10-Q
Table of Contents

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 22, 2015

 

¨ 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 6, 2015: 596,089,958 (excluding 158,523,370 shares held in the treasury).


Table of Contents

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  22, 2015, and February 23, 2014

     3   
    

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the quarterly and nine-month periods ended February 22, 2015, and February 23, 2014

     4   
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of February 22, 2015, and May 25, 2014

     5   
    

Consolidated Statements of Total Equity and Redeemable Interest for the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, and the fiscal year ended May 25, 2014

     6   
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended February  22, 2015, and February 23, 2014

     7   
Item 2.     

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

     33   
Item 3.     

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     48   
Item 4.     

Controls and Procedures

     48   

PART II – Other Information

  
Item 2.     

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     49   
Item 6.     

Exhibits

     50   

Signatures

     51   

 

2


Table of Contents

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. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Net sales

   $     4,350.9      $     4,377.4      $     13,331.5      $     13,625.8  

Cost of sales

     2,975.0        2,864.7        8,897.8        8,738.4  

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

     789.4        842.1        2,502.1        2,608.4  

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

     49.3               277.9        3.5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating profit

     537.2        670.6        1,653.7        2,275.5  

Interest, net

     80.0        75.5        235.8        223.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes and after-tax earnings from joint ventures

     457.2        595.1        1,417.9        2,052.5  

Income taxes

     116.5        200.9        422.5        679.6  

After-tax earnings from joint ventures

     13.1        22.8        66.2        73.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

     353.8        417.0        1,061.6        1,445.9  

Net earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

     10.6        6.4        27.1        26.1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

   $ 343.2      $ 410.6      $ 1,034.5      $ 1,419.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share - basic

   $ 0.57      $ 0.66      $ 1.71      $ 2.24  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share - diluted

   $ 0.56      $ 0.64      $ 1.67      $ 2.18  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends per share

   $ 0.41      $ 0.38      $ 1.23      $ 1.14  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

3


Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions)

 

     Quarter Ended     Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
     Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
 

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

   $     353.8     $     417.0     $     1,061.6     $     1,445.9  

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

        

Foreign currency translation

     (411.3     (59.2     (801.1     (83.7

Other fair value changes:

        

Securities

     0.5       (0.4     0.8       0.3  

Hedge derivatives

     10.9       8.2       15.5       12.1  

Reclassification to earnings:

        

Hedge derivatives

     (0.1           5.2       (3.5

Amortization of losses and prior service costs

     27.8       26.6       80.8       81.3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     (372.2     (24.8     (698.8     6.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income (loss)

     (18.4     392.2       362.8       1,452.4  

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

     (83.4     15.5       (174.2     87.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to General Mills

   $ 65.0     $ 376.7     $ 537.0     $ 1,364.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

Consolidated Balance Sheets

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(In Millions, Except Par Value)

 

     Feb. 22,
2015
    May 25,
2014
 
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 784.2     $ 867.3  

Receivables

     1,585.3       1,483.6  

Inventories

     1,585.1       1,559.4  

Deferred income taxes

     120.7       74.1  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     389.1       409.1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     4,464.4       4,393.5  

Land, buildings, and equipment

     3,725.4       3,941.9  

Goodwill

     8,935.1       8,650.5  

Other intangible assets

     4,993.3       5,014.3  

Other assets

     1,264.9       1,145.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $     23,383.1     $     23,145.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 1,481.3     $ 1,611.3  

Current portion of long-term debt

     1,750.6       1,250.6  

Notes payable

     1,897.9       1,111.7  

Other current liabilities

     1,572.7       1,449.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     6,702.5       5,423.5  

Long-term debt

     6,642.6       6,423.5  

Deferred income taxes

     1,792.7       1,666.0  

Other liabilities

     1,594.7       1,643.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     16,732.5       15,156.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redeemable interest

     801.5       984.1  

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, 754.6 shares issued, $0.10 par value

     75.5       75.5  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,293.2       1,231.8  

Retained earnings

     12,070.4       11,787.2  

Common stock in treasury, at cost, shares of 158.6 and 142.3

     (6,160.1     (5,219.4

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (1,837.8     (1,340.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     5,441.2       6,534.8  

Noncontrolling interests

     407.9       470.6  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     5,849.1       7,005.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 23,383.1     $ 23,145.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Total Equity 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                                
    Shares     Par
Amount
    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Shares     Amount     Retained
Earnings
   

Accumulated

Other
Comprehensive
Loss

   

Non-

controlling
Interests

   

Total

Equity

   

Redeemable

Interest

 
                                                                                 

Balance as of May 26, 2013

    754.6     $ 75.5     $ 1,166.6       (113.8   $ (3,687.2   $ 10,702.6     $ (1,585.3   $ 456.3     $ 7,128.5     $ 967.5  

Total comprehensive income

              1,824.4       245.0       24.9       2,094.3       70.0  

Cash dividends declared ($1.17 per share)

              (739.8         (739.8  

Shares purchased

        30.0       (35.6     (1,775.3           (1,745.3  

Stock compensation plans (includes income tax benefits of $69.3)

        13.8       7.1       243.1             256.9    

Unearned compensation related to restricted stock unit awards

        (91.3               (91.3  

Earned compensation

        108.5                 108.5    

Decrease in redemption value of redeemable interest

        4.2                 4.2       (4.2

Addition of noncontrolling interest

                  17.6       17.6    

Distributions to noncontrolling and redeemable interest holders

                                                            (28.2     (28.2     (49.2

Balance as of May 25, 2014

    754.6       75.5       1,231.8       (142.3     (5,219.4     11,787.2       (1,340.3     470.6       7,005.4       984.1  

Total comprehensive income (loss)

              1,034.5       (497.5     (59.1     477.9       (115.1

Cash dividends declared ($1.23 per share)

              (751.3         (751.3  

Shares purchased

          (22.3     (1,161.7           (1,161.7  

Stock compensation plans (includes income tax benefits of $56.6)

        (7.0     6.0       221.0             214.0    

Unearned compensation related to restricted stock unit awards

        (79.0               (79.0  

Earned compensation

        89.5                 89.5    

Decrease in redemption value of redeemable interest

        68.4                 68.4       (68.4

Addition of noncontrolling interest

                  20.7       20.7    

Acquisition of interest in subsidiary

        (10.5             0.6       (9.9  

Distributions to noncontrolling and redeemable interest holders

                                                            (24.9     (24.9     0.9  

Balance as of Feb. 22, 2015

    754.6     $ 75.5     $ 1,293.2       (158.6   $ (6,160.1   $ 12,070.4     $ (1,837.8   $ 407.9     $ 5,849.1     $ 801.5  
                                                                                 
                                                                                 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions)

 

     Nine-Month Period Ended  
     Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
 

Cash Flows - Operating Activities

    

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

   $ 1,061.6     $ 1,445.9  

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     443.7       442.1  

After-tax earnings from joint ventures

     (66.2     (73.0

Distributions of earnings from joint ventures

     36.8       41.6  

Stock-based compensation

     84.5       87.4  

Deferred income taxes

     31.2       95.8  

Tax benefit on exercised options

     (56.6     (45.6

Pension and other postretirement benefit plan contributions

     (35.3     (37.3

Pension and other postretirement benefit plan costs

     68.3       93.0  

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

     275.2       (13.8

Changes in current assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions

     (182.2     (186.2

Other, net

     (99.6     (125.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,561.4       1,724.2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows - Investing Activities

    

Purchases of land, buildings, and equipment

     (490.9     (416.4

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (822.3      

Investments in affiliates, net

     (92.1     (46.0

Proceeds from disposal of land, buildings, and equipment

     1.3       5.2  

Exchangeable note

            29.3  

Other, net

     (4.3     (2.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used by investing activities

     (1,408.3     (430.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows - Financing Activities

    

Change in notes payable

     766.4       6.8  

Issuance of long-term debt

     1,274.6       1,673.0  

Payment of long-term debt

     (395.6     (744.5

Proceeds from common stock issued on exercised options

     103.1       42.6  

Tax benefit on exercised options

     56.6       45.6  

Purchases of common stock for treasury

     (1,161.7     (1,403.2

Dividends paid

     (751.3     (729.4

Addition of noncontrolling interest

           17.6  

Distributions to noncontrolling and redeemable interest holders

     (24.0     (76.5

Other, net

     (14.6     (2.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used by financing activities

     (146.5     (1,170.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (89.7     (18.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (83.1     105.7  

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year

     867.3       741.4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

   $ 784.2     $ 847.1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flow from Changes in Current Assets and Liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:

    

Receivables

   $ (176.4   $ (207.8

Inventories

     (50.8     (30.1

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (11.7     36.6  

Accounts payable

     (18.9     (18.8

Other current liabilities

     75.6       33.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in current assets and liabilities

   $ (182.2   $ (186.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

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 quarter ended February 22, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2015.

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 25, 2014. 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. Certain reclassifications to our previously reported financial information have been made to conform to the current period presentation.

(2) Acquisition and Divestiture

On October 21, 2014, we acquired Annie’s, Inc. (Annie’s), a publicly traded food company headquartered in Berkeley, California, for an aggregate purchase price of $821.2 million, which we funded by issuing debt. We consolidated Annie’s into our Consolidated Balance Sheets and recorded goodwill of $589.8 million, an indefinite lived intangible asset for the Annie’s brand of $244.5 million and a finite lived customer relationship asset of $23.9 million. The pro forma effects of this acquisition were not material.

We have conducted a preliminary assessment of certain assets and liabilities related to the acquisition of Annie’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 fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, we sold certain grain elevators in our U.S. Retail segment for $124.0 million in cash and recorded a pre-tax gain of $65.5 million.

