Total Current Liabilities                       2,450.6      2,091.7     2,529.1
Long-term Debt                                        2,026.4      1,664.7     1,760.3
Deferred Income Taxes                                   307.2        296.2       297.2
Deferred Income Taxes - Tax Leases                       82.2        100.5        89.8
Other Liabilities                                       193.9        184.5       186.1
                                                    ---------     --------   ---------
      Total Liabilities                               5,060.3      4,337.6     4,862.5
                                                    ---------     --------    --------

Stockholders' Equity:
  Cumulative preference stock, none issued                 -             -          -
  Common stock, 408.3 shares issued                     695.2        679.9       680.6
  Retained earnings                                   2,320.2      2,013.1     2,113.9
  Less common stock in treasury, at cost, shares
   of 124.5, 105.8 and 122.9, respectively           (3,026.2)    (2,307.3)   (2,934.9)
  Unearned compensation                                 (60.7)       (66.5)      (62.7)
  Accumulated other comprehensive income                (89.4)       (62.5)      (85.7)
                                                    ---------     --------   ---------
      Total Stockholders' Equity                       (160.9)       256.7      (288.8)
                                                    ----------    --------   ----------

Total Liabilities and Equity                        $ 4,899.4     $4,594.3   $ 4,573.7
                                                    =========     ========   =========

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


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


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


                                                               Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
                                                            -------------------------
                                                            November 26,  November 28,
                                                              2000           1999
                                                            -----------   -----------

<S>                                                        <C>            <C>
Cash Flows - Operating Activities:
  Net earnings                                             $ 361.6        $ 352.2
  Adjustments to reconcile earnings to cash flow:
    Depreciation and amortization                            104.0           97.7
    Deferred income taxes                                      6.4           12.1
    Change in current assets and liabilities                (138.7)        (113.4)
    Tax benefit on exercised options                          13.0           22.6
    Other, net                                               (37.0)         (24.8)
                                                            ------         ------
   Cash provided by continuing operations                    309.3          346.4
   Cash used by discontinued operations                        (.9)          (1.4)
                                                            ------         ------
    Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities                308.4          345.0
                                                            ------         ------

Cash Flows - Investment Activities:
   Purchases of land, buildings and equipment               (137.8)        (132.7)
   Investments in businesses, intangibles and affiliates,
    net of investment returns and dividends                  (57.6)        (201.9)
   Purchases of marketable investments                       (14.2)          (5.5)
   Proceeds from sale of marketable investments                 .8            5.9
   Other, net                                                (10.8)           9.7
                                                            -------        ------
    Net Cash Used by Investment Activities                  (219.6)        (324.5)
                                                            ------         ------

Cash Flows - Financing Activities:
   Change in notes payable                                    37.5          369.7
   Issuance of long-term debt                                289.8           54.2
   Payment of long-term debt                                 (82.6)         (78.0)
Common stock issued                                           41.4           37.9
   Purchases of common stock for treasury                   (173.4)        (162.9)
   Dividends paid                                           (155.9)        (167.2)
   Other, net                                                 (4.3)          (7.7)
                                                            ------         ------
    Net Cash (Used) Provided by Financing Activities         (47.5)          46.0
                                                            -------        ------

Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents                       $ 41.3         $ 66.5
                                                            ======         ======

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


<PAGE>


                             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 twenty-six weeks ended November 26,
2000 are not necessarily  indicative of the results that may be expected for the
fiscal year ending May 27, 2001.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and
footnotes  included in our annual  report for the year ended May 28,  2000.  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) Statements of Cash Flows

During the first six months, we made interest payments of $110.4 million (net of
amount  capitalized),  up from $65.6 million last year.  Through six months,  we
paid $111.0 million in income taxes,  compared to $132.0 million during the same
period one year ago.


(3) Comprehensive Income

The  following  table  summarizes  total  comprehensive  income for the  periods
presented (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       Thirteen Weeks Ended    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
                                       --------------------    ----------------------
                                         Nov. 26,   Nov. 28,    Nov. 26,      Nov. 28,
                                           2000      1999          2000         1999
                                         --------  ---------    --------      --------

<S>                                       <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>
      Net Earnings                        $202.7     $193.7      $361.6        $352.2
      Other comprehensive income (loss):
          Unrealized gain (loss)
           on securities                      .3       (2.0)        5.7          (4.2)
          Foreign currency
           translation adjustments         (11.2)        .9        (9.4)         (1.4)
                                          -------    -------      ------       -------
                                           (10.9)      (1.1)       (3.7)         (5.6)
                                          -------    -------      ------       -------
      Total comprehensive income          $191.8     $192.6      $357.9        $346.6
                                          =======    =======     =======       =======
</TABLE>



