Edgar Filing: GENERAL MILLS INC

Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

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 26, 2012

¨	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: 001-01185

GENERAL MILLS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


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

Number One General Mills Boulevard
Minneapolis, Minnesota		55426
(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 ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer	x	Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated	¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨ No x

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 9, 2012: 647,308,942 (excluding 107,304,386 shares held in the treasury).

General Mills, Inc.

Table of Contents


		Page
PART I – Financial Information

Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended February 26, 2012, and February 27, 2011		3
	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of February 26, 2012, and May 29, 2011		4
	Consolidated Statements of Total Equity, Comprehensive Income, and Redeemable Interest for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, and the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011		5
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended February 26, 2012, and February 27, 2011		6

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		26

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		36

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		37

PART II – Other Information

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		37

Item 6.	Exhibits		38

Signatures			39

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions, Except per Share Data)


	Quarter Ended					Nine-Month Period Ended
	Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011
Net sales	$	4,120.1	$	3,646.2		$	12,591.5	$	11,245.9

Cost of sales		2,612.7		2,215.4			8,042.9		6,656.8

Selling, general, and administrative expenses		838.7		790.2			2,523.3		2,363.2

Divestiture (gain)		—		(14.3	)		—		(14.3	)

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs		0.1		0.1			0.9		2.1


Operating profit		668.6		654.8			2,024.4		2,238.1

Interest, net		96.0		85.0			268.6		256.9


Earnings before income taxes and after-tax earnings from joint ventures		572.6		569.8			1,755.8		1,981.2

Income taxes		187.3		181.7			574.2		565.4

After-tax earnings from joint ventures		15.5		5.4			72.7		66.6


Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests		400.8		393.5			1,254.3		1,482.4

Net earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests		9.3		1.4			12.4		4.3


Net earnings attributable to General Mills	$	391.5	$	392.1		$	1,241.9	$	1,478.1


Earnings per share - basic	$	0.61	$	0.61		$	1.92	$	2.30


Earnings per share - diluted	$	0.58	$	0.59		$	1.86	$	2.22


Dividends per share	$	0.305	$	0.280		$	0.915	$	0.840

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(In Millions, Except Par Value)


	Feb. 26, 2012			May 29, 2011
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	485.3		$	619.6
Receivables		1,437.1			1,162.3
Inventories		1,528.0			1,609.3
Deferred income taxes		27.8			27.3
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		358.1			483.5


Total current assets		3,836.3			3,902.0

Land, buildings, and equipment		3,549.9			3,345.9
Goodwill		8,205.0			6,750.8
Other intangible assets		4,728.4			3,813.3
Other assets		1,119.4			862.5


Total assets	$	21,439.0		$	18,674.5


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,011.9		$	995.1
Current portion of long-term debt		749.1			1,031.3
Notes payable		690.8			311.3
Other current liabilities		1,397.2			1,321.5


Total current liabilities		3,849.0			3,659.2

Long-term debt		6,194.8			5,542.5
Deferred income taxes		1,367.6			1,127.4
Other liabilities		1,774.8			1,733.2


Total liabilities		13,186.2			12,062.3

Redeemable interest		848.4			—

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, 754.6 shares issued, $0.10 par value		75.5			75.5
Additional paid-in capital		1,337.7			1,319.8
Retained earnings		9,833.7			9,191.3
Common stock in treasury, at cost, shares of 107.4 and 109.8		(3,213.4	)		(3,210.3	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,111.9	)		(1,010.8	)


Total stockholders’ equity		6,921.6			6,365.5

Noncontrolling interests		482.8			246.7


Total equity		7,404.4			6,612.2


Total liabilities and equity	$	21,439.0		$	18,674.5

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Total Equity, Comprehensive Income, and Redeemable Interest

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions, Except per Share Data)



	$.10 Par Value Common Stock
	(One Billion Shares Authorized)
	Issued							Treasury									Accumulated
	Shares		Par Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital			Shares			Amount			Retained Earnings			Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Non- controlling Interests			Total Equity			Redeemable Interest			Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance as of May 30, 2010		754.6	$	75.5	$	1,307.1			(98.1	)	$	(2,615.2	)	$	8,122.4		$	(1,486.9	)	$	245.1		$	5,648.0
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests															1,798.3						5.2			1,803.5					$	1,803.5
Other comprehensive income																		476.1			0.7			476.8						476.8
Total comprehensive income																								2,280.3						2,280.3
Cash dividends declared ($1.12 per share)															(729.4	)								(729.4	)
Shares purchased									(31.8	)		(1,163.5	)											(1,163.5	)
Stock compensation plans (includes income tax benefits of $106.2)						(22.2	)		20.1			568.4												546.2
Unearned compensation related to restricted stock unit awards						(70.4	)																	(70.4	)
Earned compensation						105.3																		105.3
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders																					(4.3	)		(4.3	)
Balance as of May 29, 2011		754.6		75.5		1,319.8			(109.8	)		(3,210.3	)		9,191.3			(1,010.8	)		246.7			6,612.2
Comprehensive income:
Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests															1,241.9						3.6			1,245.5		$	8.8			1,254.3
Other comprehensive loss																		(101.1	)		(26.8	)		(127.9	)		(54.0	)		(181.9	)
Total comprehensive income (loss)																								1,117.6			(45.2	)		1,072.4
Cash dividends declared ($0.915 per share)															(599.5	)								(599.5	)
Shares purchased									(8.3	)		(312.5	)											(312.5	)
Stock compensation plans (includes income tax benefits of $58.7)						10.8			10.7			309.4												320.2
Unearned compensation related to restricted stock unit awards						(92.1	)																	(92.1	)
Earned compensation						88.4																		88.4
Addition of redeemable and noncontrolling interest from acquisitions																					263.8			263.8			904.4
Increase (decrease) in fair value of redeemable interest						10.8																		10.8			(10.8	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders																					(4.5	)		(4.5	)
Balance as of Feb. 26, 2012		754.6	$	75.5	$	1,337.7			(107.4	)	$	(3,213.4	)	$	9,833.7		$	(1,111.9	)	$	482.8		$	7,404.4		$	848.4

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions)


	Nine-Month Period Ended
	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011
Cash Flows - Operating Activities
Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests	$	1,254.3		$	1,482.4
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		398.8			354.5
After-tax earnings from joint ventures		(72.7	)		(66.6	)
Stock-based compensation		88.4			81.4
Deferred income taxes		49.9			105.8
Tax benefit on exercised options		(58.7	)		(75.1	)
Distributions of earnings from joint ventures		43.2			31.4
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan contributions		(15.5	)		(11.3	)
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan expense		58.4			55.1
Divestiture (gain)		—			(14.3	)
Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs (income)		(2.6	)		(2.5	)
Changes in current assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions		66.7			(612.4	)
Other, net		(153.0	)		(80.3	)


Net cash provided by operating activities		1,657.2			1,248.1


Cash Flows - Investing Activities
Purchases of land, buildings, and equipment		(423.9	)		(423.4	)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(900.1	)		(84.8	)
Investments in affiliates, net		(22.1	)		(1.8	)
Proceeds from disposal of land, buildings, and equipment		1.4			3.5
Proceeds from divestiture of product line		—			24.9
Exchangeable note		(131.6	)		—
Other, net		6.6			14.7


Net cash used by investing activities		(1,469.7	)		(466.9	)


Cash Flows - Financing Activities
Change in notes payable		384.9			(78.4	)
Issuance of long-term debt		1,390.5			500.0
Payment of long-term debt		(1,439.3	)		(5.5	)
Proceeds from common stock issued on exercised options		208.5			256.3
Tax benefit on exercised options		58.7			75.1
Purchases of common stock for treasury		(312.5	)		(1,163.5	)
Dividends paid		(599.5	)		(547.5	)
Other, net		(8.4	)		(8.5	)


Net cash used by financing activities		(317.1	)		(972.0	)


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(4.7	)		57.9

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(134.3	)		(132.9	)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year		619.6			673.2


Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$	485.3		$	540.3


Cash Flow from Changes in Current Assets and Liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:
Receivables	$	(115.0	)	$	(110.3	)
Inventories		111.8			(304.6	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		146.4			(33.0	)
Accounts payable		(76.8	)		4.1
Other current liabilities		0.3			(168.6	)


Changes in current assets and liabilities	$	66.7		$	(612.4	)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(1) Background

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of General Mills, Inc. (we, us, our, General Mills, or the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include certain information and disclosures required for comprehensive financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature, including the elimination of all intercompany transactions and any noncontrolling and redeemable interests’ share of those transactions. Operating results for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended February 26, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending May 27, 2012.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011. The accounting policies used in preparing these Consolidated Financial Statements are the same as those described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in that Form 10-K, in addition to the policy noted below.

Redeemable Interest

Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) holds a 49 percent redeemable interest in Yoplait S.A.S., a consolidated entity. Sodiaal has the ability to put a limited portion of its redeemable interest to us at fair value once per year up to a maximum of 9 years. This put option requires us to classify Sodiaal’s interest as a redeemable interest outside of equity on our consolidated balance sheets for as long as the put is exercisable by Sodiaal. When the put is no longer exercisable, the redeemable interest will be reclassified to noncontrolling interests on our consolidated balance sheets. We adjust the value of the redeemable interest through additional paid-in capital on our consolidated balance sheets quarterly to the redeemable interest’s redemption value, which approximates its fair value. The significant assumptions used to estimate the redemption value include projected revenue growth and profitability from our long range plan, capital spending, depreciation and taxes, foreign currency rates, and a discount rate.