 

8


Table of Contents

(3) Restructuring Initiatives

We are currently pursuing several multi-year restructuring initiatives designed to increase our efficiency and focus our business behind our key growth strategies. Charges related to these activities were as follows:

 

     Quarter Ended    

Nine-Month

Period Ended

 
     Feb. 22, 2015     Feb. 22, 2015  
In Millions    Severance     Asset
Write-
offs
    Pension
Related
    Accelerated
Depreciation
    Other     Total     Severance     Asset
Write-
offs
    Pension
Related
    Accelerated
Depreciation
    Other     Total  

Project Catalyst

   $ (24.4   $ 11.1     $ 6.6     $     $ 8.0     $ 1.3     $ 120.6     $ 11.1     $ 6.6     $     $ 8.0     $ 146.3  

Project Century

     22.3       8.8       15.6       21.6       1.6       69.9       44.0       41.4       31.2       34.2       8.0       158.8  

Combination of certain operational facilities

                                         13.0       0.7                   0.2       13.9  

Charges associated with restructuring actions previously announced

                                         (0.6                             (0.6

Total

   $ (2.1   $ 19.9     $ 22.2     $ 21.6     $ 9.6     $ 71.2     $ 177.0     $ 53.2     $ 37.8     $ 34.2     $ 16.2     $ 318.4  
                                                                                                  

During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, we approved Project Catalyst, a restructuring plan to increase organizational effectiveness and reduce overhead expense. In connection with this project, we expect to eliminate approximately 800 positions primarily in the United States. We expect to incur approximately $146 million of net expenses relating to these actions of which approximately $127 million will be cash. We expect these actions to be largely completed by the end of fiscal 2015.

Project Century (Century) is a review of our North American manufacturing and distribution network to streamline operations and identify potential capacity reductions. In addition to the actions taken at certain facilities described below, we incurred $17.3 million of restructuring charges in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 related to Century of which $6.0 million was cash.

As part of Century, we approved actions in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 to reduce our refrigerated dough capacity and exit our Midland, Ontario, Canada and New Albany, Indiana facilities, which support our U.S. Retail, International, and Convenience Stores and Foodservice supply chains. The Midland action will affect approximately 100 positions and we expect to incur approximately $20 million of net expenses relating to this action, of which approximately $12 million will be cash. We recorded $5.7 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. The New Albany action will affect approximately 400 positions and we expect to incur approximately $88 million of net expenses relating to this action of which approximately $44 million will be cash. We recorded $47.4 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. We anticipate these actions will be completed by the end of fiscal 2018.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, we approved a restructuring plan to consolidate yogurt manufacturing capacity and exit our Methuen, Massachusetts facility in our U.S. Retail and Convenience Stores and Foodservice supply chains as part of Century. This action will affect approximately 250 positions. We recorded $9.2 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and $34.9 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015. We expect to incur approximately $70 million of net expenses relating to this action of which approximately $20 million will be cash. We expect this action to be completed by the end of fiscal 2016.

 

9


Table of Contents

Also as part of Century, during the second quarter of fiscal 2015, we approved a restructuring plan to eliminate excess cereal and dry mix capacity and exit our Lodi, California facility in our U.S. Retail supply chain. This action will affect approximately 430 positions. We recorded $8.7 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and $53.5 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015. We expect to incur approximately $100 million of net expenses relating to this action of which approximately $38 million will be cash. We expect this action to be completed by the end of fiscal 2016.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we approved a plan to combine certain Yoplait and General Mills operational facilities within our International segment to increase efficiencies and reduce costs. This action will affect approximately 240 positions. We expect to incur approximately $15 million of net expenses relating to this action of which approximately $14 million will be cash. We expect this action to be completed in fiscal 2016.

During the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, we paid $43.2 million in cash related to restructuring actions.

In addition to restructuring charges, we expect to incur approximately $66 million of additional project-related costs all of which will be cash and will be recorded in cost of sales. We recorded $2.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and $3.5 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 in cost of sales for project-related costs.

Restructuring charges and project-related costs are classified in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings as follows:

 

    Quarter Ended     Nine-Month
Period  Ended
 
In Millions   Feb. 22, 2015     Feb. 23, 2014     Feb. 22, 2015     Feb. 23, 2014  

Cost of sales

  $ 21.9     $      $ 40.5     $  

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

    49.3             277.9       3.5  

Total restructuring charges

    71.2             318.4       3.5  
                                 

Project-related costs classified in cost of sales

  $ 2.8      $      $ 3.5     $  
                                 

The roll forward of our restructuring and other exit cost reserves, included in other current liabilities, is as follows:

 

In Millions    Severance    

Contract

Termination

    

Other

Exit Costs

    Total  

Reserve balance as of May 25, 2014

   $ 3.5     $      $     $ 3.5  

Fiscal 2015 charges, including foreign currency translation

     175.0       0.6        8.1       183.7  

Utilized in fiscal 2015

     (35.4            (6.0     (41.4

Reserve balance as of Feb. 22, 2015

   $   143.1     $   0.6      $   2.1     $   145.8  
                                   

The charges recognized in the roll forward of our reserves for restructuring and other exit costs do not include items charged directly to expense (e.g., asset impairment charges, the gain or loss on the sale of restructured assets, and the write-off of spare parts) and other periodic exit costs recognized as incurred, as those items are not reflected in our restructuring and other exit cost reserves on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

10


Table of Contents

(4) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The components of goodwill and other intangible assets are as follows:

 

In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
 

Goodwill

   $ 8,935.1      $ 8,650.5  

Other intangible assets:

     

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:

     

Brands and other indefinite-lived intangibles

     4,558.3        4,504.1  

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

     

Franchise agreements, customer relationships, and other finite-lived intangibles

     560.6        630.7  

Less accumulated amortization

     (125.6 )       (120.5
                   

Intangible assets subject to amortization, net

     435.0        510.2  
                   

Other intangible assets

     4,993.3        5,014.3  
                   

Total

   $ 13,928.4      $ 13,664.8  
                   

Based on the carrying value of finite-lived intangible assets as of February 22, 2015, annual amortization expense for each of the next five fiscal years is estimated to be approximately $32 million.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during fiscal 2015 were as follows:

 

In Millions    U.S. Retail      International     Convenience Stores
and Foodservice
     Joint
Ventures
    Total  

Balance as of May 25, 2014

   $ 5,829.2      $ 1,402.0     $ 921.1      $ 498.2     $ 8,650.5  

Acquisition

     589.8                           589.8  

Other activity, primarily foreign currency translation

            (223.0            (82.2     (305.2

Balance as of Feb. 22, 2015

   $ 6,419.0      $ 1,179.0     $ 921.1      $ 416.0     $   8,935.1  
                                            

During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, we reorganized certain reporting units within our U.S. Retail operating segment. We evaluated the fair value relative to the book value of the reorganized reporting units and determined that no impairment had occurred as a result of the changes to the reporting units. Our chief operating decision maker continues to assess performance and make decisions about resources to be allocated to our segments at the U.S. Retail, International, and Convenience Stores and Foodservice operating segment level.

We performed our fiscal 2015 impairment assessment as of the first day of the third quarter of fiscal 2015, and determined there was no impairment of goodwill for any of our reporting units as their related fair values were substantially in excess of their carrying values.

 

11


Table of Contents

The changes in the carrying amount of other intangible assets during fiscal 2015 were as follows:

 

In Millions    U.S. Retail     International     Joint
Ventures
     Total  

Balance as of May 25, 2014

   $ 3,307.5     $ 1,641.8     $ 65.0      $ 5,014.3  

Acquisition

     268.4                    268.4  

Amortization and foreign currency translation

     (3.1     (286.5     0.2        (289.4

Balance as of Feb. 22, 2015

   $ 3,572.8     $ 1,355.3     $ 65.2      $ 4,993.3  
                                   

We performed our fiscal 2015 impairment assessment as of the first day of the third quarter of fiscal 2015. As of our assessment date, there was no impairment of any of our indefinite-lived intangible assets as their related fair values were substantially in excess of the carrying values, except for the Mountain High, Uncle Toby’s, and Green Giant brands. The excess fair value above the carrying value of these brand assets is as follows:

 

In Millions    Book
Value
     Excess Fair Value
Above Carrying
Value
 

Mountain High

   $ 35.4        3

Uncle Toby’s

   $ 57.7        7

Green Giant

   $ 425.9        13
                   

We will continue to monitor these businesses for potential impairment.

(5) Inventories

The components of inventories were as follows:

 

In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
 

Raw materials and packaging

   $ 394.9      $ 419.0  

Finished goods

     1,289.6        1,260.2  

Grain

     119.5        97.1  

Excess of FIFO over LIFO cost

     (218.9      (216.9

Total

   $ 1,585.1      $ 1,559.4  
                   

 

12


Table of Contents

(6) 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 22, 2015, and May 25, 2014, 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. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
 

Available-for-sale:

                       

Debt securities

   $ 170.0      $ 318.6      $ 170.1      $ 318.8      $ 0.1      $ 0.2      $      $  

Equity securities

     1.8        1.8        8.3        7.2        6.5        5.4                

Total

   $ 171.8      $ 320.4      $ 178.4      $ 326.0      $ 6.6      $ 5.6      $      $  
                                                                         

For the third quarter of fiscal 2015, 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)

   $ 169.4      $ 169.5  

From 1 to 3 years

     0.5        0.5  

From 4 to 7 years

     0.1        0.1  

Equity securities

     1.8        8.3  

Total

   $   171.8      $   178.4  
                   

Cash and cash equivalents totaling $48.6 million as of February 22, 2015, were pledged as collateral for certain derivative contracts. As of February 22, 2015, $23.5 million of certain accounts receivable were pledged as collateral against a foreign uncommitted line of credit.

The fair values and carrying amounts of long-term debt, including the current portion, were $8,851.2 million and $8,393.2 million, respectively, as of February 22, 2015. 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. Long-term debt is a Level 2 liability in the fair value hierarchy.

Risk Management Activities. As a part of our ongoing operations, we are exposed to market risks such as changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates and commodity and equity 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.

 

13


Table of Contents

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 certain 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 the resulting mark-to-market volatility, which remains in unallocated corporate items.

Unallocated corporate items for the quarter and nine-month periods ended February 22, 2015, and February 23, 2014, included:

 

     Quarter Ended      Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
 

Net gain (loss) on certain mark-to-market valuation of commodity positions

   $ (64.8 )    $ 6.4      $ (146.4   $ (9.6

Net loss on commodity positions reclassified from unallocated corporate items to segment operating profit

     28.6       8.6        56.6       43.1  

Net mark-to-market revaluation of certain grain inventories

     (7.5 )      7.8        (8.2     9.5  

Net mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions recognized in unallocated corporate items

   $ (43.7 )    $ 22.8      $ (98.0   $ 43.0  
                                   

As of February 22, 2015, the net notional value of commodity derivatives was $584.3 million, of which $216.6 million related to energy inputs and $367.7 million related to agricultural 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, forward-starting interest rate swaps, and treasury locks 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 and hedges of forecasted issuances of debt are accounted for as cash flow hedges. 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 quarter and nine-month period ended February 22, 2015.