<PAGE>



(4) Pending Acquisition

The proposed  acquisition of the worldwide Pillsbury  operations from Diageo plc
(Diageo) was approved by Diageo shareholders on October 2, 2000, and approved by
General Mills  shareholders on December 8, 2000. We received  clearance from the
European  Commission  on October 13,  2000.  The  Federal  Trade  Commission  is
continuing its review, and General Mills expects this transaction to close early
in calendar  2001.  The  transaction  will be accounted  for as a purchase.  The
Company will acquire Pillsbury in a stock-for-stock  exchange. The consideration
to Diageo  includes  141 million  shares of the  Company's  common stock and the
assumption of $5.14  billion of Pillsbury  debt. Up to $642 million of the total
transaction  value may be repaid to the Company at the first  anniversary of the
closing,  depending on the Company's stock price at that time. The total cost of
the  acquisition  (exclusive  of  direct  acquisition  costs)  is  estimated  at
approximately $10.2 billion.  Goodwill associated with the Pillsbury acquisition
will be amortized on a straight-line  basis over 40 years. The Company's results
of operations will include Pillsbury's operations beginning with the acquisition
date.

(5) New Accounting Rules

During 1999,  the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board (FASB) issued SFAS No.
133, "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments and Hedging  Activities".  SFAS No.
133 requires all  derivatives  to be recorded at fair value on the balance sheet
and establishes new accounting rules for hedging. It will be effective for us in
fiscal 2002. Since the impact of SFAS No. 133 is dependent on the fair values of
our  derivatives  and  related  hedged  items  and our  outstanding  derivatives
position at the date of adoption  (May 28,  2001),  we can not yet determine its
impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2000,  the  Emerging  Issues  Task  Force  (EITF)  of the FASB  reached a
consensus on Issue 00-14,  "Accounting for Certain Sales Incentives".  The issue
addresses  recognition  and income  statement  classification  of certain  sales
incentives.  The  consensus is effective  June 30, 2001.  Since  adoption of the
consensus  will only result in the  reclassification  of certain  expenses  from
selling, general and administrative expense to a reduction of net sales, it will
not affect our financial position or net earnings.



<PAGE>




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

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Continuing  operations  generated  $37.1  million less cash in the first half of
fiscal 2001 than in the same prior-year period. The decrease in cash provided by
operations  as compared  to last year was  primarily  caused by a $25.3  million
increase in the working capital change.

During the first six months, capital expenditures totaled $137.8 million. Fiscal
2001 capital  expenditures  are  estimated  to be  approximately  $300  million,
exclusive of any capital  expenditures  associated with the Pillsbury  business,
which we expect to acquire in early calendar 2001.

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 six months under this program  consisted of the
issuance of $284.6  million in notes and debt  payments of $81.5  million.  As a
result  we have  utilized  our  available  capacity  under  our  domestic  shelf
registration statement.  However, we do not believe our liquidity is constrained
due to the availability of short-term financing as well as our intention to file
another shelf registration in early calendar 2001.

In anticipation of our proposed  acquisition of the Pillsbury business and other
financing  requirements,  we have entered  into  additional  interest  rate swap
contracts to attempt to lock in our interest  rate on associated  debt.  For the
six months  ending  November 26, 2000,  these  contracts  totaled  $5.35 billion
notional  amount  and  convert  floating  rate  to  an  average  fixed  rate  of
approximately 6.7 percent with maturities averaging 4.5 years.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Basic  earnings per share of 72 cents for the second  quarter ended November 26,
2000 were up 13 percent  from 64 cents.  Diluted  earnings per share of 70 cents
for the second quarter of fiscal 2001 were up 13 percent from 62 cents per share
earned in the same period last year.  Results for the current  quarter  included
income of $4.8 million after tax, or approximately 2 cents per basic and diluted
share,  representing  General  Mills'  portion of a  class-action  settlement of
alleged  price-fixing  charges brought against several vitamin  manufacturers in
1999. Excluding this income,  diluted EPS grew 10 percent in the quarter.  Sales
for the second quarter totaled $1,895 million, up 4 percent from the prior year,
in line with domestic unit volume growth.

For the 13 weeks ended  November 26, 2000,  earnings  before  interest and taxes
increased  8 percent to $356.4  million.  Interest  expense  for the quarter was
higher, as anticipated,  due to increased debt levels associated with prior year
acquisitions and share repurchase activity. As a result, earnings after tax grew
5 percent to $202.7 million.



First-Half Results

Through six months,  General Mills' basic earnings per share of $1.28 were up 10
percent from $1.16.  Diluted earnings per share for the first half of the fiscal
year totaled $1.25, up 12 percent from $1.12 in fiscal 2000. First-half earnings
before interest and taxes grew 8 percent to $652.5  million,  and earnings after
tax grew 3 percent to $361.6 million. First half sales of $3,570 million were up
5 percent from the first six months one year ago.