(2) Acquisitions and Divestitures

On July 1, 2011, we acquired a 51 percent controlling interest in Yoplait S.A.S. and a 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques S.A.S. from PAI Partners and Sodiaal for an aggregate purchase price of $1.2 billion. Yoplait S.A.S. operates yogurt businesses in several countries, including France, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and oversees franchise relationships around the world. Yoplait Marques S.A.S. holds the worldwide rights to Yoplait and related trademarks. We consolidated both entities into our consolidated balance sheets and recorded goodwill of $1.5 billion. Indefinite lived intangible assets acquired primarily include brands of $437.3 million. Finite lived intangible assets acquired primarily include franchise agreements of $440.2 million and customer relationships of $130.9 million. In addition, we purchased a zero coupon exchangeable note due in 2016 from Sodiaal with a notional amount of $131.6 million and a fair value of $110.9 million. As of the date of the acquisition, the pro forma effects of this acquisition were not material.

We have conducted a preliminary assessment of certain assets and liabilities related to the acquisitions of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S. We are continuing our review of these items during the measurement period, and if new information is obtained about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date, the acquisition accounting will be revised to reflect the resulting adjustments to current estimates of these items. During the second and third quarters of fiscal 2012, we recorded adjustments to certain purchase accounting assets and liabilities that resulted in a $2.6 million increase in goodwill.

(3) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during fiscal 2012 were as follows:


In Millions	U.S. Retail		International			Bakeries and Foodservice		Joint Ventures			Total
Balance as of May 29, 2011	$	5,142.9	$	162.6		$	921.1	$	524.2		$	6,750.8
Acquisitions		562.1		982.6			—		—			1,544.7
Purchase accounting adjustments (a)		—		2.6			—		—			2.6
Other activity, primarily foreign currency translation		—		(61.3	)		—		(31.8	)		(93.1	)
Balance as of Feb. 26, 2012	$	5,705.0	$	1,086.5		$	921.1	$	492.4		$	8,205.0

(a)	See Note 2.

The changes in the carrying amount of other intangible assets during fiscal 2012 were as follows:


In Millions	U.S. Retail			International			Joint Ventures			Total
Balance as of May 29, 2011	$	3,242.5		$	497.9		$	72.9		$	3,813.3
Acquisitions		—			1,127.6			—			1,127.6
Purchase accounting adjustment (a)		—			(92.4	)		—			(92.4	)
Other activity, primarily foreign currency translation		(2.7	)		(112.8	)		(4.6	)		(120.1	)
Balance as of Feb. 26, 2012	$	3,239.8		$	1,420.3		$	68.3		$	4,728.4

(a)	See Note 2.

(4) Inventories

The components of inventories were as follows:


In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012			May 29, 2011
Raw materials and packaging	$	348.6		$	286.2
Finished goods		1,228.0			1,273.6
Grain		191.4			218.0
Excess of FIFO or weighted-average cost over LIFO cost		(240.0	)		(168.5	)
Total	$	1,528.0		$	1,609.3

(5) Financial Instruments, Risk Management Activities, and Fair Values

Financial Instruments. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable, other current liabilities, and notes payable approximate fair value. Marketable securities are carried at fair value. As of February 26, 2012, and May 29, 2011, a comparison of cost and market values of our marketable debt and equity securities is as follows:


	Cost				Market Value				Gross Gains				Gross Losses
In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012		May 29, 2011		Feb. 26, 2012		May 29, 2011		Feb. 26, 2012		May 29, 2011		Feb. 26, 2012		May 29, 2011
Available for sale:
Debt securities	$	8.1	$	8.9	$	8.3	$	9.0	$	0.2	$	0.1	$	—	$	—
Equity securities		2.0		2.0		6.0		6.0		4.0		4.0		—		—
Total	$	10.1	$	10.9	$	14.3	$	15.0	$	4.2	$	4.1	$	—	$	—

For the third quarter of fiscal 2012, there were no gains or losses from sales of available-for-sale marketable securities. Gains and losses are determined by specific identification. Classification of marketable securities as current or noncurrent is dependent upon our intended holding period, the security’s maturity date, or both. The aggregate unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax effects, are classified in accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCI) within stockholders’ equity. Scheduled maturities of our marketable securities are as follows:


	Available for Sale
In Millions	Cost		Market Value
Under 1 year (current)	$	2.5	$	2.6
From 1 to 3 years		0.5		0.5
From 4 to 7 years		5.1		5.2
Equity securities		2.0		6.0
Total	$	10.1	$	14.3

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $2.3 million as of February 26, 2012, were pledged as collateral for certain derivative contracts.

The fair values and carrying amounts of long-term debt, including the current portion, were $7,680.0 million and $6,943.9 million, respectively, as of February 26, 2012. The fair value of long-term debt was estimated using market quotations and discounted cash flows based on our current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of instruments.

Risk Management Activities. As a part of our ongoing operations, we are exposed to market risks such as changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity prices. To manage these risks, we may enter into various derivative transactions (e.g., futures, options, and swaps) pursuant to our established policies.

Commodity Price Risk. Many commodities we use in the production and distribution of our products are exposed to market price risks. We utilize derivatives to manage price risk for our principal ingredients and energy costs, including grains (oats, wheat, and corn), oils (principally soybean), non-fat dry milk, natural gas, and diesel fuel. Our primary objective when entering into these derivative contracts is to achieve certainty with regard to the future price of commodities purchased for use in our supply chain. We manage our exposures through a combination of purchase orders, long-term contracts with suppliers, exchange-traded futures and options, and over-the-counter options and swaps. We offset our exposures based on current and projected market conditions and generally seek to acquire the inputs at as close to our planned cost as possible.

We use derivatives to manage our exposure to changes in commodity prices. We do not perform the assessments required to achieve hedge accounting for commodity derivative positions. Accordingly, the changes in the values of these derivatives are recorded currently in cost of sales in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Although we do not meet the criteria for cash flow hedge accounting, we nonetheless believe that these instruments are effective in achieving our objective of providing certainty in the future price of commodities purchased for use in our supply chain. Accordingly, for purposes of measuring segment operating performance these gains and losses are reported in unallocated corporate items outside of segment operating results until such time that the exposure we are managing affects earnings. At that time we reclassify the gain or loss from unallocated corporate items to segment operating profit, allowing our operating segments to realize the economic effects of the derivative without experiencing any resulting mark-to-market volatility, which remains in unallocated corporate items.

Unallocated corporate items for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended February 26, 2012, and February 27, 2011, included:


	Quarter Ended					Nine-Month Period Ended
In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011
Net gain (loss) on mark-to-market valuation of commodity positions	$	20.5	$	56.4		$	(88.0	)	$	146.2
Net (gain) loss on commodity positions reclassified from unallocated corporate items to segment operating profit		23.3		(28.6	)		22.5			(41.7	)
Net mark-to-market revaluation of certain grain inventories		2.6		5.6			(20.2	)		28.8
Net mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions recognized in unallocated corporate items	$	46.4	$	33.4		$	(85.7	)	$	133.3

As of February 26, 2012, the net notional value of commodity derivatives was $239.3 million, of which $32.8 million related to agricultural inputs and $206.5 million related to energy inputs. These contracts relate to inputs that generally will be utilized within the next 12 months.

Interest Rate Risk. We are exposed to interest rate volatility with regard to future issuances of fixed-rate debt, and existing and future issuances of floating-rate debt. Primary exposures include U.S. Treasury rates, LIBOR, Euribor, and commercial paper rates in the United States and Europe. We use interest rate swaps and forward-starting interest rate swaps to hedge our exposure to interest rate changes, to reduce the volatility of our financing costs, and to achieve a desired proportion of fixed versus floating-rate debt, based on current and projected market conditions. Generally under these swaps, we agree with a counterparty to exchange the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts based on an agreed upon notional principal amount.

Floating Interest Rate Exposures — Floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps are accounted for as cash flow hedges, as are all hedges of forecasted issuances of debt. Effectiveness is assessed based on either the perfectly effective hypothetical derivative method or changes in the present value of interest payments on the underlying debt. Effective gains and losses deferred to AOCI are reclassified into earnings over the life of the associated debt. Ineffective gains and losses are recorded as net interest. The amount of hedge ineffectiveness was less than $1 million for the periods ended February 26, 2012.