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 quarter and nine-month period ended February 22, 2015.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2015, we entered into swaps to convert $500.0 million of 1.4 percent fixed-rate notes due October 20, 2017, and $500.0 million of 2.2 percent fixed-rate notes due October 21, 2019, to floating rates.

 

14


Table of Contents

In advance of a planned debt financing, we entered into $250.0 million of treasury locks with an average fixed rate of 1.99 percent. All of these treasury locks were cash settled for $17.9 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2014, coincident with the issuance of our $500.0 million 10-year fixed-rate notes.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, we entered into swaps to convert $250.0 million of 0.875 percent fixed-rate notes due January 29, 2016, to floating rates.

As of February 22, 2015, the pre-tax amount of cash-settled interest rate hedge gain or loss remaining in AOCI that will be reclassified to earnings over the remaining term of the related underlying debt is as follows:

 

In Millions    Gain/(Loss)  

5.7% notes due February 15, 2017

   $ (4.4 ) 

5.65% notes due February 15, 2019

     2.0  

3.15% notes due December 15, 2021

     (67.5 ) 

3.65% notes due February 15, 2024

     16.0  

5.4% notes due June 15, 2040

       (14.1 ) 

4.15% notes due February 15, 2043

     11.0  

Net pre-tax hedge loss in AOCI

   $ (57.0 ) 
          

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

 

In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
    May 25,
2014
 

Pay-floating swaps - notional amount

   $ 1,250.0     $ 250.0  

Average receive rate

     1.6 %      0.9

Average pay rate

     0.7 %      0.5
                  

The swap contracts mature at various dates from fiscal 2016 to 2020 as follows:

 

In Millions    Pay Floating  

2016

   $ 250.0  

2017

      

2018

     500.0  

2019

      

2020

     500.0  

Total

   $ 1,250.0  
          

 

15


Table of Contents

The following tables reconcile the net fair values of assets and liabilities subject to offsetting arrangements that are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to the net fair values that could be reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

    Feb. 22, 2015  
    Assets     Liabilities  
                      Gross Amounts Not
Offset in the

Balance Sheet (e)
                            Gross Amounts Not
Offset in the

Balance Sheet (e)
       
In Millions   Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets
    Gross
Liabilities
Offset in
the Balance
Sheet (a)
    Net
Amounts
of Assets
(b)
    Financial
Instruments
    Cash
Collateral
Received
    Net
Amount
(c)
    Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities
    Gross Assets
Offset in the
Balance Sheet
(a)
    Net
Amounts of
Liabilities
(b)
    Financial
Instruments
    Cash
Collateral
Pledged
    Net
Amount
(d)
 

Commodity contracts

  $ 4.6     $      $ 4.6     $ (3.0   $      $ 1.6     $ (70.0   $      $ (70.0   $ 3.0     $ 48.6     $ (18.4

Interest rate contracts

    0.2             0.2                   0.2       (2.5           (2.5                 (2.5

Foreign exchange contracts

    39.5             39.5       (21.4           18.1       (70.6           (70.6     21.4             (49.2

Total

  $ 44.3     $     $ 44.3     $ (24.4   $     $ 19.9     $ (143.1   $     $ (143.1   $ 24.4     $ 48.6     $ (70.1
                                                                                                 

 

(a) Includes related collateral offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(b) Net fair value as recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(c) Fair value of assets that could be reported net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(d) Fair value of liabilities that could be reported net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(e) Fair value of assets and liabilities reported on a gross basis in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

       May 25, 2014  
       Assets     Liabilities  
                         Gross Amounts Not
Offset in the

Balance Sheet (e)
                            Gross Amounts Not
Offset in the

Balance Sheet (e)
       
In Millions      Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Assets
    Gross
Liabilities
Offset in
the Balance
Sheet (a)
    Net
Amounts
of Assets
(b)
    Financial
Instruments
    Cash
Collateral
Received
    Net
Amount
(c)
    Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Liabilities
    Gross Assets
Offset in the
Balance Sheet
(a)
    Net
Amounts of
Liabilities
(b)
    Financial
Instruments
    Cash
Collateral
Pledged
    Net
Amount
(d)
 

Commodity contracts

     $ 19.1     $     $ 19.1     $ (3.4   $     $ 15.7     $ (4.0   $     $ (4.0   $ 3.4     $     $ (0.6

Interest rate contracts

       0.7             0.7                   0.7                                      

Foreign exchange contracts

       10.5             10.5       (8.0           2.5       (19.1           (19.1     8.0             (11.1

Total

     $ 30.3     $     $ 30.3     $ (11.4   $     $ 18.9     $ (23.1   $     $ (23.1   $ 11.4     $     $ (11.7
                                                                                                    

 

(a) Includes related collateral offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(b) Net fair value as recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(c) Fair value of assets that could be reported net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(d) Fair value of liabilities that could be reported net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

(e) Fair value of assets and liabilities reported on a gross basis in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

16


Table of Contents

Foreign Exchange Risk. Foreign currency fluctuations affect our net investments in foreign subsidiaries and foreign currency cash flows related to third party purchases, intercompany loans, product shipments, and foreign-denominated commercial paper. We are also exposed to the translation of foreign currency earnings to the U.S. dollar. Our principal exposures are to the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, British pound sterling, Canadian dollar, Chinese renminbi, euro, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, and Swiss franc. 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 of the entity with foreign exchange exposure; 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 22, 2015, the net notional value of foreign exchange derivatives was $1.2 billion. The amount of hedge ineffectiveness was less than $1 million for the quarter and nine-month period ended February 22, 2015.

We also have many net investments in foreign subsidiaries that are denominated in euros. We previously hedged a portion of these net investments by issuing euro-denominated commercial paper and foreign exchange forward contracts. During the second quarter of fiscal 2014, we entered into a net investment hedge for a portion of our net investment in foreign operations denominated in euros by issuing €500.0 million of euro-denominated bonds. As of February 22, 2015, we had deferred net foreign currency gains of $8.1 million in AOCI associated with net investment hedging activity.

Venezuela is a highly inflationary economy and as such, we remeasure the value of the assets and liabilities of our Venezuelan subsidiary based on the exchange rate at which we expect to remit dividends in U.S. dollars. In February 2014, the Venezuelan government established a new foreign exchange market mechanism (“SICAD 2”) and at that time indicated that it would be the market through which U.S. dollars would be obtained for the remittance of dividends. On February 12, 2015, the Venezuelan government replaced SICAD 2 with a new foreign exchange market mechanism (“SIMADI”). We expect to be able to access U.S. dollars through the SIMADI market. SIMADI has significantly higher foreign exchange rates than those available through the other foreign exchange mechanisms. In the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, we recorded a $7.2 million foreign exchange loss in unallocated corporate items resulting from the remeasurement of assets and liabilities of our Venezuelan subsidiary at the SIMADI rate of 171 bolivars per U.S. dollar. Our Venezuela operations represent less than 1 percent of our consolidated assets, liabilities, net sales, and segment operating profit. As of February 22, 2015, we had $0.4 million of non-U.S. dollar cash balances in Venezuela.

Equity Instruments. Equity price movements affect our compensation expense as certain investments made by our employees in our deferred compensation plan are revalued. We use equity swaps to manage this risk. As of February 22, 2015, the net notional value of our equity swaps was $120.3 million. These swap contracts mature in fiscal 2015.

 

17


Table of Contents

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Statement Presentation

The fair values of our assets, liabilities, and derivative positions recorded at fair value and their respective levels in the fair value hierarchy as of February 22, 2015 and May 25, 2014, were as follows:

 

    Feb. 22, 2015  
    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)

  $     $ 0.2     $     $ 0.2     $     $ (2.5   $     $ (2.5

Foreign exchange contracts (c) (d)

          39.4             39.4             (24.9           (24.9

Total

          39.6             39.6             (27.4           (27.4

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

               

Foreign exchange contracts (c) (d)

          0.1             0.1             (45.7           (45.7

Commodity contracts (c) (e)

    1.6       3.0             4.6             (70.0           (70.0

Grain contracts (c) (e)

          2.6             2.6             (11.5           (11.5

Total

    1.6       5.7             7.3             (127.2           (127.2

Other assets and liabilities reported at fair value:

               

Marketable investments (a) (f)

    8.3       170.1             178.4                          

Long-lived assets (g)

          47.1             47.1                          

Total

    8.3       217.2             225.5                          

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

  $ 9.9     $ 262.5     $     $ 272.4     $     $ (154.6   $     $ (154.6
                                                                 

 

(a) These contracts and investments are recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets, other assets, other current liabilities or 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.

 

(g) We recorded a $37.1 million non-cash impairment charge in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 to write down certain long-lived assets to their fair value of $47.1 million. Fair value was based on recently reported transactions for similar assets in the marketplace. These assets had a book value of $84.2 million and were associated with the restructuring actions described in Note 3.

 

18


Table of Contents
     May 25, 2014  
     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)

   $      $ 0.7      $      $ 0.7      $      $     $      $  

Foreign exchange contracts (c) (d)

            9.9               9.9               (12.6            (12.6

Total

            10.6               10.6               (12.6            (12.6

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

                      

Foreign exchange contracts (c) (d)

            0.6               0.6               (6.5            (6.5

Commodity contracts (c) (e)

     11.1        8.0               19.1               (4.0            (4.0

Grain contracts (c) (e)

            7.5               7.5               (4.9            (4.9

Total

     11.1        16.1               27.2               (15.4            (15.4

Other assets and liabilities reported at fair value:

                      

Marketable investments (a) (f)

     7.2        318.8               326.0                             

Total

     7.2        318.8               326.0                             

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

   $ 18.3      $ 345.5      $      $ 363.8      $      $ (28.0   $      $ (28.0
                                                                        

 

(a) These contracts and investments are recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets, other assets, other current liabilities or 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.

