UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM10-Q

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED February 25, 2018

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2021

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

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

Delaware

41-0274440

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

Number One General Mills Boulevard

Minneapolis, Minnesota

55426

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(763)764-7600

(763)764-7600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $.10 par value

GIS

New York Stock Exchange

1.000% Notes due 2023

GIS23A

New York Stock Exchange

0.450% Notes due 2026

GIS26

New York Stock Exchange

1.500% Notes due 2027

GIS27

New York Stock Exchange

________________

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 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 RegulationS-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes   No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, anon-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer           ☐

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company ☐

Emerging growth company


If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes No

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 12, 2018: 570,162,72415, 2021: 609,971,269 (excluding 184,450,604144,642,059 shares held in the treasury).


General Mills, Inc.

Table of Contents

Page

PART I – Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the quarters and nine-month periods ended February 25, 201828, 2021 and February 26, 201723, 2020

3

4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the quarters and nine-month periods ended February 25, 201828, 2021 and February 26, 201723, 2020

4

5

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of February 25, 2018,28, 2021, and May 28, 201731, 2020

5

6

Consolidated Statements of Total Equity and Redeemable Interest for the quarters and nine-month periodperiods ended February 25, 201828, 2021 and fiscal year ended May 28, 2017February 23, 2020

6

7

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended February 25, 201828, 2021 and February 26, 201723, 2020

7

9

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

25

20

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

46

40

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

47

41

PART II – Other Information

Item 1A. Risk Factors

47

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds6. Exhibits

49

42

Item 5. Other InformationSignatures

49

43

Item 6. Exhibits

50

Signatures

51

3


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

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. 28, 2021

Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 28, 2021

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales

$

4,520.0

$

4,180.3

$

13,603.4

$

12,603.6

Cost of sales

2,966.1

2,777.1

8,738.0

8,241.8

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

716.3

746.6

2,256.6

2,224.5

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

11.0

5.8

11.9

12.9

Operating profit

826.6

650.8

2,596.9

2,124.4

Benefit plan non-service income

(33.4)

(30.3)

(99.6)

(90.7)

Interest, net

106.0

109.8

317.7

347.9

Earnings before income taxes and after-tax earnings from

joint ventures

   Quarter Ended   Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
   Feb. 25, 2018  Feb. 26, 2017   Feb. 25, 2018  Feb. 26, 2017 

Net sales

  $3,882.3  $3,793.2   $11,850.2  $11,813.2 

Cost of sales

   2,627.0   2,485.5    7,841.8   7,569.1 

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

   655.1   687.6    2,045.8   2,107.9 

Divestiture loss

   -   -    -   13.5 

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

   7.5   77.6    14.3   165.5 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Operating profit

   592.7   542.5    1,948.3   1,957.2 

Interest, net

   89.3   76.4    236.6   225.8 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes andafter-tax earnings from joint ventures

   503.4   466.1    1,711.7   1,731.4 

Income taxes

   (432.5  107.0    (29.1  511.0 

After-tax earnings from joint ventures

   16.6   11.1    64.1   65.1 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

   952.5   370.2    1,804.9   1,285.5 

Net earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

   11.1   12.4    28.3   36.9 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

  $941.4  $357.8   $1,776.6  $1,248.6 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Earnings per share - basic

  $1.64  $0.62   $3.10  $2.12 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Earnings per share - diluted

  $1.62  $0.61   $3.05  $2.08 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Dividends per share

  $0.49  $0.48   $1.47  $1.44 
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

754.0

571.3

2,378.8

1,867.2

Income taxes

162.0

118.2

522.2

340.9

After-tax earnings from joint ventures

11.8

10.8

89.5

57.5

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable

and noncontrolling interests

603.8

463.9

1,946.1

1,583.8

Net earnings attributable to redeemable and

noncontrolling interests

8.1

9.8

23.1

28.3

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

$

595.7

$

454.1

$

1,923.0

$

1,555.5

Earnings per share – basic

$

0.97

$

0.75

$

3.13

$

2.56

Earnings per share – diluted

$

0.96

$

0.74

$

3.10

$

2.54

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions)

   Quarter Ended   Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
   Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
   Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

  $952.5   $        370.2   $        1,804.9   $1,285.5 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

        

Foreign currency translation

   23.5    113.7    43.0    88.4 

Other fair value changes:

        

Securities

   0.6    0.5    1.4    0.8 

Hedge derivatives

   (6.7   (4.9   (15.6   42.4 

Reclassification to earnings:

        

Hedge derivatives

   2.8    (8.7   3.4    (19.3

Amortization of losses and prior service costs

   30.7    29.9    86.4    92.3 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

   50.9    130.5    118.6    204.6 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

           1,003.4    500.7    1,923.5            1,490.1 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

   40.7    16.4    125.5    (20.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to General Mills

  $962.7   $484.3   $1,798.0   $1,510.4 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(In Millions, Except Par Value)

   Feb. 25,
2018
  May 28,
2017
 
   (Unaudited)    

ASSETS

   

Current assets:

   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $953.1  $766.1 

Receivables

   1,496.5   1,430.1 

Inventories

   1,452.5   1,483.6 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

   375.0   381.6 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total current assets