Fixed Interest Rate Exposures — Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps are accounted for as fair value hedges with effectiveness assessed based on changes in the fair value of the underlying debt and derivatives, using incremental borrowing rates currently available on loans with similar terms and maturities. Ineffective gains and losses on these derivatives and the underlying hedged items are recorded as net interest. The amount of hedge ineffectiveness was less than $1 million for the periods ended February 26, 2012.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, first quarter of fiscal 2012 and second quarter of fiscal 2012, we entered into $500.0 million, $300.0 million, and $200.0 million of forward starting swaps with average fixed rates of 3.9 percent, 2.7 percent, and 2.4 percent, respectively, in advance of a planned debt financing. All of these forward

starting swaps were cash settled for $100.4 million coincident with the issuance of our $1.0 billion 10-year fixed rate notes in November 2011. As of February 26, 2012, there was a $97.1 million pre-tax loss in AOCI, which will be reclassified to earnings over the term of the underlying debt.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, we entered into swaps to convert $300.0 million of 1.55 percent fixed-rate notes due May 16, 2014, to floating rates.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, in advance of a planned debt financing, we entered into $500.0 million of treasury lock derivatives with an average fixed rate of 4.3 percent. All of these treasury locks were cash settled for $17.1 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2011, coincident with the issuance of our $500.0 million 30-year fixed-rate notes. As of February 26, 2012, a $15.8 million pre-tax loss remained in AOCI, which will be reclassified to earnings over the term of the underlying debt.

As of February 26, 2012, an $11.0 million pre-tax loss on cash settled interest rate swaps for our $1.0 billion 10-year fixed rate notes issued January 24, 2007 remained in AOCI, which will be reclassified to earnings over the term of the underlying debt.

The following table summarizes the notional amounts and weighted-average interest rates of our interest rate swaps. Average floating rates are based on rates as of the end of the reporting period.


In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012			May 29, 2011
Pay-floating swaps - notional amount	$	882.2		$	838.0
Average receive rate		1.7	%		1.8	%
Average pay rate		0.3	%		0.2	%
Pay-fixed swaps - notional amount	$	12.3		$	—
Average receive rate		0.5	%		—	%
Average pay rate		8.2	%		—	%
Pay-fixed forward starting swaps - notional amount	$	—		$	500.0

The swap contracts mature at various dates from fiscal 2012 to 2014 as follows:


In Millions	Pay Floating		Pay Fixed
2012	$	—	$	12.3
2013		582.2		—
2014		300.0		—
Total	$	882.2	$	12.3

Foreign Exchange Risk. Foreign currency fluctuations affect our net investments in foreign subsidiaries and foreign currency cash flows related to foreign-denominated debt, third party purchases, intercompany loans, and product shipments. We are also exposed to the translation of foreign currency earnings to the U.S. dollar. Our principal exposures are to the Australian dollar, British pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi, euro, Japanese yen, Swiss franc, and Mexican peso. We mainly use foreign currency forward contracts to selectively hedge our foreign currency cash flow exposures. We also generally swap our foreign-denominated commercial paper borrowings and nonfunctional currency intercompany loans back to U.S. dollars or the functional currency; the gains or losses on these derivatives offset the foreign currency revaluation gains or losses recorded in earnings on the associated borrowings. We generally do not hedge more than 18 months forward.

As of February 26, 2012, the notional value of foreign exchange derivatives was $1,009.3 million. The amount of hedge ineffectiveness was less than $1 million for the periods ended February 26, 2012.

We also have many net investments in foreign subsidiaries that are denominated in euros. We hedged a portion of these net investments by issuing euro-denominated commercial paper and foreign exchange forward contracts. As of February 26, 2012, we had deferred net foreign currency transaction losses of $95.7 million in AOCI associated with hedging activity.

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Statement Presentation

We categorize assets and liabilities into one of three levels based on the assumptions (inputs) used in valuing the asset or liability. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, while Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1:

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:

Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets.

Level 3:

Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.

The fair values of our assets, liabilities, and derivative positions recorded at fair value as of February 26, 2012 and May 29, 2011, were as follows:

Feb. 26, 2012

Fair Values of Assets

Fair Values of Liabilities

In Millions

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

Interest rate contracts (a) (b)

—

8.2

—

8.2

—

Foreign exchange contracts (c) (d)

—

6.1

—

6.1

—

(9.3

)

—

(9.3

)

Total

—

14.3

—

14.3

—

(9.3

)

—

(9.3

)

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

Interest rate contracts (b) (c)

—

0.8

—

0.8

—

(0.2

)

—

(0.2

)

Foreign exchange contracts (c) (d)

—

11.4

—

11.4

—

(1.0

)

—

(1.0

)

Equity contracts (c) (e)

—

(0.1

)

—

(0.1

)

Commodity contracts (c) (e)

4.6

9.7

—

14.3

—

(1.3

)

—

(1.3

)

Grain contracts (c) (e)

—

7.9

—

7.9

—

(22.5

)

—

(22.5

)

Total

4.6

29.8

—

34.4

—

(25.1

)

—

(25.1

)

Other assets and liabilities reported at fair value:

Marketable investments (a) (f)

6.0

8.3

—

14.3

—

Total

6.0

8.3

—

14.3

—

Total assets, liabilities, and derivative positions recorded at fair value

10.6

52.4

—

63.0

—

(34.4

)

—

(34.4

)


	May 29, 2011								May 29, 2011
	Fair Values of Assets								Fair Values of Liabilities
In Millions	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate contracts (a) (b)	$	—	$	11.2	$	—	$	11.2	$	—	$	(21.3	)	$	—	$	(21.3	)
Foreign exchange contracts (c) (d)		—		10.1		—		10.1		—		(14.9	)		—		(14.9	)
Total		—		21.3		—		21.3		—		(36.2	)		—		(36.2	)

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate contracts (b) (c)		—		2.2		—		2.2		—		(0.9	)		—		(0.9	)
Foreign exchange contracts (c) (d)		—		57.1		—		57.1		—		(19.9	)		—		(19.9	)
Commodity contracts (c) (e)		14.6		16.3		—		30.9		—		—			—		—
Grain contracts (c) (e)		—		61.1		—		61.1		—		(29.0	)		—		(29.0	)
Total		14.6		136.7		—		151.3		—		(49.8	)		—		(49.8	)

Other assets and liabilities reported at fair value:
Marketable investments (a) (f)		5.9		9.1		—		15.0		—		—			—		—
Total		5.9		9.1		—		15.0		—		—			—		—

Total assets, liabilities, and derivative positions recorded at fair value	$	20.5	$	167.1	$	—	$	187.6	$	—	$	(86.0	)	$	—	$	(86.0	)

(a)	These contracts and investments are recorded as other assets or as other liabilities, as appropriate, based on whether in a gain or loss position. Certain marketable investments are recorded as cash and cash equivalents.

(b)	Based on LIBOR and swap rates.

(c)	These contracts are recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets or as other current liabilities, as appropriate, based on whether in a gain or loss position.

(d)	Based on observable market transactions of spot currency rates and forward currency prices.

(e)	Based on prices of futures exchanges and recently reported transactions in the marketplace.

(f)	Based on prices of common stock and bond matrix pricing.

We did not significantly change our valuation techniques from prior periods.

Information related to our cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and other derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended February 26, 2012 and February 27, 2011, were as follows:


	Interest Rate Contracts						Foreign Exchange Contracts						Equity Contracts				Commodity Contracts				Total
	Quarter Ended						Quarter Ended						Quarter Ended				Quarter Ended				Quarter Ended
In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011		Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011		Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:

Amount of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) (a)	$	—		$	—		$	(13.0	)	$	(13.0	)	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	(13.0	)	$	(13.0	)

Amount of loss reclassified from AOCI into earnings (a) (b)		(3.1	)		(3.2	)		(1.7	)		(2.0	)		—		—		—		—		(4.8	)		(5.2	)

Amount of loss recognized in earnings (c) (d)		—			—			(2.4	)		—			—		—		—		—		(2.4	)		—

Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships:

Amount of net loss recognized in earnings (e)		(0.5	)		(0.9	)		—			—			—		—		—		—		(0.5	)		(0.9	)

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings (e)		—			1.8			(15.8	)		7.0			2.3		—		20.5		56.4		7.0			65.2


	Interest Rate Contracts						Foreign Exchange Contracts						Equity Contracts				Commodity Contracts					Total
	Nine-Month Period Ended						Nine-Month Period Ended						Nine-Month Period Ended				Nine-Month Period Ended					Nine-Month Period Ended
In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011		Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011		Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:

Amount of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) (a)	$	(78.6	)	$	—		$	(2.0	)	$	(20.4	)	$	—	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	(80.6	)	$	(20.4	)

Amount of loss reclassified from AOCI into earnings (a) (b)		(5.0	)		(9.8	)		(6.8	)		(11.5	)		—		—		—			—		(11.8	)		(21.3	)

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings (c) (d)		(0.5	)		—			(2.4	)		0.3			—		—		—			—		(2.9	)		0.3

Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships:

Amount of net gain (loss) recognized in earnings (e)		(0.7	)		0.3			—			—			—		—		—			—		(0.7	)		0.3

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings (e)		—			0.9			2.1			20.4			2.3		—		(88.0	)		146.2		(83.6	)		167.5

(a)	Effective portion.

(b)	Loss reclassified from AOCI into earnings is reported in interest, net for interest rate swaps and in cost of sales and selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses for foreign exchange contracts.

(c)	All gain (loss) recognized in earnings is related to the ineffective portion of the hedging relationship. No amounts were reported as a result of being excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

(d)	Gain (loss) recognized in earnings is reported in SG&A expenses for foreign exchange contracts.