U.S. Operations

General  Mills'  domestic unit volume grew 4 percent in the second quarter and 5
percent through the first half. Excluding incremental volume from the Gardetto's
baked snacks  business  (acquired  August 1999) and Small Planet  organic  foods
(acquired January 2000), first-half domestic volume was up 4 percent.

In the second  quarter,  retail  noncereal  businesses  led volume growth with a
combined  increase of 8 percent.  Convenience Foods (snacks and yogurt) posted a
12 percent unit volume gain.  Yogurt  shipments and retail volume both grew at a
double-digit  pace  on  continued  strong  performance  by  established  YOPLAIT
products and new GO-GURT.  YOPLAIT EXPRESSE---the new yogurt in a tube for adult
consumers---performed  well in its initial markets, and expanded distribution is
planned  early in calendar  2001.  Snacks  volume  growth  included  gains of 12
percent for fruit  snacks,  16 percent for salty  snacks  (CHEX MIX,  GARDETTO'S
snack mix and BUGLES) and 23 percent for NATURE VALLEY  granola  bars.  Combined
unit volume for baking products,  dinner and side dish mixes grew 1 percent,  as
declines in family flour and BISQUICK  baking mix shipments were offset by gains
of 3 percent for total  dessert  mix  products  and 3 percent for HELPER  dinner
mixes.  Through the first half of fiscal 2001, combined volume for the company's
retail noncereal businesses was up 9 percent.

Big G cereal  shipments  declined 2 percent in the second  quarter and 1 percent
for the first  half,  reflecting  a  significantly  lower  level of  new-product
activity compared with the same period a year earlier.  Second-quarter  consumer
volume for Big G also was down  slightly,  but the  company's  market  share was
essentially  unchanged  at 28 percent for the quarter.  Big G's top  established
brands  continued to perform well,  recording  combined  volume and market share
growth. This established brand strength and effective  merchandising  strategies
benefited  first-half profit results.  New BIG G MILK `N CEREAL Bars and HARMONY
cereal for women performed well in the 25 percent of the country where they were
introduced in August 2000.  Distribution  of these  products will be expanded to
the remaining 75 percent of the U.S. beginning January, 2001.

Foodservice  unit  volume  grew 8 percent in the second  quarter  and 11 percent
through  the  first  half,  led  by  higher   convenience  store  volumes,   and
double-digit growth for snacks and yogurt in other foodservice channels.


<PAGE>



International Operations

Combined unit volume for the company's international  operations grew 11 percent
in the second quarter.  Snack Ventures Europe (SVE), the company's joint venture
with  PepsiCo,  reported  a 16 percent  volume  gain for the  period,  with good
performance  in western  European  markets  and  continuing  recovery in Russia.
Volume for Cereal  Partners  Worldwide  (CPW),  the company's joint venture with
Nestle, grew 5 percent in the quarter. In the U.K., CPW volume declined slightly
due to lower private  label cereal  shipments,  but branded  cereal volume grew.
CPW's overall  volume gain for the quarter  reflected  good category  growth and
market share increases in Latin America,  Southeast  Asia, and several  European
markets  including  Spain and Portugal.  General  Mills' joint venture  earnings
totaled $8.9 million through the first half, up 35 percent from the prior year.

For General Mills' wholly owned business in Canada,  second-quarter  volume grew
modestly  following 15 percent growth in the first quarter.  Through six months,
General Mills' combined international unit volume grew 11 percent,  boosting the
company's worldwide unit volume growth rate to 6 percent for the year-to-date.

Shares Outstanding

As a result of the  company's  share  repurchase  program,  average basic shares
outstanding for the second quarter  totaled 282.9 million,  7 percent lower than
the 303.5 million average a year earlier.  Average diluted shares also were down
7 percent,  to 290.2  million.  In the first half of fiscal  2001,  the  company
repurchased  approximately  4 million shares of common stock at an average price
of $35 per share.

Interest expense for the quarter totaled $52.4 million, up from the prior year's
level due to higher debt levels  associated with acquisitions and General Mills'
repurchase of 23.2 million  shares of common stock in fiscal 2000. The company's
effective  tax rate for the quarter was 35.3  percent,  in line with last year's
second quarter and the full-year fiscal 2000 rate.

Outlook

Looking ahead to the second half of fiscal 2001, our current  businesses  remain
on track to deliver  double-digit  earnings per share  growth for the year.  Our
plans for integrating General Mills and Pillsbury are essentially complete,  and
we are  ready to  implement  our  integration  plans as soon as we  receive  the
remaining regulatory approval. The Federal Trade Commission is well along in its
review,  and we expect the transaction to close early in calendar 2001. Our work
in planning the  integration  of the two  companies  has further  increased  our
confidence  that the  combination  will create  enhanced value for General Mills
shareholders.