   4,277.1   4,061.4 

Land, buildings, and equipment

   3,626.2   3,687.7 

Goodwill

   8,867.3   8,747.2 

Other intangible assets

   4,604.1   4,530.4 

Other assets

   865.9   785.9 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total assets

  $22,240.6  $21,812.6 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

   

Current liabilities:

   

Accounts payable

  $2,505.7  $2,119.8 

Current portion of long-term debt

   1,250.5   604.7 

Notes payable

   1,210.8   1,234.1 

Other current liabilities

   1,242.6   1,372.2 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

   6,209.6   5,330.8 

Long-term debt

   7,163.6   7,642.9 

Deferred income taxes

   1,233.9   1,719.4 

Other liabilities

   1,481.3   1,523.1 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   16,088.4   16,216.2 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Redeemable interest

   817.5   910.9 

Stockholders’ equity:

   

Common stock, 754.6 shares issued, $0.10 par value

   75.5   75.5 

Additionalpaid-in capital

   1,235.0   1,120.9 

Retained earnings

   14,398.4   13,138.9 

Common stock in treasury, at cost, shares of 184.5 and 177.7

   (8,190.8  (7,762.9

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   (2,552.5  (2,244.5
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

   4,965.6   4,327.9 

Noncontrolling interests

   369.1   357.6 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total equity

   5,334.7   4,685.5 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

  $22,240.6  $21,812.6 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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 29, 2016

   754.6   $75.5   $1,177.0   (157.8 $(6,326.6 $12,616.5  $(2,612.2 $376.9  $5,307.1  $845.6 

Total comprehensive income

          1,657.5   367.7   13.8   2,039.0   17.2 

Cash dividends declared ($1.92 per share)

          (1,135.1    (1,135.1 

Shares purchased

        (25.4  (1,651.5     (1,651.5 

Stock compensation plans (includes income tax benefits of $64.1)

       3.6   5.5   215.2      218.8  

Unearned compensation related to restricted stock unit awards

       (78.5       (78.5 

Earned compensation

       94.9        94.9  

Increase in redemption value of redeemable interest

       (75.9       (75.9  75.9 

Acquisition of interest in subsidiary

       (0.2      0.1   (0.1 

Distributions to noncontrolling and redeemable interest holders

                                 (33.2  (33.2  (27.8

Balance as of May 28, 2017

   754.6    75.5    1,120.9   (177.7  (7,762.9  13,138.9   (2,244.5  357.6   4,685.5   910.9 

Total comprehensive income

          1,776.6   21.4   41.2   1,839.2   84.3 

Cash dividends declared ($1.47 per share)

          (846.5    (846.5 

Shares purchased

        (10.9  (601.2     (601.2 

Stock compensation plans (includes income tax benefits of $26.8)

       (49.1  4.1           173.3      124.2  

Unearned compensation related to restricted stock unit awards

       (58.2       (58.2 

Earned compensation

       62.3        62.3  

Decrease in redemption value of redeemable interest

       159.1        159.1   (159.1

Distributions to noncontrolling and redeemable interest holders

            (29.7  (29.7  (18.6

Reclassification of certain income tax effects

                         329.4   (329.4            

Balance as of Feb. 25, 2018

   754.6   $75.5   $1,235.0   (184.5 $(8,190.8 $    14,398.4  $(2,552.5 $369.1  $5,334.7  $817.5 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions)

   Nine-Month Period Ended 
   Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
 

Cash Flows - Operating Activities

   

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

  $1,804.9  $1,285.5 

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

   

Depreciation and amortization

   434.7   448.3 

After-tax earnings from joint ventures

   (64.1  (65.1

Distributions of earnings from joint ventures

   60.6   43.7 

Stock-based compensation

   62.8   76.4 

Deferred income taxes

   (489.1  140.1 

Pension and other postretirement benefit plan contributions

   (20.3  (34.0

Pension and other postretirement benefit plan costs

   3.5   26.9 

Divestiture loss

   -   13.5 

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

   (12.3  141.1 

Changes in current assets and liabilities

   394.9   (368.8

Other, net

   (40.3  (48.6
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   2,135.3   1,659.0 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Cash Flows - Investing Activities

   

Purchases of land, buildings, and equipment

   (397.9  (475.2

Investments in affiliates, net

   (15.2  4.8 

Proceeds from disposal of land, buildings, and equipment

   0.9   1.2 

Proceeds from divestiture

   -   17.5 

Exchangeable note

   -   13.0 

Other, net

   (12.7  14.7 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net cash used by investing activities

   (424.9  (424.0
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Cash Flows - Financing Activities

   

Change in notes payable

   (37.3  1,681.3 

Issuance of long-term debt

   500.0   750.0 

Payment of long-term debt

   (600.0  (1,003.0

Proceeds from common stock issued on exercised options

   91.4   90.5 

Purchases of common stock for treasury

   (601.2  (1,650.9

Dividends paid

   (846.5  (856.3

Distributions to noncontrolling and redeemable interest holders

   (48.3  (59.5

Other, net

   (27.8  (35.2
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net cash used by financing activities