 

19


Table of Contents

Information related to our cash flow hedges, fair value hedges, and other derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for the quarter and nine-month periods ended February 22, 2015 and February 23, 2014, 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. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
   

Feb. 22,

2015

    Feb. 23,
2014
 

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:

                   

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) (a)

  $     $ (0.1   $ 16.8     $ 11.7     $     $     $     $     $ 16.8     $ 11.6  

Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into earnings (a) (b)

    (2.6     (2.9     2.5       2.8                               (0.1     (0.1

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings (c)

                (0.3     0.2                               (0.3     0.2  

Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships:

                   

Amount of net loss recognized in earnings (d)

    (0.1     (0.2                                         (0.1     (0.2

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:

                   

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings (d)

                (48.6     (9.1     3.5       1.4       (64.8     6.4       (109.9     (1.3
                                                                                 

 

(a) Effective portion.

 

(b) Gain (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) Gain (loss) recognized in earnings is related to the ineffective portion of the hedging relationship, including SG&A expenses for foreign exchange contracts and interest, net for interest rate contracts. 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 interest, net for interest rate contracts, in cost of sales for commodity contracts, and in SG&A expenses for equity contracts and foreign exchange contracts.

 

20


Table of Contents
     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. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
 

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:

                      

Amount of gain recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) (a)

   $     $ 10.6     $ 22.6     $ 8.9     $      $      $     $     $ 22.6     $ 19.5  

Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into earnings (a) (b)

     (7.8     (9.0     1.0       12.3                                 (6.8     3.3  

Amount of loss recognized in earnings (c)

                 (0.2                                     (0.2      

Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships:

                      

Amount of net gain recognized in earnings (d)

     0.8       0.1                                             0.8       0.1  

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:

                      

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings (d)

                 (47.7     (20.2     8.7        7.0        (146.4     (9.6     (185.4     (22.8
                                                                                    

 

(a) Effective portion.

 

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

 

(c) Loss recognized in earnings is related to the ineffective portion of the hedging relationship, including SG&A expenses for foreign exchange contracts. 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 interest, net for interest rate contracts, in cost of sales for commodity contracts, and in SG&A expenses for equity contracts and foreign exchange contracts.

Amounts Recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. As of February 22, 2015, the after-tax amounts of unrealized gains and losses in AOCI related to hedge derivatives follows:

 

In Millions    After-Tax Gain/(Loss)  

Unrealized losses from interest rate cash flow hedges

   $ (34.5

Unrealized gains from foreign currency cash flow hedges

     18.0  

After-tax loss in AOCI related to hedge derivatives

   $ (16.5
          

The net amount of pre-tax gains and losses in AOCI as of February 22, 2015, that we expect to be reclassified into net earnings within the next 12 months is $15.0 million of gain.

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 22, 2015, was $87.7 million. We have posted collateral of $37.4 million in the normal course of business associated with these contracts. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements had been triggered on February 22, 2015, we would have been required to post an additional $50.3 million of collateral to counterparties.

 

21


Table of Contents

Credit Risk. We enter into interest rate, foreign exchange, 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 $18.0 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.

We offer certain suppliers access to a third party service that allows them to view our scheduled payments online. The third party service also allows suppliers to finance advances on our scheduled payments at the sole discretion of the supplier and the third party. We have no economic interest in these financing arrangements and no direct relationship with the suppliers, the third party, or any financial institutions concerning this service. All of our accounts payable remain as obligations to our suppliers as stated in our supplier agreements. As of February 22, 2015, $429.2 million of our total accounts payable is payable to suppliers who utilize this third party service.

(7) Debt

The components of notes payable were as follows:

 

In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
 

U.S. commercial paper

   $ 1,694.0      $ 1,007.6  

Financial institutions

     203.9        104.1  

Total

   $ 1,897.9      $ 1,111.7  
                   

To ensure availability of funds, we maintain bank credit lines sufficient to cover our outstanding notes payable. Commercial paper is a continuing source of short-term financing. We have commercial paper programs available to us in the United States and Europe. We also have committed, uncommitted, and asset-backed credit lines that support our foreign operations.

In June 2014, our subsidiary, Yoplait S.A.S. entered into a €200.0 million fee-paid committed credit facility that is scheduled to expire in June 2019.

The following table details the fee-paid committed and uncommitted credit lines we had available as of February 22, 2015:

 

In Billions    Facility
Amount
     Borrowed
Amount
 

Credit facility expiring:

     

April 2017

   $ 1.7      $   

May 2019

     1.0          

June 2019

     0.2        0.1  
  

 

 

 

Total committed credit facilities

     2.9        0.1  

Uncommitted credit facilities

     0.4        0.1  

Total committed and uncommitted credit facilities

   $ 3.3      $ 0.2  
                   

The credit facilities contain covenants, including a requirement to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 2.5 times. We were in compliance with all credit facility covenants as of February 22, 2015.

 

22


Table of Contents

Long-Term Debt

In October 2014, we issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 1.4 percent fixed-rate notes due October 20, 2017 and $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.2 percent fixed-rate notes due October 21, 2019. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. The notes may be redeemed in whole, or in part, at our option at any time at the applicable redemption price. The notes are senior unsecured obligations that include a change of control repurchase provision. The net proceeds were used to fund our acquisition of Annie’s and for general corporate purposes.

In June 2014, we issued €200.0 million principal amount of 2.2 percent fixed-rate senior unsecured notes due June 24, 2021 in a private placement offering. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. The notes may be redeemed in whole, or in part, at our option at any time for a specific make-whole amount and include a change of control repurchase provision. The net proceeds were used to refinance existing debt.

In May 2014, we repaid $400.0 million of floating-rate notes and $300.0 million of 1.55 percent fixed-rate notes.

In January 2014, we issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.65 percent fixed-rate notes due February 15, 2024 and $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of floating-rate notes due January 28, 2016. Interest on the fixed-rate notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. The fixed-rate notes may be redeemed in whole, or in part, at our option at any time prior to November 15, 2023 for a specified make whole amount and any time on or after that date at par. The floating-rate notes bear interest equal to three-month LIBOR plus 20 basis points, subject to quarterly reset. Interest on the floating-rate notes is payable quarterly in arrears. The floating-rate notes are not redeemable prior to maturity. The fixed-rate and floating-rate notes are senior unsecured obligations that include a change of control repurchase provision. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes and to reduce our commercial paper borrowings.

In November 2013, we issued €500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.1 percent fixed-rate notes due November 16, 2020. Interest on the notes is payable annually in arrears. The notes may be redeemed in whole, or in part, at our option at any time prior to August 16, 2020 for a specified make whole amount and any time on or after that date at par. These notes are senior unsecured obligations that include a change of control repurchase provision. The net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes and to reduce our commercial paper borrowings.

In January 2013, we issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of floating-rate notes due January 29, 2016. In October 2013, we issued an additional $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of these notes. The notes bear interest equal to three-month LIBOR plus 30 basis points, subject to quarterly reset. Interest on the notes is payable quarterly in arrears. The notes are not redeemable prior to maturity. These notes are senior unsecured obligations that include a change of control repurchase provision. The net proceeds were used to reduce our commercial paper borrowings.

In August 2013, we repaid $700.0 million of 5.25 percent fixed-rate notes.

Certain of our long-term debt agreements contain restrictive covenants. As of February 22, 2015, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

(8) 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. and Libertè Marques, S.a.r.l. Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) holds the remaining interests in each of the entities. On the acquisition date in fiscal 2012, 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 at fair value once per year through a maximum term expiring December 2020. 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 22, 2015, the redemption value of the euro-denominated redeemable interest was $801.5 million.

 

23


Table of Contents

In addition, a subsidiary of Yoplait S.A.S. has entered into an exclusive milk supply agreement for its European operations with Sodiaal through July 1, 2021. Net purchases totaled $213.4 million for the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, and $233.6 million for the nine-month period ended February 23, 2014.

On the acquisition dates, we recorded the $281.4 million fair value of Sodiaal’s 50 percent euro-denominated interest in Yoplait Marques S.A.S. and Libertè Marques, S.a.r.l as noncontrolling interests 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. Libertè Marques, S.a.r.l. earns a royalty stream through licensing agreements with certain Yoplait group companies for the rights to Libertè and related trademarks. These entities pay dividends annually based on their available cash as of their fiscal year end.

The third-party holder of the Class A Interests in our General Mills Cereals, LLC (GMC) consolidated subsidiary receives quarterly preferred distributions from available net income based on the application of a floating preferred return rate, currently equal to the sum of three-month LIBOR plus 110 basis points, to the holder’s capital account balance established in the most recent mark-to-market valuation (currently $251.5 million). The preferred return rate is adjusted every three years through a negotiated agreement with the Class A Interest holder or through a remarketing auction.

Our noncontrolling interests contain restrictive covenants. As of February 22, 2015, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

(9) Stockholders’ Equity

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreement with an unrelated third party financial institution to repurchase an aggregate of $300.0 million of our outstanding common stock. Under the ASR agreement, we paid $300.0 million to the financial institution and received 5.5 million shares of common stock with a fair value of $270.0 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. We received an additional 0.6 million shares of common stock upon completion of the ASR agreement during the first quarter of fiscal 2014. As of May 26, 2013, we recorded this transaction as an increase in treasury stock of $270.0 million, and recorded the remaining $30.0 million as a decrease to additional paid-in capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Upon completion of the ASR agreement in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, we reclassified the $30.0 million to treasury stock from additional paid-in capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

24


Table of Contents

The following tables provide details of total comprehensive income (loss):

 

     Quarter Ended
Feb. 22, 2015
    Quarter Ended
Feb. 23, 2014
 
     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

                   $ 343.2     $ 2.1     $ 8.5                     $ 410.6     $ (2.3   $ 8.7  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                    

Foreign currency translation

   $ (319.3   $        (319.3     (29.2     (62.8   $ (68.6   $        (68.6     4.7       4.7  

Other fair value changes:

                    

Securities

     0.6       (0.1     0.5                     (0.6     0.2       (0.4              

Hedge derivatives

     20.3       (6.8     13.5              (2.6     12.3       (3.6     8.7              (0.5

Reclassification to earnings:

                    

Hedge derivatives (a)

     (0.8     0.1       (0.7            0.6       (0.2            (0.2            0.2  

Amortization of

losses and

prior service

costs (b)

     44.8       (17.0     27.8                     43.0       (16.4     26.6                

Other comprehensive income (loss):

   $ (254.4   $ (23.8     (278.2     (29.2     (64.8   $ (14.1   $ (19.8     (33.9     4.7       4.4  

Total comprehensive income (loss)

                   $ 65.0     $ (27.1   $ (56.3                   $ 376.7     $ 2.4     $ 13.1  
                                                                                  

 

(a) (Gain) loss reclassified from AOCI into earnings is reported in interest, net for interest rate swaps and in cost of sales and SG&A expenses for foreign exchange contracts.