<PAGE>


                                   PART II

Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

    (a)   The Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on September 25, 2000.

    (b)   All directors nominated were elected at the Annual Meeting.

    (c)   For the election of directors, the results were as follows:

              Stephen R. Demeritt     For              235,092,170
                                      Withheld           1,525,667

              Livio D. DeSimone       For              235,057,779
                                      Withheld           1,560,058

              William T. Esrey        For              227,298,555
                                      Withheld           9,319,282

              Raymond V. Gilmartin    For              235,036,436
                                      Withheld           1,581,401

              Judith R. Hope          For              235,058,872
                                      Withheld           1,558,965

              Robert L. Johnson       For              234,975,229
                                      Withheld           1,642,608

              Heidi G. Miller         For              234,993,646
                                      Withheld           1,624,191

              Stephen W. Sanger       For              235,097,168
                                      Withheld           1,520,669

              A. Michael Spence       For              235,044,066
                                      Withheld           1,573,771

              Dorothy A. Terrell      For              227,288,013
                                      Withheld           9,329,824

              Raymond G. Viault       For              233,591,413
                                      Withheld           3,026,424

          The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as auditors for fiscal
          2001 was approved:

                         For:     235,201,229
                     Against:         612,012
                     Abstain:         804,596

          The adoption of amended and restated General Mills, Inc. Executive
          Incentive Plan was approved:

                         For:     222,767,986
                     Against:      11,894,744
                     Abstain:       1,955,107


<PAGE>



          The Stockholder Proposal on Genetically Modified Organisms was
          rejected:

                         For:       8,523,438
                     Against:     183,820,964
                     Abstain:       9,091,923
             Broker Non-Vote:      35,181,512

          The Stockholder Proposal on Global Workplace Standards was rejected:

                         For:      17,105,483
                     Against:     172,466,916
                     Abstain:      11,863,926
             Broker Non-Vote:      35,181,512


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/A for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2000, which 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 of Computation of Earnings per Share.

          Exhibit 12   Statement of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

          Exhibit 27   Financial Data Schedule.

    (b)   Reports on Form 8-K

(1)                On September 1, 2000,  the Company filed Form 8-K,  filing as
                   an exhibit the August 31, 2000 press release  concerning  the
                   Federal Trade Commission's request for additional information
                   in  connection  with its  antitrust  review of the  Company's
                   proposed  acquisition  of the Pillsbury  business from Diageo
                   plc.

(2)                On October 26, 2000, the Company filed Form 8-K, filing as an
                   exhibit  the  consent  of  KPMG  LLP  for   incorporation  by
                   reference in the Company's  registration  statements on Forms
                   S-3 and S-8 of their report dated August 10, 2000 relating to
                   certain financial statements of The Pillsbury Company.




<PAGE>




                                   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  January 5, 2001                                  /s/ S. S. Marshall
      ---------------               -------------------------------------
                                    S. S. Marshall
                                    Senior Vice President,
                                    General Counsel


Date  January 5, 2001                                     /s/ K. L. Thome
      ---------------               -------------------------------------
                                    K. L. Thome
                                    Senior Vice President,
                                    Financial Operations




<PAGE>


                                                                  Exhibit 11
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

                                        Thirteen Weeks Ended       Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
                                      ------------------------    -----------------------

                                      November 26, November 28,   November 26, November 28,
                                          2000        1999           2000        1999
                                      -----------  -----------    -----------  -----------



<S>                                        <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>
Net Earnings                               $202.7     $ 193.7     $361.6       $352.2
                                           ======     =======     ======       ======


Average Number of Common Shares -
   Basic EPS (a)                            282.9       303.5      283.3        303.9

Incremental Share Effect from:

  -Stock options (b)                          6.7         9.5        6.4          9.7

  -Restricted stock, stock rights
         and puts                              .6          .1         .6           .1
                                           ------       -----     ------       ------

Average Number of Common Shares -
  Diluted EPS                               290.2       313.1      290.3        313.7
                                            =====       =====      =====        =====

Earnings per Share - Basic                  $ .72       $ .64      $1.28        $1.16
                                            =====       =====      =====        =====

Earnings per Share - Diluted                $ .70       $ .62      $1.25        $1.12
                                            =====       =====      =====        =====


<FN>
Notes to Exhibit 11:

(a)  Computed as the 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.
</FN>
</TABLE>




<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit 12



                             RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      Twenty-six Weeks Ended            Fiscal Year Ended
                      ----------------------   --------------------------------------
                      Nov. 26,    Nov. 28,     May 28, May 30, May 31, May 25, May 26,
                         2000        1999        2000    1999    1998    1997    1996
                      ----------------------   --------------------------------------

<S>                     <C>         <C>         <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 Ratio of Earnings
 to Fixed Charges       5.59        7.77        6.25    6.67    5.63    6.54    6.94

</TABLE>


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.




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