   (1,569.7  (1,083.1
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

   46.3   (16.5
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

   187.0   135.4 

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year

   766.1   763.7 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

  $953.1  $899.1 
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Cash Flow from changes in current assets and liabilities:

   

Receivables

  $(25.5 $(75.1

Inventories

   56.6   (42.1

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

   13.3   53.3 

Accounts payable

   413.0   (100.4

Other current liabilities

   (62.5  (204.5
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Changes in current assets and liabilities

  $394.9  $(368.8
  

 

 

  

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(1) Background

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of General Mills, Inc. (we, us, our, General Mills, or the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations for reporting on Form10-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 25, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending May 27, 2018.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2017. 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 Form10-K with the exception of the new accounting requirements adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 for stock-based payments and goodwill impairment testing and new accounting requirements adopted in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 for the reclassification of certain income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. See Note 15 and Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information. Certain terms used throughout this report are defined in the “Glossary” section below.

In the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, we recorded an adjustment related to a prior year which increased income tax expense and total liabilities by $40.5 million in our Consolidated Financial Statements. We determined the adjustment to be immaterial to our estimated Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2018.

(2) Acquisition and Divestiture

During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. (“Blue Buffalo”), a publicly held pet food company, pursuant to which a subsidiary of General Mills will merge into Blue Buffalo, with Blue Buffalo surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of General Mills. Equity holders of Blue Buffalo will receive $40.00 per share in cash, representing an enterprise value of approximately $8.0 billion in addition to the assumption of approximately $394 million of outstanding debt which will be repaid upon transaction close. We expect to finance the transaction with a combination of debt, cash on hand and approximately $1.0 billion in equity. The transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of General Mills and Blue Buffalo, is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close by the end of fiscal 2018. Invus, LP and founding Bishop family shareholders, representing more than 50 percent of Blue Buffalo’s outstanding shares, have delivered written consents approving the transaction and no other approval of Blue Buffalo’s Board of Directors or shareholders is required to complete the transaction. We expect to report the consolidated results of Blue Buffalo as a segment in future periods.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we sold our Martel, Ohio manufacturing facility in our Convenience Stores & Foodservice segment and simultaneously entered into aco-packing arrangement with the purchaser. We received $17.5 million in cash, and recorded apre-tax loss of $13.5 million.

(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       Quarter Ended 
   Feb. 25, 2018       Feb. 26, 2017 
In Millions  Severance   Asset
Write-offs
   Accelerated
Depreciation
   Other   Total       Severance  Asset
Write-offs
   Accelerated
Depreciation
   Other   Total 

Global reorganization

  $-   $-   $-   $-   $-     $67.4  $-   $-   $5.7   $73.1 

Closure of Melbourne, Australia plant

   -    -    0.1    3.0    3.1      -   -    5.6    0.1    5.7 

Restructuring of certain international product lines

   -    -    -    -    -      0.6   1.6    -    0.1    2.3 

Closure of Vineland, New Jersey plant

   -    -    -    0.2    0.2      -   0.4    7.1    0.2    7.7 

Project Compass

   -    -    -    -    -      (1.4  -    -    -    (1.4

Project Century

   -    0.7    -    2.9    3.6      0.2   1.7    3.4    1.8    7.1 

Combination of certain operational facilities

   0.7    -    -    -    0.7      (0.5  -    -    -    (0.5
                                                    

Total

  $0.7   $0.7   $0.1   $6.1   $7.6     $66.3  $3.7   $16.1   $7.9   $  94.0 
  

   Nine-Month Period Ended      Nine-Month Period Ended 
   Feb. 25, 2018      Feb. 26, 2017 
In Millions  Severance  Asset
Write-offs
   Accelerated
Depreciation
   Other  Total      Severance  Asset
Write-offs
   Accelerated
Depreciation
  Other   Total 

Global reorganization

  $0.6  $0.6   $-   $0.2  $1.4    $67.4  $-   $-  $5.7   $73.1 

Closure of Melbourne, Australia plant

   0.6   -    2.2    5.2   8.0     11.3   -    6.3   0.1    17.7 

Restructuring of certain international product lines

   -   -    -    -   -     7.0   37.4    (0.3  1.5    45.6 

Closure of Vineland, New Jersey plant

   (2.2  8.9    10.6    (5.0  12.3     12.3   5.4    16.1   1.8    35.6 

Project Compass

   (0.2  -    -    -   (0.2    (1.4  -    0.2   0.8    (0.4

Project Century

   0.1   6.4    -    (1.4  5.1     0.7   9.8    18.0   8.7    37.2 

Combination of certain operational facilities

   0.7   -    -    -   0.7     (0.5  -    -   -    (0.5
                                                

Total

  $(0.4 $15.9   $12.8   $    (1.0 $    27.3    $96.8  $52.6   $40.3  $18.6   $ 208.3 
  