 

(b) Loss reclassified from AOCI into earnings is reported in SG&A expenses.

 

25


Table of Contents
     Nine-Month Period Ended
Feb. 22, 2015
    Nine-Month Period Ended
Feb. 23, 2014
 
     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

                   $ 1,034.5     $ 7.7     $ 19.4                     $ 1,419.8     $ 1.8      $ 24.3  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

                     

Foreign currency translation

   $ (601.4   $        (601.4     (66.8     (132.9   $ (147.3   $        (147.3     22.0        41.6  

Other fair value changes:

                     

Securities

     1.2       (0.4     0.8                     0.5       (0.2     0.3                 

Hedge derivatives

     27.4       (8.3     19.1              (3.6     21.3       (7.8     13.5               (1.4

Reclassification to earnings:

                     

Hedge derivatives (a)

     4.0       (0.8     3.2              2.0       (2.8     (0.3     (3.1             (0.4

Amortization of

losses and

prior service

costs (b)

     131.1       (50.3     80.8                     130.2       (48.9     81.3                 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

   $ (437.7   $ (59.8     (497.5     (66.8     (134.5   $ 1.9     $ (57.2     (55.3     22.0        39.8  

Total comprehensive income (loss)

                   $ 537.0     $ (59.1   $ (115.1                   $ 1,364.5     $ 23.8      $ 64.1  
                                                                                   

 

(a) (Gain) loss reclassified from AOCI into earnings is reported in interest, net for interest rate swaps and in cost of sales and SG&A expenses for foreign exchange contracts.

 

(b) Loss reclassified from AOCI into earnings is reported in SG&A expenses.

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. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   $ (410.1    $ 191.3  

Unrealized gain (loss) from:

     

Securities

     3.7        2.9  

Hedge derivatives

     (16.5      (38.8

Pension, other postretirement, and postemployment benefits:

     

Net actuarial loss

     (1,401.5      (1,469.2

Prior service costs

     (13.4      (26.5

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   $ (1,837.8    $ (1,340.3
                   

 

26


Table of Contents

(10) Stock Plans

We have various stock-based compensation programs under which awards, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance awards, may be granted to employees and non-employee directors. These programs and related accounting are described in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2014.

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. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Compensation expense related to stock-based payments

   $ 25.4      $ 28.5      $ 93.1      $ 97.6  
                                     

Compensation expense related to stock-based payments recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings includes amounts recognized in restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs.

As of February 22, 2015, unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options, restricted stock units, and performance award units was $117.7 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. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Net cash proceeds

   $ 103.1      $ 42.6  

Intrinsic value of options exercised

   $ 121.6      $ 86.5  
                   

We estimate the fair value of each stock 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 in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2014.

 

27


Table of Contents

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. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
 

Estimated fair values of stock options granted

   $ 7.22     $ 6.03  

Assumptions:

    

Risk-free interest rate

     2.6     2.6

Expected term

     8.5 years        9.0 years   

Expected volatility

     17.5     17.4

Dividend yield

     3.0     3.1
                  

Information on stock option activity follows:

 

     

Options

Outstanding

(Thousands)

   

Weighted-
Average
Exercise

Price Per
Share

    

Weighted-

Average
Remaining
Contractual

Term
(Years)

    

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

(Millions)

 

Balance as of May 25, 2014

     44,169.0     $ 32.10        

Granted

     2,253.1       53.70        

Exercised

     (4,537.6     26.40         

Forfeited or expired

     (37.0     43.65                     

Outstanding as of Feb. 22, 2015

     41,847.5      $ 33.87        4.51       $ 820.5   

Exercisable as of Feb. 22, 2015

     29,740.5      $ 30.14         3.27       $ 694.0   
                                    

Information on restricted stock and performance award 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 25, 2014

     7,893.7     $ 40.81        249.5     $ 25.67        822.8     $ 36.52  

Granted

     1,613.9       53.46        49.5       53.70                 

Vested

     (2,602.5     35.36        (55.0     36.61        (822.1     37.40  

Forfeited

     (283.5     45.96        (5.0     45.45        (0.7     37.40  

Non-vested as of Feb. 22, 2015

     6,621.6     $ 45.70        239.0     $ 44.58             $   
                                                    

The total grant-date fair value of restricted stock unit awards that vested in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 was $84.9 million, and restricted stock units with a grant-date fair value of $101.4 million vested in the nine-month period ended February 23, 2014.

 

28


Table of Contents

(11) 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. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

   $ 343.2      $ 410.6      $ 1,034.5      $ 1,419.8  
                                     

Average number of common shares - basic EPS

     598.2        623.5        604.5        633.3  

Incremental share effect from: (a)

           

Stock options

     11.1        11.9        11.5        12.3  

Restricted stock, restricted stock units, and other

     4.5        4.8        4.3        4.6  

Average number of common shares - diluted EPS

     613.8        640.2        620.3        650.2  
                                     

Earnings per share - basic

   $ 0.57      $ 0.66      $ 1.71      $ 2.24  

Earnings per share - diluted

   $ 0.56      $ 0.64      $ 1.67      $ 2.18  
                                     

 

(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. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Anti-dilutive stock options and restricted stock units

     2.2        1.9        2.0        5.3  
                                     

(12) Share Repurchases

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we repurchased 3.7 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $192.9 million. During the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, we repurchased 22.3 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,161.7 million. During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, we repurchased 11.0 million shares of common stock with an aggregate purchase price of $539.4 million. During the nine-month period ended February 23, 2014, we repurchased 29.0 million shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1.4 billion, including 0.6 million shares pursuant to the completion of an ASR agreement.

(13) Statements of Cash Flows

During the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, we made net cash interest payments of $278.5 million, compared to $260.5 million in the same period last year. Also, in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, we made income tax payments of $449.8 million, compared to $565.8 million in the same period last year.

 

29


Table of Contents

(14) Retirement and Postemployment Benefits

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

 

     Defined Benefit
Pension Plans
    Other Postretirement
Benefit Plans
    Postemployment
Benefit Plans
 
     Quarter Ended     Quarter Ended     Quarter Ended  
In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Service cost

   $ 34.3     $ 33.2     $ 5.6     $ 5.6     $ 1.8      $ 1.9  

Interest cost

     62.3       59.9       11.8       12.4       1.1        1.0  

Expected return on plan assets

     (119.1     (113.9     (10.0     (8.7               

Amortization of losses

     35.4       37.8       1.2       3.8       0.1        0.2  

Amortization of prior service costs (credits)

     1.9       1.4       (0.4     (0.8     0.6        0.6  

Other adjustments

     10.6              3.1              3.2        2.5  

Settlement or curtailment losses

     7.9              0.5                        

Net expense

   $   33.3     $ 18.4     $ 11.8     $ 12.3     $ 6.8      $ 6.2  
                                                   
     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. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
    Feb. 23,
2014
    Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Service cost

   $ 103.1     $ 99.7     $ 16.8     $ 17.0     $ 5.6      $ 5.8  

Interest cost

     187.2       179.6       35.3       37.5       3.2        3.1  

Expected return on plan assets

     (357.6     (341.6     (30.1     (26.0               

Amortization of losses

     106.2       113.6       3.7       11.5       0.5        0.5  

Amortization of prior service costs (credits)

     5.6       4.2       (1.2     (2.5     1.8        1.8  

Other adjustments

     15.0              3.4              9.5        7.5  

Settlement or curtailment losses (gains)

     18.0              1.3       (2.8               

Net expense

   $ 77.5     $ 55.5     $ 29.2     $ 34.7     $ 20.6      $ 18.7  
                                                   

(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 Convenience Stores and Foodservice.

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we have changed how we assess operating segment performance to exclude the asset and liability remeasurement impact from hyperinflationary economies. This impact is now included in unallocated corporate items. All periods presented have been changed to conform to this presentation.

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 product categories in this business segment are ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, 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 meal kits, granola bars, and cereal.

 

30


Table of Contents

Our International segment consists of retail and foodservice businesses outside of the United States. Our product categories include ready-to-eat cereals, shelf stable and frozen vegetables, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, frozen pizza snacks, refrigerated yogurt, grain and fruit snacks, and super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts. We also sell super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts directly to consumers through owned retail shops. 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 Convenience Stores and Foodservice segment our major product categories are ready-to-eat cereals, snacks, refrigerated yogurt, frozen breakfast, unbaked and fully baked 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 and restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs. Unallocated corporate items include corporate overhead expenses, variances to planned domestic employee benefits and incentives, contributions to the General Mills Foundation, asset and liability remeasurement impact of hyperinflationary economies, restructuring initiative project-related costs, 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. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
     Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Net sales:

           

U.S. Retail

   $   2,651.9      $   2,618.5      $   7,957.8      $   8,168.0  

International

     1,233.9        1,322.4        3,906.1        4,046.5  

Convenience Stores and Foodservice

     465.1        436.5        1,467.6        1,411.3  

Total

   $ 4,350.9      $ 4,377.4      $ 13,331.5      $ 13,625.8  

Operating profit:

           

U.S. Retail

   $ 520.8      $ 516.6      $ 1,594.1      $ 1,810.1  

International

     108.4        110.5        388.7        389.3  

Convenience Stores and Foodservice

     69.0        62.4        252.5        221.4  

Total segment operating profit

     698.2        689.5        2,235.3        2,420.8  

Unallocated corporate items

     111.7        18.9        303.7        141.8  

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

     49.3               277.9        3.5  

Operating profit

   $ 537.2      $ 670.6      $ 1,653.7      $ 2,275.5  
                                     

(16) New Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we adopted new accounting requirements on the financial statement presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our results of operations or financial position.

 

31


Table of Contents

(17) Subsequent Events

After the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we approved a one-time repatriation of approximately $600 million of foreign earnings. This action will reduce the economic cost of funding current restructuring initiatives and the acquisition of Annie’s completed earlier in the year. We expect to record a discrete tax charge of approximately $60 million to $80 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 related to this action. We have previously asserted that our foreign earnings are permanently reinvested and will only be repatriated in a tax-neutral manner, and this one-time repatriation does not change this on-going assertion.