(e)	Gain (loss) recognized in earnings is reported in interest, net for interest rate contracts, in cost of sales for commodity contracts, and in SG&A expenses for foreign exchange contracts.

Amounts Recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. Unrealized losses from interest rate cash flow hedges recorded in AOCI as of February 26, 2012, totaled $75.7 million after tax. These deferred losses are primarily related to interest rate swaps we entered into in contemplation of future borrowings and other financing requirements and are being reclassified into net interest over the lives of the hedged forecasted transactions. Unrealized losses from foreign currency cash flow hedges recorded in AOCI as of February 26, 2012, were $1.0 million after-tax. The net amount of pre-tax gains and losses in AOCI as of February 26, 2012, that we expect to be reclassified into net earnings within the next 12 months is $14.1 million of expense.

Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features. Certain of our derivative instruments contain provisions that require us to maintain an investment grade credit rating on our debt from each of the major credit rating agencies. If our debt were to fall below investment grade, the counterparties to the derivative instruments could request full collateralization on derivative instruments in net liability positions. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a liability position on February 26, 2012, was less than $1 million. We would be required to post this amount of collateral to the counterparties if the contingent features were triggered.

Counterparty Credit Risk. We enter into interest rate, foreign exchange, and certain commodity and equity derivatives, primarily with a diversified group of highly rated counterparties. We continually monitor our positions and the credit ratings of the counterparties involved and, by policy, limit the amount of credit exposure to any one party. These transactions may expose us to potential losses due to the risk of nonperformance by these counterparties; however, we have not incurred a material loss. We also enter into commodity futures transactions through various regulated exchanges.

The amount of loss due to the credit risk of the counterparties, should the counterparties fail to perform according to the terms of the contracts, is $35.6 million against which we do not hold any collateral. Under the terms of master swap agreements, some of our transactions require collateral or other security to support financial instruments subject to threshold levels of exposure and counterparty credit risk. Collateral assets are either cash or U.S. Treasury instruments and are held in a trust account that we may access if the counterparty defaults.

(6) Debt

The components of notes payable were as follows:


In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012		May 29, 2011
U.S. commercial paper	$	551.9	$	192.5
Financial institutions		138.9		118.8

Total	$	690.8	$	311.3

To ensure availability of funds, we maintain bank credit lines sufficient to cover our outstanding short-term borrowings. Commercial paper is a continuing source of short-term financing. We issue commercial paper in the United States and Europe. Our commercial paper borrowings are supported by $2.9 billion of fee-paid committed credit lines, consisting of a $1.8 billion facility expiring in October 2012 and a $1.1 billion facility expiring in October 2013. We also have $421.7 million in uncommitted credit lines that support our foreign operations. As of February 26, 2012, there were no amounts outstanding on the fee-paid committed credit lines and $138.9 million was drawn on the uncommitted lines.

On February 15, 2012, we repaid $1.0 billion of 6.0 percent notes. In November 2011, we issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.15 percent notes due December 15, 2021. The net proceeds were used to repay a portion of our notes due February 15, 2012, reduce our commercial paper borrowings, and for general corporate purposes. Interest on these notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. These notes may be redeemed at our option at any time prior to September 15, 2021 for a specified make whole amount and any time on or after that date at par plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. These notes are senior unsecured, unsubordinated obligations that include a change of control repurchase provision.

As part of our acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S., we consolidated $457.9 million of primarily euro-denominated Euribor-based floating-rate bank debt. In December 2011, we refinanced this debt with $390.5 million of euro-denominated Euribor-based floating-rate bank debt due at various dates through December 15, 2014.

In May 2011, we issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 1.55 percent fixed-rate notes and $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of floating-rate notes, both due May 16, 2014. The proceeds of these notes were used to repay a portion of our outstanding commercial paper. The floating-rate notes bear interest equal to three-month LIBOR plus 35 basis points, subject to quarterly reset. Interest on the floating-rate notes is payable quarterly in arrears. Interest on the fixed-rate notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. The fixed-rate notes may be redeemed at our option at any time for a specified make whole amount. These notes are senior unsecured, unsubordinated obligations that include a change of control repurchase provision.

In June 2010, we issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.4 percent notes due June 15, 2040. The proceeds of these notes were used to repay a portion of our outstanding commercial paper. Interest on these notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. These notes may be redeemed at our option at any time for a specified make whole amount. These notes are senior unsecured, unsubordinated obligations that include a change of control repurchase provision.

Certain of our long-term debt agreements contain restrictive covenants. As of February 26, 2012, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

(7) Redeemable and Noncontrolling Interests

We have a 51 percent controlling interest in Yoplait S.A.S. and a 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques S.A.S. Sodiaal holds the remaining interests in each of the entities. We consolidate both entities into our consolidated financial statements.

On the acquisition date, we recorded the $263.8 million fair value of Sodiaal’s 50 percent euro-denominated interest in Yoplait Marques S.A.S. as a noncontrolling interest on our consolidated balance sheets. Yoplait Marques S.A.S. earns a royalty stream through a licensing agreement with Yoplait S.A.S. for the rights to Yoplait and related trademarks. Yoplait Marques S.A.S. pays dividends annually based on its available cash as of its fiscal year end.

On the acquisition date, we recorded the $904.4 million fair value of Sodiaal’s 49 percent euro-denominated interest in Yoplait S.A.S. as a redeemable interest on our consolidated balance sheets. Sodiaal has the ability to put a limited portion of its redeemable interest to us once per year at fair value up to a maximum of 9 years. We adjust the value of the redeemable interest through additional paid-in capital on our consolidated balance sheets quarterly to the redeemable interest’s redemption value, which approximates its fair value. Yoplait S.A.S. pays dividends annually if it meets certain financial metrics set forth in its shareholders agreement. As of February 26, 2012, the redemption value of the euro-denominated redeemable interest was $848.4 million.

In addition, a subsidiary of Yoplait S.A.S. has entered into an exclusive milk supply agreement for its European operations with Sodiaal at market-determined prices through July 1, 2021.

(8) Stockholders’ Equity

The following table provides details of total comprehensive income (loss):


	Quarter Ended Feb. 26, 2012														Quarter Ended Feb. 27, 2011
	General Mills									Noncontrolling Interests		Redeemable Interest			General Mills									Noncontrolling Interests		Redeemable Interest
In Millions	Pretax			Tax			Net			Net		Net			Pretax			Tax			Net			Net		Net
Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests							$	391.5		$	2.7	$	6.6								$	392.1		$	1.4	$	—
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	$	79.0		$	—			79.0			5.5		18.0		$	102.6		$	—			102.6			0.1		—
Other fair value changes:
Securities		0.9			(0.4	)		0.5			—		—			(3.6	)		1.4			(2.2	)		—		—
Hedge derivatives		(11.0	)		1.5			(9.5	)		—		(1.5	)		(13.0	)		6.1			(6.9	)		—		—
Reclassification to earnings:
Hedge derivatives		3.7			(1.4	)		2.3			—		0.8			5.2			(4.3	)		0.9			—		—
Amortization of losses and prior service costs		32.9			(12.5	)		20.4			—		—			27.2			(10.4	)		16.8			—		—
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$	105.5			(12.8	)		92.7			5.5		17.3		$	118.4			(7.2	)		111.2			0.1		—
Total comprehensive income							$	484.2		$	8.2	$	23.9								$	503.3		$	1.5	$	—


	Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 26, 2012															Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 27, 2011
	General Mills									Noncontrolling Interests			Redeemable Interest			General Mills									Noncontrolling Interests		Redeemable Interest
In Millions	Pretax			Tax			Net			Net			Net			Pretax			Tax			Net			Net		Net
Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests							$	1,241.9		$	3.6		$	8.8								$	1,478.1		$	4.3	$	—
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	$	(121.6	)	$	—		$	(121.6	)		(26.8	)		(52.9	)	$	278.7		$	—		$	278.7		$	0.4	$	—
Other fair value changes:											—			—												—		—
Securities		0.2			(0.1	)		0.1			—			—			(5.7	)		2.2			(3.5	)		—		—
Hedge derivatives		(78.1	)		30.6			(47.5	)		—			(1.9	)		(20.4	)		6.2			(14.2	)		—		—
Reclassification to earnings:											—			—												—		—
Hedge derivatives		10.7			(4.1	)		6.6			—			0.8			21.3			(8.2	)		13.1			—		—
Amortization of losses and prior service costs		98.7			(37.4	)		61.3			—			—			81.7			(31.1	)		50.6			—		—
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(90.1	)		(11.0	)		(101.1	)		(26.8	)		(54.0	)		355.6			(30.9	)		324.7			0.4		—
Total comprehensive income (loss)							$	1,140.8		$	(23.2	)	$	(45.2	)							$	1,802.8		$	4.7	$	—

Except for reclassifications to earnings, changes in other comprehensive income (loss) are primarily non-cash items.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss balances, net of tax effects, were as follows:


In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012			May 29, 2011
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	431.6		$	553.2
Unrealized gain (loss) from:
Securities		2.1			2.0
Hedge derivatives		(76.7	)		(35.8	)
Pension, other postretirement, and postemployment benefits:
Net actuarial loss		(1,451.6	)		(1,509.5	)
Prior service costs		(17.3	)		(20.7	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(1,111.9	)	$	(1,010.8	)

(9) Stock Plans

We have various stock-based compensation programs under which awards, including stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units, may be granted to employees and non-employee directors. These programs and related accounting are described on pages 64 to 67 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.