In the third quarter of fiscal 2017, we approved restructuring actions designed to better align our organizational structure with our strategic initiatives. This action will affect approximately 600 positions and we expect to incur approximately $76 million of net expenses relating to these actions, all of which will be cash. We have recorded $1.4 million of restructuring charges in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018 relating to these actions. We recorded $73.1 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2017. We expect these actions to be completed by the end of fiscal 2018.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we notified the employees and their representatives of our decision to close our pasta manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Australia in our Europe & Australia segment to improve our margin structure. This action will affect approximately 350 positions, and we expect to incur approximately $34 million of net expenses relating to this action, of which approximately $3 million will be cash. We recorded $3.1 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and $8.0 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018 relating to this action. We recorded $5.7 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 and $17.7 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017. We expect this action to be completed by the end of fiscal 2019.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2017, we announced a plan to restructure certain product lines in our Asia & Latin America segment. To eliminate excess capacity, we closed our snacks manufacturing facility in Marília, Brazil and ceased production operations for meals and snacks at our facility in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. We also ceased production of certain underperforming snack products at our facility in Nanjing, China. These and other actions affected approximately 420 positions in our Brazilian operations and approximately 440 positions in our greater China operations. We expect to incur approximately $42 million of net expenses related to these actions, of which approximately $6 million will be cash. There have been no restructuring charges in fiscal 2018 relating to these

actions. We recorded $2.3 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 and $45.6 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017. We expect these actions to be completed by the end of fiscal 2019.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2017, we approved a plan to close our Vineland, New Jersey facility to eliminate excess soup capacity in our North America Retail segment. This action affected 380 positions, and we expect to incur approximately $54 million of net expenses relating to this action, of which approximately $11 million will be cash. We recorded $0.2 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and $12.3 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018. We recorded $7.7 million of restructuring charges in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 and $35.6 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017. We expect this action to be completed by the end of fiscal 2018.

During the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, we paid $39.6 million in cash relating to restructuring initiatives and $67.1 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017.

In addition to restructuring charges, we recorded $3 million of project-related costs in cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and $8.4 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018. We paid $8.0 million in cash in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018 for project-related costs and $40.2 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017.

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

   Quarter Ended   Nine-Month Period Ended 
In Millions  Feb. 25, 2018   Feb. 26, 2017   Feb. 25, 2018   Feb. 26, 2017 

Cost of sales

  $0.1   $16.4   $13.0   $42.8 

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

   7.5    77.6    14.3    165.5 
  

Total restructuring charges

   7.6    94.0    27.3    208.3 
  

Project-related costs classified in cost of sales

  $3.0   $11.5   $8.4   $36.4 
  

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 28, 2017

  $81.8  $0.7  $2.5  $85.0 

Fiscal 2018 charges, including foreign currency translation

   (1.8  0.2   (1.1  (2.7

Utilized in fiscal 2018

   (43.0  (0.8  (0.9  (44.7
  

Reserve balance as of Feb. 25, 2018

  $37.0  $0.1  $0.5  $        37.6 
  

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, accelerated depreciation, the gain or loss on the sale of restructured assets, and thewrite-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.

(4) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

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

In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
  May 28,
2017
 

Goodwill

  $8,867.3  $8,747.2 

Other intangible assets:

   

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:

   

Brands and other indefinite-lived intangibles

   4,222.2   4,161.1 

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

   

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

   570.0   524.8 

Less accumulated amortization

   (188.1  (155.5

Intangible assets subject to amortization, net

   381.9   369.3 

Other intangible assets

   4,604.1   4,530.4 

Total

  $    13,471.4  $    13,277.6 
  

Based on the carrying value of finite-lived intangible assets as of February 25, 2018, annual amortization expense for each of the next five fiscal years is estimated to be approximately $28 million.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during fiscal 2018 were as follows:

In Millions  North
America
Retail
   

Convenience Stores

& Foodservice

   Europe &
Australia
   Asia & Latin
America
   Joint
Ventures
   Total 

Balance as of May 28, 2017

  $6,406.5   $918.8   $700.8   $312.4   $408.7   $8,747.2 

Other activity, primarily foreign currency translation

   7.3    -    68.4    3.8    40.6    120.1 

Balance as of Feb. 25, 2018

  $6,413.8   $918.8   $769.2   $316.2   $449.3   $    8,867.3 
  

The changes in the carrying amount of other intangible assets during fiscal 2018 were as follows:

In MillionsTotal

Balance as of May 28, 2017

$        4,530.4

Other activity, primarily foreign currency translation

73.7

Balance as of Feb. 25, 2018

$        4,604.1

Our annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment test was performed on the first day of the second quarter of fiscal 2018, and we determined there was no impairment of our intangible assets as their related fair values were substantially in excess of the carrying values, except for theYokiand Progresso brand intangible assets and the Latin America reporting unit.

The excess fair value as of the fiscal 2018 test date of theYokiandProgressobrand intangible assets and the Latin America reporting unit is as follows:

In Millions  Carrying Value
of Intangible
Asset
   Excess Fair Value as of
Fiscal 2018 Test Date
 

Yoki

  $138.2    1

Progresso

   462.1    6

Latin America

  $272.0    21
  

In addition, while having significant coverage as of our fiscal 2018 assessment date, the Food Should Taste GoodandGreen Giantbrand intangible assets and the U.S. Yogurt reporting unit had risk of decreasing coverage. We will continue to monitor these businesses for potential impairment.