 

32


Table of Contents
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 25, 2014, 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 the “Glossary” section below.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Third Quarter Results

For the third quarter of fiscal 2015, net sales declined 1 percent to $4,351 million, including 4 percentage points of unfavorable foreign currency exchange. Total segment operating profit was $698 million, 1 percent higher than the third quarter of fiscal 2014 and 3 percent higher on a constant currency basis. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.56 was down 12 percent compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability was $0.70 in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $0.62 in the same period last year. Diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability on a constant currency basis increased 15 percent compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2014 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of these measures not defined by GAAP).

Net sales declined 1 percent to $4,351 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $4,377 million in the same period last year. Components of net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2015 vs.

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2014

   U.S. Retail      International      Convenience Stores
and Foodservice
     Combined
Segments
 

Contributions from volume growth (a)

     -2pts        Flat         -1pt        -1pt  

Net price realization and mix

     3pts        6pts        7pts        4pts  

Foreign currency exchange

     NA         -13pts        NM         -4pts  

Net sales growth

     1pt        -7pts        6pts        -1pt  
                                     

 

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

The acquisition of Annie’s, Inc. (Annie’s) added 1 percentage point of net sales growth and 1 percentage point of contributions from volume growth.

Cost of sales increased $110 million from the third quarter of fiscal 2014 to $2,975 million. The increase included a $51 million increase attributable to product mix. We also recorded $22 million of restructuring charges and a $3 million foreign exchange loss related to the Venezuela currency devaluation in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. We recorded a $44 million net increase in cost of sales related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to a net decrease of $23 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. These increases were partially offset by a $36 million decrease in cost of sales attributable to lower volume in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

We expect to incur approximately $66 million of restructuring initiative project-related cash costs and recorded $3 million of these costs in cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 (Please refer to Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report).

 

33


Table of Contents

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses decreased $53 million to $789 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period in fiscal 2014. The decrease in SG&A expenses primarily reflects an 8 percentage point decrease in media and advertising expense, and savings from Project Catalyst. We also recorded $4 million of integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Annie’s and a $4 million foreign exchange loss related to Venezuela currency devaluation in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. SG&A expenses as a percent of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 decreased 110 basis points compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014.

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs consisted of the following:

 

     Quarter Ended  
In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Project Catalyst

   $ 1.3      $   

Project Century

     48.0         

Total

   $ 49.3      $   
                   

We also recorded $22 million of restructuring charges in cost of sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

During fiscal 2015, we approved Project Catalyst, a restructuring plan to increase organizational effectiveness and reduce overhead expense. We also approved the closure of four manufacturing facilities as part of Project Century, our review of our North American manufacturing and distribution network to streamline operations and identify potential capacity reductions. In addition, we approved a plan to combine certain Yoplait and General Mills operational facilities to increase efficiencies and reduce costs in fiscal 2015. We expect to record a total of approximately $456 million of restructuring charges related to these projects, of which approximately $261 million will be cash. We expect these actions to be completed by the end of fiscal 2018. We paid $33 million of cash related to restructuring actions in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. For further information on these restructuring actions, please refer to Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part 1, Item 1 of this report.

Interest, net for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 totaled $80 million, a $4 million increase from the same period of fiscal 2014. Average interest bearing instruments increased $1,546 million, generating a $14 million increase in net interest. The average interest rate decreased 44 basis points, including the effect of the mix of debt, generating a $10 million decrease in net interest.

The effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was 25.5 percent compared to 33.8 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2014. The 8.3 percentage point decrease was primarily due to the effect of U.S. federal legislation passed during the third quarter of fiscal 2015, certain favorable discrete items, and changes in earnings mix by country.

After-tax earnings from joint ventures totaled $13 million compared to $23 million in the third quarter last fiscal year. The decrease was primarily driven by an asset impairment charge of $4 million at Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) in South Africa and unfavorable foreign currency exchange. The components of our joint ventures’ net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2015 vs.

Third Quarter of Fiscal 2014

   CPW      HDJ (a)  

Contributions from volume growth

     -1pt         2pts   

Net price realization and mix

     -2pts         5pts   

Foreign currency exchange

     -12pts         -14pts   

Net sales growth

     -15pts         -7pts   
                   

 

(a) Häagen-Dazs Japan, Inc.

Average diluted shares outstanding decreased by 26 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 from the same period a year ago due to the impact of share repurchases, partially offset by option exercises.

 

34


Table of Contents

Net earnings attributable to General Mills were $343 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, down 16 percent from $411 million last year. Diluted EPS was $0.56 in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, down 12 percent from $0.64 last year. These results include certain items affecting comparability – specifically the effects of restructuring related charges, the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, the impact of asset and liability remeasurement for Venezuela, and Annie’s integration costs. Diluted EPS excluding these items affecting comparability was $0.70 in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $0.62 in the same period last year. Diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability on a constant currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 increased 15 percent compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2014 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of these measures not defined by GAAP and our discussion of the items affecting comparability).

Nine-month Results

For the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, net sales declined 2 percent to $13,332 million, including 2 percentage points of unfavorable foreign currency exchange. Total segment operating profit was $2,235 million, 8 percent lower than the nine-month period ended February 23, 2014 and 6 percent lower on a constant currency basis. Diluted EPS of $1.67 was down 23 percent compared to the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015. Diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability was $2.11 in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 compared to $2.15 in the same period last year. Diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability on a constant currency basis was flat compared to the nine-month period ended February 23, 2014 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of these measures not defined by GAAP).

Net sales of $13,332 million for the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 declined 2 percent compared to $13,626 million in the same period last year. Components of net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 22, 2015 vs.

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 23, 2014

   U.S. Retail      International      Convenience Stores
and Foodservice
     Combined
Segments
 

Contributions from volume growth (a)

     -2pts        Flat         -1pt        -2pts  

Net price realization and mix

     -1pt        5pts        5pts        2pts  

Foreign currency exchange

     NA         -8pts        NM         -2pts  

Net sales growth

     -3pts        -3pts        4pts        -2pts  
                                     

 

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

Cost of sales increased $159 million from the nine-month period ended February 23, 2014, to $8,898 million. The increase included an $111 million increase attributable to product mix. We also recorded $40 million of restructuring charges and a $3 million foreign exchange loss related to the Venezuela currency devaluation in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015. We recorded a $98 million net increase in cost of sales related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 compared to a net decrease of $43 million in the nine-month period ended February 23, 2014. These increases were partially offset by a $140 million decrease attributable to lower volume in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015.

We also expect to incur approximately $66 million of restructuring initiative project-related cash costs and recorded $4 million of these costs in cost of sales in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 (Please refer to Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report).

SG&A expenses decreased $106 million to $2,502 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 compared to the same period in fiscal 2014 including a 5 percentage point decrease in media and advertising expense and savings from Project Catalyst. We also recorded $8 million of integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Annie’s and a $4 million foreign exchange loss related to Venezuela currency devaluation. SG&A expenses as a percent of net sales in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 decreased 30 basis points compared with the same period of fiscal 2014.

 

35


Table of Contents

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs consisted of the following:

 

     Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
 

Project Catalyst

   $ 146.3      $  

Project Century

     118.3         

Combination of certain operational facilities

     13.9         

Charges associated with restructuring actions previously announced

     (0.6      3.5  

Total

   $ 277.9      $ 3.5  
                   

We also recorded $40 million of restructuring charges in cost of sales during the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015.

We expect to record a total of approximately $456 million of restructuring charges related to these projects, of which approximately $261 million will be cash. We expect these actions to be completed by the end of fiscal 2018. We paid $43 million of cash related to restructuring actions in the nine-month period ended February, 22, 2015. For further information on these restructuring actions, please refer to Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part 1, Item 1 of this report.

Interest, net for the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, totaled $236 million, a $13 million increase from the same period of fiscal 2014. Average interest bearing instruments increased $1,335 million, generating a $40 million increase in net interest. The average interest rate decreased 41 basis points, including the effect of the mix of debt, generating a $27 million decrease in net interest.

The effective tax rate for the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, was 29.8 percent compared to 33.1 percent for the nine-month period ended February 23, 2014. The 3.3 percentage point decrease was primarily due to certain favorable discrete items and changes in earnings mix by country.

After-tax earnings from joint ventures totaled $66 million compared to $73 million in the same period last fiscal year, primarily driven by an asset impairment charge of $4 million at CPW in South Africa and unfavorable foreign currency exchange. The components of our joint ventures’ net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 22, 2015 vs.

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 23, 2014

   CPW      HDJ  

Contributions from volume growth

     -1pt         1pt   

Net price realization and mix

     -2pts         4pts   

Foreign currency exchange

     -5pts         -9pts   

Net sales growth

     -8pts         -4pts   
                   

Average diluted shares outstanding decreased by 30 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 compared to the same period a year ago due to the impact of share repurchases, partially offset by option exercises.

 

36


Table of Contents

Net earnings attributable to General Mills were $1,034 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, down 27 percent from $1,420 million in the same period last year. Diluted EPS was $1.67 in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, down 23 percent from $2.18 last year. These results include certain items affecting comparability – specifically the effects of restructuring related charges, the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, the impact of the asset and liability remeasurement for Venezuela, and Annie’s integration costs. Diluted EPS excluding these items affecting comparability was $2.11 in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 compared to $2.15 in the same period of fiscal 2014. Diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability on a constant currency basis in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 was flat compared to the same period of fiscal 2014 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of these measures and our discussion of the items affecting comparability).

SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS

Our businesses are organized into three operating segments: U.S. Retail; International; and Convenience Stores and Foodservice.

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we changed how we assess segment operating performance to exclude the asset and liability remeasurement impact from hyperinflationary economies. This impact is now included in unallocated corporate items. All periods presented have been changed to conform to this presentation.

U.S. Retail Segment Results

Beginning with the second quarter of fiscal 2015, we realigned certain operating units within our U.S. Retail operating segment. We also changed the name of our Yoplait operating unit to Yogurt and our Big G operating unit to Cereal. Frozen Foods transitioned into Meals and Baking Products. Small Planet Foods transitioned into Snacks, Cereal, and Meals. Yogurt was unchanged. We revised the amounts previously reported in the net sales percentage change by operating unit within our U.S. Retail segment to conform to the new operating unit structure. These realignments had no effect on previously reported consolidated net sales, operating segments’ net sales, operating profit, segment operating profit, net earnings attributable to General Mills, or earnings per share. In addition, results from the Annie’s business are included in the Meals and Snacks operating units.