Compensation expense related to stock-based payments recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings was as follows:

Quarter Ended

Nine-Month
Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 26,

2012

Feb. 27,

2011

Feb. 26,

2012

Feb. 27,

2011

Compensation expense related to stock-based payments

31.3

38.2

115.2

124.8

As of February 26, 2012, unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options and restricted stock units was $175.6 million. This expense will be recognized over 20 months, on average.

Net cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options less shares used for withholding taxes and the intrinsic value of options exercised were as follows:


	Nine-Month Period Ended
In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011
Net cash proceeds	$	208.5	$	256.3
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$	138.4	$	181.9

We estimate the fair value of each option on the grant date using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Black-Scholes option-pricing models require us to make predictive assumptions regarding future stock price volatility, employee exercise behavior, and dividend yield. We estimate our future stock price volatility using the historical volatility over the expected term of the option, excluding time periods of volatility we believe a marketplace participant would exclude in estimating our stock price volatility. We also have considered, but did not use, implied volatility in our estimate, because trading activity in options on our stock, especially those with tenors of greater than 6 months, is insufficient to provide a reliable measure of expected volatility. Our method of selecting the other valuation assumptions is explained on page 65 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.

The estimated fair values of stock options granted and the assumptions used for the Black-Scholes option-pricing model were as follows:


	Nine-Month Period Ended
	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011
Estimated fair values of stock options granted	$	5.88		$	4.12
Assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate		2.9	%		2.9	%
Expected term		8.5 years			8.5 years
Expected volatility		17.6	%		18.5	%
Dividend yield		3.3	%		3.0	%

Information on stock option activity follows:


	Options (Thousands)			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (Millions)
Balance as of May 29, 2011		67,547.3		$	26.82
Granted		4,069.0			37.29
Exercised		(9,135.6	)		24.26
Forfeited or expired		(266.7	)		30.14
Outstanding as of Feb. 26, 2012		62,214.0		$	27.86		4.85	$	640.3
Exercisable as of Feb. 26, 2012		40,816.7		$	25.20		3.35	$	528.7

Information on restricted stock unit activity follows:


	Equity Classified					Liability Classified
	Share- Settled Units (Thousands)			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Share- Settled Units (Thousands)			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value		Cash-Settled Share-Based Units (Thousands)			Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Non-vested as of May 29, 2011		9,169.9		$	30.92		437.2		$	31.01		4,515.1		$	31.58
Granted		2,669.5			37.27		87.9			37.21		—			—
Vested		(2,998.1	)		29.77		(81.2	)		28.99		(211.1	)		31.36
Forfeited		(103.9	)		34.52		(43.0	)		32.62		(247.2	)		31.87
Non-vested as of Feb. 26, 2012		8,737.4		$	33.73		400.9		$	32.61		4,056.8		$	31.58

The total grant-date fair value of restricted stock unit awards that vested in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012 was $98.2 million, and restricted stock units with a grant-date fair value of $86.4 million vested in the nine-month period ended February 27, 2011.

(10) Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) were calculated using the following:


	Quarter Ended				Nine-Month Period Ended
In Millions, Except per Share Data	Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011		Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011
Net earnings attributable to General Mills	$	391.5	$	392.1	$	1,241.9	$	1,478.1


Average number of common shares - basic EPS		647.9		638.9		647.4		642.8
Incremental share effect from: (a)
Stock options		14.4		15.5		14.5		16.8
Restricted stock, restricted stock units, and other		5.0		5.7		4.6		5.4
Average number of common shares - diluted EPS		667.3		660.1		666.5		665.0

Earnings per share - basic	$	0.61	$	0.61	$	1.92	$	2.30
Earnings per share - diluted	$	0.58	$	0.59	$	1.86	$	2.22

(a)	Incremental shares from stock options and restricted stock units are computed by the treasury stock method. Stock options and restricted stock units excluded from our computation of diluted EPS because they were not dilutive were as follows:

Quarter Ended

Nine-Month
Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 26,

2012

Feb. 27,

2011

Feb. 26,

2012

Feb. 27,

2011

Anti-dilutive stock options and restricted stock units

2.8

5.2

5.7

5.2

(11) Share Repurchases

During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we repurchased 2.6 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $101.7 million. During the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, we repurchased 8.3 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $312.5 million.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we repurchased 5.6 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $199.9 million. During the nine-month period ended February 27, 2011, we repurchased 31.8 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,163.5 million.

(12) Statements of Cash Flows

During the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, we made net cash interest payments of $296.6 million, compared to $300.6 million in the same period last year. Also, in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, we made tax payments of $508.5 million, compared to $411.6 million in the same period last year. In addition, we acquired interests in Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S. for $1.2 billion including $261.3 million of non-cash consideration for debt assumed.

(13) Retirement and Postemployment Benefits

Components of net pension, other postretirement, and postemployment expense were as follows:


	Defined Benefit Pension Plans						Other Postretirement Benefit Plans						Postemployment Benefit Plans
	Quarter Ended						Quarter Ended						Quarter Ended
In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011
Service cost	$	28.6		$	25.4		$	4.5		$	4.6		$	1.8	$	2.0
Interest cost		59.5			57.8			13.9			15.0			1.2		1.3
Expected return on plan assets		(110.0	)		(102.1	)		(8.9	)		(8.4	)		—		—
Amortization of losses		27.0			20.4			3.7			3.7			0.4		0.5
Amortization of prior service costs (credits)		2.1			2.2			(0.9	)		(0.2	)		0.6		0.6
Other adjustments		—			—			—			—			2.3		2.0
Net expense	$	7.2		$	3.7		$	12.3		$	14.7		$	6.3	$	6.4


	Defined Benefit Pension Plans						Other Postretirement Benefit Plans						Postemployment Benefit Plans
	Nine-Month Period Ended						Nine-Month Period Ended						Nine-Month Period Ended
In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011
Service cost	$	85.7		$	75.9		$	13.5		$	13.9		$	5.6	$	6.0
Interest cost		178.5			173.0			41.7			45.0			3.6		3.8
Expected return on plan assets		(330.2	)		(306.1	)		(26.6	)		(24.9	)		—		—
Amortization of losses		81.1			61.1			10.9			10.9			1.3		1.6
Amortization of prior service costs (credits)		6.4			6.7			(2.6	)		(0.4	)		1.6		1.8
Other adjustments		—			—			—			—			6.9		6.0
Net expense	$	21.5		$	10.6		$	36.9		$	44.5		$	19.0	$	19.2

(14) Contingencies

We are party to various pending or threatened legal actions in the ordinary course of our business. In our opinion, there were no claims or litigation pending as of February 26, 2012, that were reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. These matters include a class action lawsuit filed on January 14, 2010, in the United States District Court, Central District of California, alleging that we made false and misleading claims about the digestive health benefits of our YoPlus yogurt product. The YoPlus matter is scheduled to go to trial in June 2012. We believe that we have meritorious defenses against these allegations and will vigorously defend our position. As of February 26, 2012, we have not recorded a loss contingency for this matter.

(15) Business Segment Information

We operate in the consumer foods industry. We have three operating segments by type of customer and geographic region as follows: U.S. Retail; International; and Bakeries and Foodservice.

Our U.S. Retail segment reflects business with a wide variety of grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, and drug, dollar and discount chains operating throughout the United States. Our major product categories in this business segment are ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, ready-to-serve soup, dry dinners, shelf stable and frozen vegetables, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, grain, fruit and savory snacks, and a wide variety of organic products including soup, granola bars, and cereal.

Our International segment consists of retail and foodservice businesses outside of the United States. In Canada, our major product categories are ready-to-eat cereals, shelf stable and frozen vegetables, dry dinners, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, frozen pizza snacks, refrigerated yogurt, and grain and fruit snacks. In markets outside North America, our product categories include super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts, refrigerated yogurt, grain snacks, shelf stable and frozen vegetables, refrigerated and frozen dough products, and dry dinners. Our International segment also includes products manufactured in the United States for export, mainly to Caribbean and Latin American markets, as well as products we manufacture for sale to our international joint ventures. Revenues from export activities and franchise fees are reported in the region or country where the end customer is located.

In our Bakeries and Foodservice segment our major product categories are ready-to-eat cereals, snacks, yogurt, frozen dough products, baking mixes, and flour. Many products we sell are branded to the consumer and nearly all are branded to our customers. We sell to distributors and operators in many customer channels including foodservice, convenience stores, vending, and supermarket bakeries. Substantially all of this segment’s operations are located in the United States.

Operating profit for these segments excludes unallocated corporate items, restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs, and divestiture gains and losses. Unallocated corporate items include corporate overhead expenses, variances to planned domestic employee benefits and incentives, contributions to the General Mills Foundation, and other items that are not part of our measurement of segment operating performance. These include gains and losses arising from the revaluation of certain grain inventories and gains and losses from mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions until passed back to our operating segments. These items affecting operating profit are centrally managed at the corporate level and are excluded from the measure of segment profitability reviewed by executive management. Under our supply chain organization, our manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution activities are substantially integrated across our operations in order to maximize efficiency and productivity. As a result, fixed assets and depreciation and amortization expenses are neither maintained nor available by operating segment.