(5) Inventories

The components of inventories were as follows:

In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
  May 28,
2017
 

Raw materials and packaging

  $392.3  $395.4 

Finished goods

   1,169.8   1,224.3 

Grain

   101.6   73.0 

Excess of FIFO over LIFO cost

   (211.2  (209.1

Total

  $    1,452.5  $    1,483.6 
  

(6) Risk Management Activities

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), dairy products, 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, andover-the-counter options and swaps. We offset our exposures based on current and projected market conditions and generally seek to acquire the inputs at as close to our planned cost as possible.

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

Although we do not meet the criteria for cash flow hedge accounting, we 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 resultingmark-to-market volatility, which remains in unallocated corporate items.

Unallocated corporate items for the quarters and nine-month periods ended February 25, 2018 and February 26, 2017 included:

   Quarter Ended   Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
   Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
 

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

  $0.3  $-   $(8.1 $(15.9

Net loss on commodity positions reclassified from

unallocated corporate items to segment operating profit

   4.6   4.0    10.7   27.7 

Netmark-to-market revaluation of certain grain inventories

   (7.7  4.2    0.9   8.9 

Netmark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions

recognized in unallocated corporate items

  $(2.8 $8.2   $3.5  $20.7 

As of February 25, 2018, the net notional value of commodity derivatives was $377.9 million, of which $106.1 million related to energy inputs and $271.8 million related to agricultural inputs. These contracts relate to inputs that generally will be utilized within the next 12 months.

In advance of planned debt financing related to the planned acquisition of Blue Buffalo, in fiscal 2018, we entered into $3,500.0 million of treasury locks due April 19, 2018, with an average fixed rate of 2.9 percent, of which $2,300.0 million were entered into in the third quarter of fiscal 2018. As of February 25, 2018, the net fair value of the treasury locks was a liability of less than $1 million.

In advance of planned debt financing, in fiscal 2018, we entered into $500.0 million of treasury locks due October 15, 2017 with an average fixed rate of 1.8 percent. All of these treasury locks were cash settled for $3.7 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2018, concurrent with the issuance of our $500.0 million5-year fixed-rate notes.

In advance of planned debt financing, during the third quarter of fiscal 2016 and the first quarter of fiscal 2017, we entered into $400.0 million and $100.0 million, respectively, of treasury locks due February 15, 2017 with an average fixed rate of 2.0 percent. All of these treasury locks were cash settled for $17.2 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2017, concurrent with the issuance of our $750.0 million10-year fixed-rate notes.

The fair values of the derivative positions used in our risk management activities and other assets recorded at fair value were not material as of February 25, 2018, and were Level 1 or Level 2 assets and liabilities in the fair value hierarchy. We did not significantly change our valuation techniques from prior periods.

We offer certain suppliers access to third party services that allow them to view our scheduled payments online. The third party services also allow 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 parties, or any financial institutions concerning these services. All of our accounts payable remain as obligations to our suppliers as stated in our supplier agreements. As of February 25, 2018, $927.0 million of our total accounts payable were payable to suppliers who utilize these third party services.

(7) Debt

The components of notes payable were as follows:

In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
   May 28,
2017
 

U.S. commercial paper

  $885.2   $954.7 

Financial institutions

   325.6    279.4 

Total

  $    1,210.8   $    1,234.1 
  

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 February 2018, we entered into afee-paid commitment letter with certain lenders, pursuant to which such lenders have committed to provide a364-day senior unsecured bridge term loan credit facility (the “Bridge Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $8.5 billion to provide the financing for the planned acquisition of Blue Buffalo. To the extent we obtain funding for the acquisition by issuing debt or equity securities, the availability of the Bridge Facility will be correspondingly reduced. The funding of the Bridge Facility is contingent on the satisfaction of certain customary conditions set forth in the commitment letter.

The following table details thefee-paid committed and uncommitted credit lines we had available as of February 25, 2018:

In Billions  Facility
Amount
   

Borrowed

Amount

 

 

 

Credit facility expiring:

    

 February 2019

  $8.5   $- 

 May 2022

   2.7    - 

 June 2019

   0.2    0.2 
  

 

 

 

Total committed credit facilities

   11.4    0.2 

Uncommitted credit facilities

   0.5    0.2 

 

 

Total committed and uncommitted credit facilities

  $11.9   $0.4 

 

 

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 25, 2018.

Long-Term Debt

The fair values and carrying amounts of long-term debt, including the current portion, were $8,512.6 million and $8,414.1 million, respectively, as of February 25, 2018. 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.

In February 2018, we paid $113.8 million to repurchase $100.0 million of our previously issued 6.39% medium term notes due 2023. We recorded the $13.8 million premium paid in the repurchase as interest expense.

In October 2017, we issued $500.0 million principal amount of 2.6 percent fixed-rate notes due October 12, 2022. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. We may redeem the notes in whole, or in part, 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, together with cash on hand, were used to repay $500.0 million of 1.4 percent fixed-rate notes.

In March 2017, we issued €300.0 million principal amount of floating-rate notes due March 20, 2019. Interest on the notes is payable quarterly in arrears. The notes are not generally redeemable prior to maturity. These notes are senior unsecured obligations that include a change of control repurchase provision. The net proceeds were used to repay a portion of our outstanding commercial paper.