Net sales for the U.S. Retail segment were $2,652 million for the quarter ended February 22, 2015, 1 percent higher than $2,619 million in the same period last year. Net sales were $7,958 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, 3 percent below $8,168 million in the same period last year. The components of U.S. Retail net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

     Quarter
Ended
     Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
      Feb. 22,
2015
    

Feb. 22,

2015

 

Contributions from volume growth

     -2pts         -2pts   

Net price realization and mix

     3pts         -1pt   

Net sales growth

     1pt         -3pts   
                   

The acquisition of Annie’s added 2 percentage points of net sales growth and 1 percentage point of contributions from volume growth in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, and 1 percentage point of contributions from volume growth in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015.

 

37


Table of Contents

U.S. Retail net sales percentage change by operating unit are shown in the following table:

 

     Quarter
Ended
    Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
      Feb. 22,
2015
   

Feb. 22,

2015

 

Meals

     (2 )%      (6 )% 

Baking Products

     (9     (7

Snacks

     14       7  

Cereal

     Flat        (5

Yogurt

     10       4  

Total

     1     (3
                  

Segment operating profit increased 1 percent to $521 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by a decrease in SG&A expenses and favorable net price realization, partially offset by lower volume and higher supply chain costs.

Segment operating profit decreased 12 percent to $1,594 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 compared to the same period of fiscal 2014. The decrease was primarily driven by lower volume, unfavorable net price realization, and an increase in supply chain costs, partially offset by a decrease in SG&A expenses.

International Segment Results

Net sales for the International segment were $1,234 million for the quarter ended February 22, 2015, 7 percent lower than $1,322 million in the same period last year. Net sales were $3,906 million for the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, 3 percent lower than $4,047 million in the same period last year. The components of International net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

     Quarter
Ended
     Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
      Feb. 22,
2015
    

Feb. 22,

2015

 

Contributions from volume growth

     Flat         Flat   

Net price realization and mix

     6pts         5pts   

Foreign currency exchange

     -13pts         -8pts   

Net sales growth

     -7pts         -3pts   
                   

International segment net sales percentage change by region are shown in the following tables:

 

     Percentage
Change in Net
Sales as Reported
    Percentage Change in
Net Sales on Constant
Currency Basis (a)
 
      Quarter Ended
Feb. 22, 2015
    Quarter Ended Feb.
22, 2015
 

Europe

     (8 )%      3

Canada

     (5     4  

Asia/Pacific

     2       4  

Latin America

     (14     20  

Total

     (7 )%      6
                  

 

(a) See the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure.

 

38


Table of Contents
     Percentage
Change in Net
Sales as Reported
    Percentage Change in
Net Sales on Constant
Currency Basis (a)
 
     

Nine-Month

Period Ended

Feb. 22, 2015

   

Nine-Month

Period Ended

Feb. 22, 2015

 

Europe

     Flat        4

Canada

     (8 )%      (2

Asia/Pacific

     2       3  

Latin America

     (12     18  

Total

     (3 )%      5
                  

 

(a) See the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure.

Segment operating profit decreased 2 percent to $108 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the same period of fiscal 2014, primarily driven by unfavorable foreign currency exchange and higher costs, partially offset by favorable net price realization. International segment operating profit increased 10 percent on a constant currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2014 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Segment operating profit of $389 million was flat in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 compared to the same period of fiscal 2014, primarily driven by favorable net price realization, offset by unfavorable foreign currency and higher costs. International segment operating profit for the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015 increased 8 percent on a constant currency basis compared to the same period of fiscal 2014 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Convenience Stores and Foodservice Segment Results

Net sales for the Convenience Stores and Foodservice segment were $465 million for the quarter ended February 22, 2015, 6 percent higher than $437 million in the same period last year. Net sales were $1,468 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, 4 percent higher than $1,411 million in the same period last year. The components of Convenience Stores and Foodservice net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

     Quarter
Ended
     Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
      Feb. 22,
2015
    

Feb. 22,

2015

 

Contributions from volume growth

     -1pt         -1pt   

Net price realization and mix

     7pts         5pts   

Net sales growth

     6pts         4pts   
                   

Segment operating profit increased 11 percent to $69 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and increased 14 percent to $252 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, compared to the same periods in fiscal 2014 primarily driven by favorable net price realization and mix, partially offset by a decrease in volume.

UNALLOCATED CORPORATE ITEMS

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we changed how we assess segment operating performance to exclude the asset and liability remeasurement impact from hyperinflationary economies. This impact is now included in unallocated corporate items. All periods presented have been changed to conform to this presentation.

 

39


Table of Contents

Unallocated corporate expense totaled $112 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared to $19 million in the same period in fiscal 2014. In the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we recorded a $44 million net increase in expense related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, compared to a $23 million net decrease in expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. In addition, we recorded $22 million of restructuring charges and $3 million of restructuring initiative project-related costs in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. We also recorded a $7 million foreign exchange loss related to the remeasurement of assets and liabilities of our Venezuelan subsidiary and $4 million of integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Annie’s in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

Unallocated corporate expense totaled $304 million in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, compared to $142 million in the same period last year. In the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, we recorded a $98 million net increase in expense related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, compared to a $43 million net decrease in expense in the same period a year ago. In addition, we recorded $40 million of restructuring charges and $4 million of restructuring initiative project-related costs in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015. We also recorded $8 million of integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Annie’s and a $7 million foreign exchange loss related to the remeasurement of assets and liabilities of our Venezuelan subsidiary in the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015.

Venezuela is a highly inflationary economy and as such, we remeasure the value of the assets and liabilities of our Venezuelan subsidiary based on the exchange rate at which we expect to remit dividends in U.S. dollars. In February 2014, the Venezuelan government established a new foreign exchange market mechanism (“SICAD 2”) and at that time indicated that it would be the market through which U.S. dollars would be obtained for the remittance of dividends. On February 12, 2015, the Venezuelan government replaced SICAD 2 with a new foreign exchange market mechanism (“SIMADI”). We expect to be able to access U.S. dollars through the SIMADI market. SIMADI has significantly higher foreign exchange rates than those available through the other foreign exchange mechanisms. In the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, we recorded a $7 million foreign exchange loss in unallocated corporate items resulting from the remeasurement of assets and liabilities of our Venezuelan subsidiary at the SIMADI rate of 171 bolivars per U.S. dollar. Our Venezuela operations represent less than 1 percent of our consolidated assets, liabilities, net sales, and segment operating profit. As of February 22, 2015, we had $0.4 million of non-U.S. dollar cash balances in Venezuela.

LIQUIDITY

During the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, our operations generated $1,561 million of cash compared to $1,724 million in the same period last year. The $163 million decrease is primarily due to a $384 million decrease in net earnings, partially offset by a $289 million change in non-cash restructuring charges.

Cash used by investing activities during the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, was $1.4 billion, $978 million more than the same period in fiscal 2014. In the second quarter of fiscal 2015, we acquired Annie’s, a publicly traded food company headquartered in Berkeley, California, for an aggregate purchase price of $809 million, net of $12 million of cash acquired. We invested $491 million in land, buildings, and equipment during the first nine-months of fiscal 2015, $75 million more than the previous year.

Cash used by financing activities during the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, was $146 million compared to $1.2 billion in the same period last year, primarily reflecting the issuance of fixed-rate notes to fund the acquisition of Annie’s which drove $710 million more net debt issuances in the first nine-months of fiscal 2015 than the same period a year ago. We also paid $1.2 billion in cash to repurchase common stock and paid $751 million of dividends in the first nine-months of fiscal 2015 compared to $1.4 billion and $729 million, respectively, in the same period last year.

 

40


Table of Contents

After the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we approved a one-time repatriation of approximately $600 million of foreign earnings. This action will reduce the economic cost of funding current restructuring initiatives and the acquisition of Annie’s completed earlier in the year. We expect to record a discrete tax charge of approximately $60 million to $80 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 related to this action. We expect to make approximately $15 million to $25 million in cash income tax payments related to this action. We have previously asserted that our foreign earnings are permanently reinvested and will only be repatriated in a tax-neutral manner, and this one-time repatriation does not change this on-going assertion.

CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our capital structure was as follows:

 

In Millions    Feb. 22,
2015
     May 25,
2014
 

Notes payable

   $ 1,897.9      $ 1,111.7  

Current portion of long-term debt

     1,750.6        1,250.6  

Long-term debt

     6,642.6        6,423.5  

Total debt

     10,291.1        8,785.8  

Redeemable interest

     801.5        984.1  

Noncontrolling interests

     407.9        470.6  

Stockholders’ equity

     5,441.2        6,534.8  

Total capital

   $ 16,941.7      $ 16,775.3  
                   

To ensure availability of funds, we maintain bank credit lines sufficient to cover our outstanding notes payable. Commercial paper is a continuing source of short-term financing. We have commercial paper programs available to us in the United States and Europe. We also have committed, uncommitted, and asset-backed credit lines that support our foreign operations.

The following table details the fee-paid committed and uncommitted credit lines we had available as of February 22, 2015:

 

In Billions    Facility
Amount
     Borrowed
Amount
 

Credit facility expiring:

     

April 2017

   $ 1.7      $  

May 2019

     1.0         

June 2019

     0.2        0.1  
  

 

 

 

Total committed credit facilities

     2.9        0.1  

Uncommitted credit facilities

     0.4        0.1  

Total committed and uncommitted credit facilities

   $ 3.3      $ 0.2  
                   

The third-party holder of the General Mills Cereals, LLC (GMC) Class A Interests receives quarterly preferred distributions from available net income based on the application of a floating preferred return rate, currently equal to the sum of three-month LIBOR plus 110 basis points, to the holder’s capital account balance established in the most recent mark-to-market valuation (currently $252 million). The preferred return rate is adjusted every three years through a negotiated agreement with the Class A Interest holder or through a remarketing auction.