Our operating segment results were as follows:


	Quarter Ended					Nine-Month Period Ended
In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011
Net sales:
U.S. Retail	$	2,609.4	$	2,513.7		$	8,058.0	$	7,810.4
International		1,041.3		688.4			3,060.9		2,097.0
Bakeries and Foodservice		469.4		444.1			1,472.6		1,338.5
Total	$	4,120.1	$	3,646.2		$	12,591.5	$	11,245.9
Operating profit:
U.S. Retail	$	512.5	$	533.0		$	1,759.1	$	1,835.0
International		96.0		68.8			310.2		219.5
Bakeries and Foodservice		66.5		66.7			205.7		216.3
Total segment operating profit		675.0		668.5			2,275.0		2,270.8

Unallocated corporate items		6.3		27.9			249.7		44.9
Divestiture (gain)		—		(14.3	)		—		(14.3	)
Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs		0.1		0.1			0.9		2.1
Operating profit	$	668.6	$	654.8		$	2,024.4	$	2,238.1

(16) New Accounting Pronouncements

In the third quarter of fiscal 2012 we adopted new accounting guidance intended to simplify goodwill impairment testing. Entities are allowed to perform a qualitative assessment of goodwill impairment to determine whether a quantitative assessment is necessary. We adopted this guidance for our annual goodwill impairment test for fiscal 2012, which was conducted in the third quarter. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our results of operations or financial position.

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

INTRODUCTION

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) should be read in conjunction with the MD&A included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011, for important background regarding, among other things, our key business drivers. Significant trademarks and service marks used in our business are set forth in italics herein. Certain terms used throughout this report are defined in a glossary on page 35 of this report.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Third Quarter Results

For the third quarter of fiscal 2012, net sales grew 13 percent to $4,120 million including 8 percentage points contributed by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. Total segment operating profit of $675 million was 1 percent higher than the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.58 was down 2 percent and diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability decreased 2 percent compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 (See pages 33-34 for a discussion of measures not defined by GAAP).

Net sales growth of 13 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was driven by 10 percentage points of contribution from volume growth, including 13 percentage points of volume growth contributed by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. Net price realization and mix contributed 3 percentage points of net sales growth. Foreign currency exchange was flat compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Components of net sales growth

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2012 vs.

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2011

U.S. Retail

International

Bakeries and
Foodservice

Combined
Segments

Contributions from volume growth (a)

-5 pts

74 pts

Flat

10 pts

Net price realization and mix

9 pts

-21 pts

6 pts

3 pts

Foreign currency exchange

-2 pts

Flat

Net sales growth

4 pts

51 pts

6 pts

13 pts

(a)	Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

Cost of sales increased $397 million from the third quarter of fiscal 2011 to $2,613 million primarily driven by a $252 million increase attributable to higher volume and a $158 million increase attributable to higher input costs and product mix. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we recorded a $46 million net decrease in cost of sales related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories compared to a net decrease of $33 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased $48 million to $839 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the same period in fiscal 2011. SG&A expenses as a percent of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were down 130 basis points compared with fiscal 2011. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily driven by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. and an 8 percent increase in advertising and media expense compared to fiscal 2011. In the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded an $11 million charge to increase an environmental liability related to an active cleanup site in Moonachie, New Jersey.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded a divestiture gain of $14 million related to the sale of our foodservice frozen baked goods product line in Australia.

Interest, net for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 totaled $96 million, an $11 million increase from the same period of fiscal 2011. The average interest rate decreased 8 basis points, including the effect of the mix of debt, generating a $1 million decrease in net interest. Average interest bearing instruments increased $901 million primarily due to the acquisitions of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S. in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, generating a $12 million increase in net interest.

The effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was 32.7 percent compared to 31.9 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The 0.8 percentage point increase was primarily due to federal legislation passed during the third quarter of fiscal 2011 which extended the credit for research and development expenditures to December 31, 2011.

After-tax earnings from joint ventures increased to $16 million compared to $5 million in the same quarter last fiscal year as fiscal 2011 included a tax restructuring charge and increased media investment in Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW). In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, net sales for CPW increased 3 percent due to 5 percentage points of growth attributable to net price realization and mix and 2 percentage points of contribution from volume growth, partially offset by 4 percentage points of unfavorable foreign currency exchange. Net sales for our Häagen-Dazs joint venture in Japan (HDJ) increased 10 percent due to 7 percentage points of favorable foreign currency exchange and 4 percentage points of growth attributable to net price realization and mix, partially offset by a 1 percentage point decrease due to lower contributions from pound volume.

Average diluted shares outstanding increased by 7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 from the same period a year ago, due primarily to the issuance of common stock from stock option exercises, partially offset by share repurchases.

Net earnings attributable to General Mills were $392 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, consistent with last year. Diluted EPS was $0.58 in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, down 2 percent from $0.59 last year. These results include the effects from the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories and integration costs resulting from the acquisitions of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S. Diluted EPS excluding these items affecting comparability, a non-GAAP measure used for management reporting and incentive compensation purposes, was $0.55 in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, down 2 percent compared to $0.56 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure and our discussion of the items affecting comparability).

Nine-month Results

For the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, net sales grew 12 percent to $12,592 million including 6 percentage points contributed by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. Total segment operating profit of $2,275 million essentially matched the nine-month period ended February 27, 2011. Diluted EPS of $1.86 was down 16 percent and diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability of $1.96 was consistent with the nine-month period ended February 27, 2011. (See pages 33-34 for a discussion of measures not defined by GAAP).

Net sales growth of 12 percent for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012 was driven by 8 percentage points of contributions from volume growth, including 11 percentage points of volume growth contributed by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. Net price realization and mix contributed 4 percentage points of net sales growth and foreign currency exchange was flat compared to the nine-month period ended February 27, 2011.

Components of net sales growth

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 26, 2012 vs.

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 27, 2011

U.S. Retail

International

Bakeries and
Foodservice

Combined
Segments

Contributions from volume growth (a)

-6 pts

62 pts

Flat

8 pts

Net price realization and mix

9 pts

-19 pts

10 pts

4 pts

Foreign currency exchange

3 pts

Flat

Net sales growth

3 pts

46 pts

10 pts

12 pts

(a)	Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

Cost of sales increased $1,386 million from the nine-month period ended February 27, 2011, to $8,043 million primarily driven by a $587 million increase attributable to higher volume and a $580 million increase attributable to higher input costs and product mix. In the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, we recorded an $86 million net increase in cost of sales related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories compared to a net decrease of $133 million in the nine-month period ended February 27, 2011.

SG&A expenses increased $160 million to $2,523 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012 versus the same period in fiscal 2011. SG&A expenses as a percent of net sales in fiscal 2012 decreased 100 basis points compared with fiscal 2011. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily driven by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S and an 8 percent increase in advertising and media expense compared to fiscal 2011. In fiscal 2011, we recorded an $11 million charge to increase an environmental liability related to an active cleanup site in Moonachie, New Jersey.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded a divestiture gain of $14 million related to the sale of our foodservice frozen baked goods product line in Australia.

Interest, net for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, totaled $269 million, a $12 million increase from the same period of fiscal 2011. The average interest rate decreased 50 basis points, including the effect of the mix of debt, generating a $26 million decrease in net interest. Average interest bearing instruments increased $914 million primarily due to the acquisitions of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S. in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, generating a $38 million increase in net interest.

The effective tax rate for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, was 32.7 percent compared to 28.5 percent for the nine-month period ended February 27, 2011. The 4.2 percentage point increase was primarily due to a $100 million reduction to tax expense recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 related to a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which was partially offset by an $11 million increase in income taxes related to an adverse court decision in fiscal 2011.

After-tax earnings from joint ventures for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, increased to $73 million compared to $67 million in the same period last fiscal year as fiscal 2011 included a tax restructuring charge and increased media investment in CPW. In the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, net sales for CPW increased 8 percent due to 3 percentage points of contribution from volume growth, 3 percentage points attributable to net price realization and mix, and 2 percentage points of favorable foreign currency exchange. Net sales for HDJ increased 10 percent due to 9 percentage points of favorable foreign currency exchange and 3 percentage points attributable to net price realization and mix, partially offset by a 2 percentage point decrease due to lower contributions from pound volume.

Average diluted shares outstanding increased by 2 million for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, from the same period a year ago, due primarily to the issuance of common stock from stock option exercises, partially offset by share repurchases.

Net earnings attributable to General Mills were $1,242 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, down 16 percent from $1,478 million in the same period last year. Diluted EPS was $1.86 in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, down 16 percent from $2.22 last year. These results include the effects from the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, integration costs resulting from the acquisitions of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S., and the net benefit from two uncertain tax matters in fiscal 2011. Diluted EPS excluding these items affecting comparability, a non-GAAP measure used for management reporting and incentive compensation purposes, of $1.96 matched the same period of fiscal 2011 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure and our discussion of the items affecting comparability).

SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS

U.S. Retail Segment Results

Net sales for our U.S. Retail operations of $2,609 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased 4 percentage points compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Favorable net price realization and mix contributed 9 percentage points of growth, partially offset by a 5 percentage point decrease due to lower contributions from pound volume.

Net sales for our U.S. Retail operations of $8,058 million for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012 increased 3 percentage points compared to the same period in fiscal 2011. Favorable net price realization and mix contributed 9 percentage points of growth, partially offset by a 6 percentage point decrease due to lower contributions from pound volume.

U.S. Retail Net Sales Percentage Change by Division


	Quarter Ended			Nine-Month Period Ended
	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 26, 2012
Big G		6	%		3	%
Meals		6			Flat
Pillsbury		Flat			4
Yoplait		(3	)		(4	)
Snacks		7			14
Baking Products		11			5
Small Planet Foods		8			13
Total		4	%		3	%

During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, net sales for Big G cereals grew 6 percent from last year driven by growth from established brands such as Honey Nut Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch along with contributions from new products including Peanut Butter Multigrain Cheerios. Meals net sales increased 6 percent, including gains from Green Giant vegetables, Helper dinner mixes, and Progresso soups. Pillsbury net sales were flat compared to last year. Net sales for Yoplait declined 3 percent as growth from Go-GURT, Yoplait Greek, and Mountain High yogurt was offset by volume declines on certain established product lines. Snacks net sales grew 7 percent, reflecting growth from Nature Valley and Fiber One snack bars. Net sales for Baking Products grew 11 percent led by contributions from Betty Crocker dessert mixes. Small Planet Food’s net sales were up 8 percent, led by Lärabar fruit and nut energy bars and Cascadian Farm cereals and grain snacks.

Segment operating profit decreased 4 percent to $512 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 and 4 percent to $1,759 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012 versus the same periods a year ago. These decreases were driven by higher input costs, lower volume, and an increase in advertising and media expense of 2 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 and 5 percent in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012.

International Segment Results

Net sales for our International segment of $1,041 million increased 51 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011, including 43 percentage points contributed by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. Volume contributed 74 percentage points of net sales growth, including 72 percentage points resulting from the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. This gain was partially offset by a decrease of 21 percentage points due to unfavorable net price realization and mix and a decrease of 2 percentage points due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange.

Net sales for our International segment were up 46 percent in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, to $3,061 million, including 35 percentage points contributed by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. Volume contributed 62 percentage points of growth, including 59 percentage points resulting from the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S., and favorable foreign currency exchange contributed 3 percentage points. These gains were partially offset by a decrease of 19 percentage points due to unfavorable net price realization and mix.

International Net Sales Percentage Change by Geographic Region


	Quarter Ended			Nine-Month Period Ended
	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 26, 2012
Europe		121	%		99	%
Canada		35			30
Asia/Pacific		17			21
Latin America		8			11
Total		51	%		46	%

For the third quarter of fiscal 2012, net sales in Europe grew 121 percent, including 115 percentage points from the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. The remaining growth was driven by Häagen-Dazs in France, Nature Valley and Betty Crocker dry mixes in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Betty Crocker dry mixes in the Middle East/North Africa market, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange. Net sales in Canada increased 35 percent primarily due to 32 percentage points of net sales growth from the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. The remaining growth was driven by Chocolate Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, and Old El Paso Mexican products, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange. In the Asia/Pacific region, net sales grew 17 percent driven by growth from Häagen-Dazs products in Greater China, the fiscal 2011 acquisition of Pasta Master in Australia, and favorable foreign currency exchange. Latin America net sales increased 8 percent driven by growth in La Salteña in Argentina and Diablitos in Venezuela, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange.

Segment operating profit grew 40 percent to $96 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 primarily driven by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. and higher volume, partially offset by a 31 percent increase in advertising and media expense and unfavorable foreign currency effects.

Segment operating profit grew 41 percent to $310 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, versus the same period a year ago, primarily driven by the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S., higher volume, and favorable foreign currency effects, partially offset by an 18 percent increase in advertising and media expense.

Bakeries and Foodservice Segment Results

Net sales for our Bakeries and Foodservice segment increased 6 percent to $469 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 and 10 percent to $1,473 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, reflecting contributions from net price realization and mix driven by list price advances and higher prices indexed to commodity markets.

Bakeries and Foodservice Net Sales Percentage Change by Customer Channel


	Quarter Ended			Nine-Month Period Ended
	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 26, 2012
Foodservice Distributors		14	%		10	%
Convenience Stores		8			9
Bakeries and National Restaurant Accounts		1			10

Total		6	%		10	%

Segment operating profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 of $66 million remained consistent with the same quarter of fiscal 2011. Segment operating profit for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, was $206 million, down 5 percent versus the same period a year ago primarily driven by higher input costs and lower grain merchandising earnings.

UNALLOCATED CORPORATE ITEMS

Unallocated corporate expense totaled $6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to $28 million in the same period in fiscal 2011. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we recorded a $46 million net decrease in expense related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, compared to a $33 million net decrease in expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we also recorded $4 million of integration costs related to the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S. In the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded an $11 million charge to increase an environmental liability related to an active cleanup site in Moonachie, New Jersey.

Unallocated corporate expense totaled $250 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, compared to $45 million in the same period last year. In the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, we recorded an $86 million net increase in expense related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, compared to a $133 million net decrease in expense in the same period a year ago. In the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, we also recorded $8 million of integration costs related to the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S. In fiscal 2011, we recorded an $11 million charge to increase an environmental liability related to an active cleanup site in Moonachie, New Jersey.

LIQUIDITY

During the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, our operations generated $1.7 billion of cash compared to $1.2 billion in the same period last year primarily reflecting changes in current assets and liabilities, including a $416 million increase driven by inventory reduction efforts in fiscal 2012. Prepaid expenses and other current assets accounted for a $179 million increase, primarily reflecting changes in the fair value of open grain contracts and foreign currency hedges. Other current liabilities accounted for a $169 million increase, primarily reflecting changes in consumer marketing and related accruals.

Cash used by investing activities during the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, was $1.5 billion, a $1.0 billion increase over the same period in fiscal 2011. The increased use of cash primarily reflects the acquisition of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S. in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 for an aggregate purchase price of $1.2 billion, comprised of $900 million of cash, net of $30 million of cash acquired, and $261 million of non-cash consideration for debt assumed. In the first nine months of fiscal 2011, we paid $85 million for the acquisition of the Mountain High yogurt business and recorded $25 million of proceeds from the divestiture of our foodservice frozen baked goods product line in our International segment. We invested $424 million in land, buildings, and equipment in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, consistent with the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Cash used by financing activities during the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, was $317 million, a decrease of $655 million compared to the same period in fiscal 2011, primarily reflecting $851 million of higher share repurchases in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. In addition, we paid $600 million of dividends in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus $548 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our capital structure was as follows:


In Millions	Feb. 26, 2012		May 29, 2011
Notes payable	$	690.8	$	311.3
Current portion of long-term debt		749.1		1,031.3
Long-term debt		6,194.8		5,542.5
Total debt		7,634.7		6,885.1
Redeemable interest		848.4		—
Noncontrolling interests		482.8		246.7
Stockholders’ equity		6,921.6		6,365.5
Total capital	$	15,887.5	$	13,497.3

To ensure availability of funds, we maintain bank credit lines sufficient to cover our outstanding short-term borrowings. Commercial paper is a continuing source of short-term financing. We issue commercial paper in the United States and Europe. Our commercial paper borrowings are supported by $2.9 billion of fee-paid committed credit lines, consisting of a $1.8 billion facility expiring in October 2012 and a $1.1 billion facility expiring in October 2013. We also have $422 million in uncommitted credit lines that support our foreign operations. As of February 26, 2012, there were no amounts outstanding on the fee-paid committed credit lines and $139 million was drawn on the uncommitted lines.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, we acquired a 51 percent controlling interest in Yoplait S.A.S. and a 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques S.A.S. Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) holds the remaining interests in each of the entities. We consolidated both entities into our consolidated financial statements. At the date of the acquisition, we recorded the $264 million fair value of Sodiaal’s 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques S.A.S. as a noncontrolling interest, and the $904 million fair value of its 49 percent interest in Yoplait S.A.S. as a redeemable interest on our consolidated balance sheet. These euro-denominated interests are reported in U.S. dollars on our consolidated balance sheets. Sodiaal has the ability to put a limited portion of its redeemable interest to us at fair value once per year up to a maximum of 9 years. As of February 26, 2012, the redemption value of the redeemable interest was $848 million.

Certain of our long-term debt agreements, our credit facilities, and our noncontrolling interests contain restrictive covenants. As of February 26, 2012, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

We have $749 million of long-term debt maturing in the next 12 months that is classified as current, primarily $521 million of 5.65 percent notes that mature on September 10, 2012. We believe that cash flows from operations, together with available short- and long-term debt financing, will be adequate to meet our liquidity and capital needs for at least the next 12 months.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

There were no material changes outside the ordinary course of our business in our contractual obligations or off-balance sheet arrangements during the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011. The accounting policies used in preparing our interim fiscal 2012 Consolidated Financial Statements are the same as those described in our Form 10-K, except for the additional policy discussed in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q. We tested our goodwill and brand intangibles for impairment on our annual assessment date in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. As of our annual impairment assessment date, there was no impairment of any of our intangibles as their related fair values were substantially in excess of the carrying values.