In February 2017, we repaid $1.0 billion of 5.7 percent fixed-rate notes.

In January 2017, we issued $750.0 million principal amount of 3.2 percent fixed-rate notes due February 10, 2027. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. We may redeem the notes in whole, or in part, 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 repay a portion of our maturing long-term debt.

Certain of our long-term debt agreements contain restrictive covenants. As of February 25, 2018, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

(8) Redeemable and Noncontrolling Interests

We have a 51 percent controlling interest in Yoplait SAS and a 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques SNC and Liberté Marques Sàrl. Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) holds the remaining interests in each of the entities. On the acquisition date, we recorded the $904.4 million fair value of Sodiaal’s 49 percent euro-denominated interest in Yoplait SAS as a redeemable interest on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Sodiaal has the ability to put all or a portion of its redeemable interest to us at fair value once per year, up to three times before December 2024. We adjust the value of the redeemable interest through additionalpaid-in capital on our Consolidated Balance Sheets quarterly to the redeemable interest’s redemption value, which approximates its fair value. Yoplait SAS pays dividends annually if it meets certain financial metrics set forth in its shareholders’ agreement. As of February 25, 2018, the redemption value of the euro-denominated redeemable interest was $817.5 million.

A subsidiary of Yoplait SAS has an exclusive milk supply agreement for its European operations with Sodiaal through July 1, 2021. Net purchases totaled $172.7 million for the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018 and $134.6 million for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017.

On the acquisition dates, we recorded the $281.4 million fair value of Sodiaal’s 50 percent euro-denominated interest in Yoplait Marques SNC and 50 percent Canadian dollar-denominated interest in Liberté Marques Sàrl as noncontrolling interests on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Yoplait Marques SNC earns a royalty stream through a licensing agreement with Yoplait SAS for the rights toYoplaitand related trademarks. Liberté Marques Sàrl earns a royalty stream through licensing agreements with certain Yoplait group companies for the rights toLibertéand 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 to the holder’s capital account balance established in the most recentmark-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. On June 1, 2015, the floating preferred return rate on GMC’s Class A Interests was reset to the sum of three-month LIBOR plus 125 basis points.

Our noncontrolling interests contain restrictive covenants. As of February 25, 2018, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

(9) Stockholders’ Equity

The following tables provide details of total comprehensive income:

   Quarter Ended  Quarter Ended 
   Feb. 25, 2018  Feb. 26, 2017 
   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

    $941.4  $2.8   $8.3    $357.8  $2.9  $9.5 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

            

Foreign currency translation

  $(6.9 $-   (6.9  10.3    20.1  $109.0  $-   109.0   (0.5  5.2 

Other fair value changes:

            

Securities

   0.8   (0.2  0.6   -    -   0.7   (0.2  0.5   -   - 

Hedge derivatives

   (7.2         1.2   (6.0  -    (0.7  (6.2  1.3   (4.9  -   - 

Reclassification to earnings:

            

Hedge derivatives (a)

   3.9   (1.0  2.9   -    (0.1  (9.8  1.8   (8.0  -   (0.7

Amortization of losses and prior service costs (b)

   45.1   (14.4  30.7   -    -   48.0   (18.1  29.9   -   - 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

  $    35.7  $(14.4  21.3   10.3    19.3  $    141.7   $    (15.2  126.5   (0.5  4.5 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

    $    962.7  $    13.1   $    27.6    $    484.3  $2.4  $14.0 

 

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

  Nine-Month Period Ended  Nine-Month Period Ended 
  Feb. 25, 2018  Feb. 26, 2017 
  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

         $1,776.6  $8.8  $19.5          $1,248.6  $    10.7  $26.2 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

          

Foreign currency translation

  $    (55.5 $-   (55.5  32.4   66.1  $146.0  $-   146.0   (15.7  (41.9

Other fair value changes:

          

Securities

  2.1   (0.7  1.4   -   -   1.2   (0.4  0.8   -   - 

Hedge derivatives

  (19.4  3.9   (15.5  -   (0.1  52.5   (12.8  39.7   -   2.7 

Reclassification to earnings:

          

Hedge derivatives (a)

  7.2   (2.6  4.6   -   (1.2  (18.4  1.4   (17.0  -   (2.3

Amortization of losses and prior service costs (b)

  132.7   (46.3  86.4   -   -   148.8   (56.5  92.3   -   - 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 $67.1   $    (45.7  21.4   32.4   64.8  $    330.1   $    (68.3  261.8   (15.7  (41.5

Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $    1,798.0   $    41.2  $    84.3    $    1,510.4  $(5.0  $    (15.3

 

 
(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.

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

In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
  May 28,
2017
 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

  $(680.2 $(624.7

Unrealized gain (loss) from:

   

Securities

   7.3   4.6 

Hedge derivatives

   (11.0  1.5 

Pension, other postretirement, and postemployment benefits:

   

Net actuarial loss

   (1,886.8  (1,645.4

Prior service costs

           18.2           19.5 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $(2,552.5 $(2,244.5

 

 

(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 andnon-employee directors. These programs and related accounting are described in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2017, and Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

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. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
   Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Compensation expense related to stock-based payments

  $    14.5   $    20.1   $    63.4   $    77.7 

 

 

Compensation expense related to stock-based payments recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings includes amounts recognized in restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2018.