 

41


Table of Contents

The holder of the Class A Interests may initiate a liquidation of GMC under certain circumstances, including, without limitation, the bankruptcy of GMC or its subsidiaries, GMC’s failure to deliver the preferred distributions on the Class A Interests, GMC’s failure to comply with portfolio requirements, breaches of certain covenants, lowering of our senior debt rating below either Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by Standard & Poor’s, and a failed attempt to remarket the Class A Interests. In the event of a liquidation of GMC, each member of GMC will receive the amount of its then current capital account balance. We may avoid liquidation by exercising our option to purchase the Class A Interests.

We may exercise our option to purchase the Class A Interests for consideration equal to the then current capital account value, plus any unpaid preferred return and the prescribed make-whole amount. If we purchase these interests, any change in the unrelated third-party investor’s capital account from its original value will be charged directly to retained earnings and will increase or decrease the net earnings used to calculate EPS in that period.

We have a 51 percent controlling interest in Yoplait S.A.S. and a 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques S.A.S. and Liberté Marques S.a.r.l. Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) holds the remaining interests in each of these entities. We consolidate these entities into our consolidated financial statements. As of February 22, 2015, we recorded Sodiaal’s 50 percent interests in Yoplait Marques S.A.S. and Liberté Marques S.a.r.l. as noncontrolling interests, and the fair value of its 49 percent interest in Yoplait S.A.S. as a redeemable interest on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. 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 through a maximum term expiring December 2020. As of February 22, 2015, the redemption value of the redeemable interest was $0.8 billion, which approximates its fair value.

Certain of our long-term debt agreements, our credit facilities, and our noncontrolling interests contain restrictive covenants. As of February 22, 2015, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

We have $1,751 million of long-term debt maturing in the next 12 months that is classified as current, including $750 million of 5.2 percent fixed-rate notes due in March 2015, $750 million of floating rate notes due in January 2016, and $250 million of 0.875 percent notes due in January 2016. 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 2015.

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 25, 2014. The accounting policies used in preparing our interim fiscal 2015 Consolidated Financial Statements are the same as those described in our Form 10-K.

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, valuation of long-lived assets, intangible assets, redeemable interest, stock-based compensation, income taxes, and defined benefit pension, other postretirement benefit, and postemployment benefit plans. The assumptions and methodologies used in the determination of those estimates as of February 22, 2015, are the same as those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2014.

We have performed a preliminary assessment of the discrete impact of the recently published RP-2014 Mortality Tables and Mortality Improvement Scale MP-2014 on our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans expenses and estimate that these changes may increase our fiscal 2016 combined expenses by approximately $70 million to $80 million. The final determination of this discrete impact, along with determination of the other components of our fiscal 2016 pension and other postretirement benefit expenses will be completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

 

42


Table of Contents

We tested our goodwill and brand intangible assets for impairment on our annual assessment date in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. As of our annual impairment assessment date, there was no impairment of any of our intangible assets as their related fair values were substantially in excess of the carrying values, except for the Mountain High, Uncle Toby’s, and Green Giant brands. The excess fair value above the carrying value of these brand assets is as follows:

 

In Millions    Book
Value
     Excess Fair Value
Above Carrying
Value
 

Mountain High

   $ 35.4        3

Uncle Toby’s

   $ 57.7        7

Green Giant

   $ 425.9        13
                   

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Boards issued new accounting requirements for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The requirements of the new standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2018. We do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Boards issued new accounting requirements for share-based payment awards issued based upon specific performance targets. The requirements of the new standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2017. We do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on 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. We 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.

Constant Currency Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items Affecting Comparability

This measure is used in reporting to our executive management and as a component of the Board of Directors’ measurement of our performance for incentive compensation purposes. We 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.

 

43


Table of Contents

The reconciliation of our GAAP measure, diluted EPS, to diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability and the related constant currency growth rate follows:

 

     Quarter Ended     Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
Per Share Data    Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
    Change     Feb. 22,
2015
     Feb. 23,
2014
    Change  

Diluted earnings per share, as reported

   $ 0.56      $ 0.64       (12 )%    $ 1.67      $ 2.18       (23 )% 

Mark-to-market effects (a)

     0.05        (0.02       0.10        (0.04  

Restructuring charges (b)

     0.07                0.32        0.01    

Project-related costs (b)

                                  

Venezuela currency devaluation (c)

     0.01                 0.01            

Acquisition integration costs (d)

     0.01                 0.01            

Diluted earnings per share, excluding certain items affecting comparability

   $ 0.70      $ 0.62       13   $ 2.11      $ 2.15       (2 )% 

Foreign currency exchange impact

                      (2 )%                       (2 )% 

Diluted earnings per share growth, excluding certain items affecting comparability, on a constant currency basis

                      15                      Flat   
                                                    

 

(a) Net gain (loss) from mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

 

(b) See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report. The impact of project-related costs is less than $.01 on diluted EPS for the third quarter and the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015.

 

(c) See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

 

(d) Integration costs resulting from the acquisition of Annie’s in fiscal 2015.

Total Segment Operating Profit

This measure is used in reporting to our executive management and as a component of the Board of Directors’ measurement of our performance for incentive compensation purposes. We 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 Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Total Segment Operating Profit Growth Rate on a Constant Currency Basis is calculated as follows:

 

    Quarter Ended Feb. 22, 2015  
     Percentage Change in Total
Segment Operating Profit as
Reported
    Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
    Percentage Change in Total
Segment Operating Profit on
Constant Currency Basis
 

Total Segment Operating Profit

    1     (2 )pts      3
                         
    Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 22, 2015  
     Percentage Change in Total
Segment Operating Profit as
Reported
    Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
    Percentage Change in Total
Segment Operating Profit on
Constant Currency Basis
 

Total Segment Operating Profit

    (8 )%      (2 )pts      (6 )% 
                         

 

44


Table of Contents

Constant Currency International Segment Operating Profit Growth Rate

We believe that this measure provides useful information to investors because it provides transparency to underlying performance of the International segment by excluding the effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have on year-to-year comparability given volatility in foreign currency exchange markets.

 

     Quarter Ended Feb. 22, 2015  
      Percentage Change in
Segment Operating Profit as
Reported
    Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
    Percentage Change in Segment
Operating Profit on Constant
Currency Basis
 

International Segment Operating Profit

     (2 )%      (12 )pts      10
                          
     Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 22, 2015  
      Percentage Change in
Segment Operating Profit as
Reported
    Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
    Percentage Change in Segment
Operating Profit on Constant
Currency Basis
 

International Segment Operating Profit

     Flat        (8)pts        8%   
                          

Constant Currency Net Sales Growth Rates for Our International Segment

We believe that this measure of our International segment and region net sales provides useful information to investors because it provides transparency to the underlying performance in markets outside the United States by excluding the effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have on year-to-year comparability given volatility in foreign currency exchange markets.

 

     Quarter Ended Feb. 22, 2015  
     

Percentage Change in
Net Sales

as Reported

    Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
    Percentage Change in
Net Sales on Constant
Currency Basis
 

Europe

     (8 )%      (11 )pts      3

Canada

     (5     (9     4  

Asia/Pacific

     2       (2     4  

Latin America

     (14     (34     20  

Total International

     (7 )%      (13 )pts      6
                          
     Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 22, 2015  
     

Percentage Change in
Net Sales

as Reported

    Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
    Percentage Change in
Net Sales on Constant
Currency Basis
 

Europe

     Flat        (4 )pts      4

Canada

     (8 )%      (6     (2

Asia/Pacific

     2       (1     3  

Latin America

     (12     (30     18  

Total International

     (3 )%      (8 )pts      5
                          

 

45


Table of Contents

GLOSSARY

AOCI. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Constant currency. Financial results translated to U.S. dollars using constant foreign currency exchange rates based on the rates in effect for the comparable prior-year period. To present this information, current period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are translated into United States dollars at the average exchange rates in effect during the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, rather than the actual average exchange rates in effect during the current fiscal year. Therefore, the foreign currency impact is equal to current year results in local currencies multiplied by the change in the average foreign currency exchange rate between the current fiscal period and the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Accelerated depreciation associated with restructured assets. The increase in depreciation expense caused by updating the salvage value and shortening the useful life of depreciable fixed assets to coincide with the end of production under an approved restructuring plan, but only if impairment is not present.

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.

Fair value hierarchy. For purposes of fair value measurement, 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.

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.

 

46


Table of Contents

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.

Project-related costs. Costs incurred related to our restructuring initiatives not included in restructuring charges.

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.

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 the legal and regulatory environment, including labeling and advertising regulations and litigation; 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;

 

47


Table of Contents

benefit plan expenses due to changes in plan asset values and discount rates used to determine plan liabilities; failure or breach 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 25, 2014, 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 22, 2015, was $22 million and $5 million, respectively. During the nine-month period ended February 22, 2015, the interest rate value-at-risk decreased by $11 million while the commodity value-at-risk increased by $2 million compared to this measure as of May 25, 2014. The value-at-risk for interest rate instruments decreased due to lower volatility, while value-at-risk for commodity positions increased due to higher volatility and increased notional amounts of commodity transactions. For additional information, see Item 7A of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 25, 2014.

 

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 22, 2015, 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 the quarter ended February 22, 2015, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

48


Table of Contents

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 quarter ended February 22, 2015:

 

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 24, 2014-

           

December 28, 2014

     2,324,828      $ 52.39        2,324,828        87,845,709  

December 29, 2014-

           

January 25, 2015

     771,461        52.52        771,461        87,074,248  

January 26, 2015-

           

February 22, 2015

     584,646        52.48        584,646        86,489,602  

Total

     3,680,935      $ 52.43        3,680,935        86,489,602  
                                     

 

(a) The total number of shares purchased includes: (i) shares purchased on the open market; and (ii) shares withheld for the payment of withholding taxes upon the distribution of deferred option units.

 

(b) On May 6, 2014, our Board of Directors approved 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.

 

49


Table of Contents
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 quarter ended February 22, 2015, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Earnings; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Total Equity and Redeemable Interest; (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

50


Table of Contents

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 18, 2015    

/s/ Richard C. Allendorf

    Richard C. Allendorf
    Senior Vice President,
    General Counsel and Secretary
Date March 18, 2015    

/s/ Jerald A. Young

    Jerald A. Young
    Vice President, Controller
    (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

51


Table of Contents

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 quarter ended February 22, 2015, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Earnings; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Total Equity and Redeemable Interest; (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

52