Our significant accounting estimates are those that have meaningful impact on the reporting of our financial condition and results of operations. These estimates include our accounting for promotional expenditures, intangible assets, stock compensation, income taxes, and defined benefit pension, other postretirement, and postemployment benefits. The assumptions and methodologies used in the determination of those estimates as of February 26, 2012, are the same as those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance for fair value measurements providing common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, which for us is the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. We do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.

In June 2011, the FASB issued new accounting guidance for the presentation of other comprehensive income (OCI). This guidance requires entities to present net income and OCI in either a single continuous statement or in separate consecutive statements. The guidance does not change the components of net income or OCI, when OCI should be reclassified to net income, or the EPS calculation. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2013. This guidance will not impact our results of operations or financial position.

In September 2011, the FASB issued new accounting disclosure requirements about employers’ participation in multiemployer benefit plans. The requirements are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2011, which for us is the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. The requirements will not impact our results of operations or financial position.

In December 2011, the FASB issued new accounting disclosure requirements about the nature and exposure of offsetting arrangements related to financial and derivative instruments. The requirements are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after January 1, 2013, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The requirements will not impact our results of operations or financial position.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

We have included in this report measures of financial performance that are not defined by GAAP. Each of the measures is used in reporting to our executive management and as a component of the Board of Director’s measurement of our performance for incentive compensation purposes. Management and the Board of Directors believe that these measures provide useful information to investors, and include these measures in other communications to investors.

For each of these non-GAAP financial measures, we are providing below a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP measure and the most directly comparable GAAP measure, an explanation of why our management or the Board of Directors believes the non-GAAP measure provides useful information to investors, and any additional purposes for which our management or Board of Directors uses the non-GAAP measure. These non-GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, the comparable GAAP measure.

Total Segment Operating Profit

Management and the Board of Directors believe that this measure provides useful information to investors because it is the profitability measure we use to evaluate segment performance. A reconciliation of this measure to operating profit, the relevant GAAP measure, is included in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items Affecting Comparability

Management and the Board of Directors believe that this measure provides useful information to investors because it is the profitability measure we use to evaluate earnings performance on a comparable year-over-year basis. The adjustments are either items resulting from infrequently occurring events or items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the year-over-year assessment of operating results.

The reconciliation of diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability to diluted EPS, the relevant GAAP measure, follows:


	Quarter Ended						Nine-Month Period Ended
Per Share Data	Feb. 26, 2012			Feb. 27, 2011			Feb. 26, 2012		Feb. 27, 2011
Diluted earnings per share, as reported	$	0.58		$	0.59		$	1.86	$	2.22
Mark-to-market effects (a)		(0.04	)		(0.03	)		0.09		(0.13	)
Acquisition integration costs (b)		0.01			—			0.01		—
Uncertain tax items (c)		—			—			—		(0.13	)
Diluted earnings per share, excluding certain items affecting comparability	$	0.55		$	0.56		$	1.96	$	1.96

(a)	Net (gain) loss from mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

(b)	Integration costs resulting from the acquisitions of Yoplait S.A.S. and Yoplait Marques S.A.S.

(c)	Effects of court decisions and audit settlements on uncertain tax matters.

GLOSSARY

AOCI. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Derivatives. Financial instruments such as futures, swaps, options, and forward contracts that we use to manage our risk arising from changes in commodity prices, interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and stock prices.

Euribor. Euro Interbank Offered Rate.

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Guidelines, procedures, and practices that we are required to use in recording and reporting accounting information in our financial statements.

Goodwill. The difference between the purchase price of acquired companies plus the fair value of any noncontrolling and redeemable interests and the related fair values of net assets acquired.

Hedge accounting. Accounting for qualifying hedges that allows changes in a hedging instrument’s fair value to offset corresponding changes in the hedged item in the same reporting period. Hedge accounting is permitted for certain hedging instruments and hedged items only if the hedging relationship is highly effective, and only prospectively from the date a hedging relationship is formally documented.

Interest bearing instruments. Notes payable, long-term debt, including current portion, cash and cash equivalents, and certain interest bearing investments classified within prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets.

LIBOR. London Interbank Offered Rate.

Mark-to-market. The act of determining a value for financial instruments, commodity contracts, and related assets or liabilities based on the current market price for that item.

Net mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative contracts that will be allocated to segment operating profit when the exposure we are hedging affects earnings.

Net price realization. The impact of list and promoted price changes, net of trade and other price promotion costs.

Noncontrolling interests. Interests of subsidiaries held by third parties.

Notional principal amount. The principal amount on which fixed-rate or floating-rate interest payments are calculated.

OCI. Other Comprehensive Income.

Redeemable interest. Interest of subsidiaries held by a third party that can be redeemed outside of our control and therefore cannot be classified as a noncontrolling interest in equity.

Total debt. Notes payable and long-term debt, including current portion.

Translation adjustments. The impact of the conversion of our foreign affiliates’ financial statements to U.S. dollars for the purpose of consolidating our financial statements.

Variable interest entities (VIEs). A legal structure that is used for business purposes that either (1) does not have equity investors that have voting rights and share in all the entity’s profits and losses or (2) has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources to support the entity’s activities.

Working Capital. Current assets and current liabilities, all as of the last day of our reporting period.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This report contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on our current expectations and assumptions. We also may make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in our reports to stockholders.

The words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” or similar expressions identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results and those currently anticipated or projected. We wish to caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements.

In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are identifying important factors that could affect our financial performance and could cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from any current opinions or statements.

Our future results could be affected by a variety of factors, such as: competitive dynamics in the consumer foods industry and the markets for our products, including new product introductions, advertising activities, pricing actions, and promotional activities of our competitors; economic conditions, including changes in inflation rates, interest rates, tax rates, or the availability of capital; product development and innovation; consumer acceptance of new products and product improvements; consumer reaction to pricing actions and changes in promotion levels; acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or assets; changes in capital structure; changes in laws and regulations, including labeling and advertising regulations; impairments in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets, or other long-lived assets, or changes in the useful lives of other intangible assets; changes in accounting standards and the impact of significant accounting estimates; product quality and safety issues, including recalls and product liability; changes in consumer demand for our products; effectiveness of advertising, marketing, and promotional programs; changes in consumer behavior, trends, and preferences, including weight loss trends; consumer perception of health-related issues, including obesity; consolidation in the retail environment; changes in purchasing and inventory levels of significant customers; fluctuations in the cost and availability of supply chain resources, including raw materials, packaging, and energy; disruptions or inefficiencies in the supply chain; volatility in the market value of derivatives used to manage price risk for certain commodities; benefit plan expenses due to changes in plan asset values and discount rates used to determine plan liabilities; failure of our information technology systems; foreign economic conditions, including currency rate fluctuations; and political unrest in foreign markets and economic uncertainty due to terrorism or war.

You should also consider the risk factors that we identify in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011, which could also affect our future results.

We undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of those statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The estimated maximum potential value-at-risk arising from a one-day loss in fair value for our interest rate and commodity market-risk-sensitive instruments outstanding as of February 26, 2012, was $31 million and $5 million, respectively. During the nine-month period ended February 26, 2012, the interest rate value-at-risk increased by $5 million while the commodity value-at-risk increased by $1 million. The value-at-risk for interest rate instruments increased due to new long-term debt issued this year while value-at-risk for commodity positions increased due to increased volatility in commodity markets. For additional information, see Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures.

We, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on our evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of February 26, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during our fiscal quarter ended February 26, 2012, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

The following table sets forth information with respect to shares of our common stock that we purchased during the fiscal quarter ended February 26, 2012:


Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased (a)		Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Program (b)		Maximum Number of Shares that may yet be Purchased Under the Program (b)
November 28, 2011- January 1, 2012		2,534,169	$	39.96		2,534,169		73,263,248
January 2, 2012- January 29, 2012		—		—		—		73,263,248
January 30, 2012- February 26, 2012		16,081		40.02		16,081		73,247,167
Total		2,550,250	$	39.86		2,550,250		73,247,167

(a)	The total number of shares purchased includes shares purchased in the open market and shares of stock withheld for the payment of withholding taxes upon the distribution of deferred option units.

(b)

On June 28, 2010, our Board of Directors approved and we announced an authorization for the repurchase of up to 100,000,000 shares of our common stock. Purchases can be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, including the use of call options and other derivative instruments, Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and accelerated repurchase programs. The Board did not specify an expiration date for the authorization.

Item 6.

Exhibits.

12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101 Financial Statements from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended February 26, 2012, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Earnings; (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Total Equity, Comprehensive Income and Redeemable Interest; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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 March 21, 2012				/s/ Roderick A. Palmore
				Roderick A. Palmore
				Executive Vice President, General Counsel
				and Secretary

Date March 21, 2012				/s/ Jerald A. Young
				Jerald A. Young
				Vice President, Controller
				(Principal Accounting Officer)

Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.		Description

12.1		Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101		Financial Statements from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended February 26, 2012, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Earnings; (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Total Equity, Comprehensive Income, and Redeemable Interest; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.