As of February 25, 2018, unrecognized compensation expense related tonon-vested stock options, restricted stock units, and performance share units was $110.9 million. This expense will be recognized over 23 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. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Net cash proceeds

  $91.4   $90.5 

Intrinsic value of options exercised

  $    79.9   $    153.1 

 

 

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 Form10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2017.

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. 25,

2018

     

Feb. 26,

2017

 

Estimated fair values of stock options granted

     $6.18      $8.80 

Assumptions:

        

 Risk-free interest rate

     2.2 %      1.7 % 

 Expected term

     8.2 years      8.5 years 

 Expected volatility

     15.8 %      17.8 % 

 Dividend yield

     3.6 %      2.9 % 

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 28, 2017

   29,834.4  $40.47     

 Granted

   2,816.7   55.52     

 Exercised

   (3,207.2  31.43     

 Forfeited or expired

   (146.8  58.69           

Outstanding as of Feb. 25, 2018

   29,297.1  $42.82    4.36   $343.4 

Exercisable as of Feb. 25, 2018

   20,297.2  $        36.08    2.74   $        343.4 

 

 

Information on restricted stock and performance share 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

 

Non-vested as of May 28, 2017

   4,491.2  $56.08    123.3  $56.93 

 Granted

   1,473.6   55.37    42.9   55.49 

 Vested

   (1,738.9  50.53    (36.2  49.42 

 Forfeited

   (415.9  62.63    (9.4  58.91 

Non-vested as of Feb. 25, 2018

   3,810.0  $        57.62    120.6  $        58.31 

 

 

The total grant date fair value of restricted stock unit awards that vested during the period follows:

     Nine-Month Period Ended 
In Millions    Feb. 25, 2018     Feb. 26,
2017
 

Total grant date fair value

    $        89.7     $        71.2 

 

 

(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. 25,
2018
     Feb. 26,
2017
     Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

    $    941.4     $    357.8     $    1,776.6   $    1,248.6 

 

 

Average number of common shares - basic EPS

     572.5      580.7      573.4    589.8 

Incremental share effect from: (a)

              

 Stock options

     7.9      7.8      7.7    8.5 

 Restricted stock, restricted stock units, and other

     2.3      2.9      2.1    2.8 

Average number of common shares - diluted EPS

     582.7      591.4      583.2    601.1 

 

 

Earnings per share - basic

    $1.64     $0.62     $3.10   $2.12 

Earnings per share - diluted

    $1.62     $0.61     $3.05   $2.08 

 

 
(a)

Incremental shares from stock options, restricted stock units, and performance share units are computed by the treasury stock method. Stock options, restricted stock units, and performance share 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. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
   Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Anti-dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and performance share units

   5.2    2.4    6.8    2.2 

 

 

(12) Share Repurchases

Share repurchases were as follows:

   Quarter Ended   Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
   Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Shares of common stock

   -    4.9    10.9    25.4 

Aggregate purchase price

   $0.7    $301.0    $601.2    $1,650.9 

 

 

(13) Statements of Cash Flows

Our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows include the following:

   Nine-Month Period
Ended
 
In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Net cash interest payments

  $237.9   $263.8 

Net income tax payments

  $424.3   $394.3 

 

 

(14) Retirement and Postemployment Benefits

In fiscal 2017, we changed the method used to estimate the service and interest cost components of the net periodic benefit expense for our United States and most of our international defined benefit pension, other postretirement benefit, and postemployment benefit plans. We adopted a full yield curve approach to estimate service cost and interest cost by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used to determine the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. This method provides a more precise measurement of service and interest costs by correlating the timing of the plans’ liability cash flows to the corresponding rate on the yield curve.

Components of net periodic benefit expense are as follows:

   Defined Benefit
Pension Plans
  Other Postretirement
Benefit Plans
  Postemployment
Benefit Plans
 
   Quarter Ended  Quarter Ended  Quarter Ended 
In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
  Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
  Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

 

 

Service cost

  $25.7  $29.9  $2.9  $3.2  $2.1   $2.2 

Interest cost

   54.5   54.1   7.6   8.2   0.6    0.7 

Expected return on plan assets

   (120.1  (121.6  (13.0  (12.1  -    - 

Amortization of losses

   44.6   47.2   0.2   0.6   0.2    0.4 

Amortization of prior service costs (credits)

   0.4   0.6   (1.3  (1.5  0.2    0.2 

Other adjustments

   -   -   -   -   0.4    3.4 

 

 

Net expense (income)

  $5.1  $10.2  $(3.6 $(1.6 $3.5   $6.9 

 

 
   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. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
  

Feb. 25,

2018

  

Feb. 26,

2017

  Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

 

 

Service cost

  $77.1  $89.9  $8.7  $9.4  $6.4   $6.6 

Interest cost

   163.4   162.4       22.8   24.2   1.7    2.1 

Expected return on plan assets

   (360.1  (365.1  (39.1  (36.3  -    - 

Amortization of losses

       132.8       142.2   0.6   1.9   0.6    1.3 

Amortization of prior service costs (credits)

   1.4   1.8   (4.0  (4.1  0.5    0.5 

Other adjustments

   -   2.1   -   1.3   7.2    10.2 

Settlement or curtailment losses

   -   4.4   -   0.7   -    - 

 

 

Net expense (income)

  $14.6  $37.7  $(11.0 $(2.9 $    16.4   $20.7 

 

 

(15) Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was signed into law. The TCJA results in significant revisions to the U.S. corporate income tax system, including a reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate, implementation of a territorial system and aone-time deemed repatriation tax on untaxed foreign earnings. The TCJA also results in a U.S. federal statutory blended rate of 29.4 percent for fiscal 2018. Generally, the impacts of the new legislation would be required to be recorded in the period of enactment which for us is the third quarter of fiscal 2018. However, Accounting Standards Update2018-05:Income Taxes (Topic 740) (ASU2018-05) was issued with guidance allowing for the recognition of provisional amounts in the event that the accounting is not complete and a reasonable estimate can be made. The guidance allows for a measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date to finalize the accounting related to the TCJA.

As of February 25, 2018, we have not completed our accounting for the tax effects of the TCJA. During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we recorded a provisional net benefit using reasonable estimates for those tax effects based on analysis and information available to date. The provisional net benefit is subject to revisions as we complete our analysis of the TCJA, collect and prepare necessary data, and interpret any additional guidance issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, Financial Accounting Standards Board, and other standard setting and regulatory bodies. Adjustments may materially impact our provision for income taxes and effective tax rate in the period in which the adjustments are made. Our accounting for the tax effects of the TCJA will be completed during the measurement period of up to one year from the enactment date.

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2018, we recorded an estimated net discrete benefit of $503.8 million. This net benefit consists primarily of a $617.8 million provisional deferred tax benefit from revaluing our net U.S. deferred tax liabilities to reflect the new U.S. corporate tax rate, partially offset by an $83.9 million provisional charge for the estimated transition tax and an additional $30.1 million provisional deferred tax liability related to changes in our assertion that we will reinvest unremitted foreign earnings indefinitely.

Our estimate of the deferred tax benefit due to the revaluation of our net U.S. deferred tax liabilities is a provisional amount under the guidance in ASU2018-05. Due to the newly enacted U.S. tax rate change, timing differences that are estimated balances as of the date of enactment will result in changes to our estimate of the deferred rate change when those estimates are finalized with the filing of our fiscal 2018 income tax return. This is a result of the different federal income tax rates of 29.4 percent and 21.0 percent for fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019, respectively. Since many of the deferred tax balances in the period of enactment include estimates of events that have not yet occurred, we are unable to determine the final impact of the tax rate change at this time.

As a result of the TCJA, we arere-evaluating our assertion regarding the indefinite reinvestment of foreign earnings for most legal entities owned directly by our U.S. subsidiaries, and as such, we may need to accrue additional deferred taxes related to any changes in our assertion. As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we have recorded a provisional estimate for local country withholding taxes related to certain entities from which we expect to repatriate undistributed earnings. However, we do not have the necessary information gathered, prepared and analyzed to make a reasonable estimate of the deferred taxes related to the rest of our foreign subsidiaries where we may change our indefinite reinvestment assertion. We will gather the information necessary for those subsidiaries and record any new deferred taxes in future periods once the analysis is complete.

In general, the transition tax is a result of the deemed repatriation imposed by the new legislation that results in the taxation of our accumulated foreign earnings and profits (E&P) at a 15.5 percent rate on liquid assets (i.e. cash and other specified assets) and 8 percent on the remaining unremitted foreign E&P, both net of foreign tax credits. At this time, we have not yet gathered, prepared and analyzed the information necessary to complete the complex calculations required to finalize the amount of our transition tax. We believe that our provisional calculations result in a reasonable estimate of the transition tax and related foreign tax credit, and as such have included those amounts in our provisional estimate in the third quarter of fiscal 2018. As we complete the analysis of accumulated foreign E&P and related foreign taxes paid on an entity by entity basis and finalize the amounts held in cash or other specified assets, we will update our provisional estimate of the transition tax and related foreign tax credit in a future period.

The legislation also includes provisions that will affect our fiscal 2019 results, including but not limited to, a reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate on domestic operations; the creation of a new minimum tax called the base erosion anti-abuse tax; a new provision that taxes U.S. allocated expenses as well as currently taxes certain income from foreign operations (Global Intangible Low Tax Income or GILTI); a new limitation on deductible interest expense; the repeal of the domestic manufacturing deduction; and limitations on the deductibility of certain executive compensation.

While the new legislation generally eliminates U.S. federal income tax on dividends from foreign subsidiaries going forward, certain income earned by certain subsidiaries must be included currently in our U.S. taxable income under the new GILTI inclusion rules. Because of the complexity of the new GILTI rules, we are evaluating this provision and the application of U.S. GAAP. Under U.S. GAAP, we are allowed to make an accounting policy election and record the taxes as a period cost as incurred or factor such amounts into the measurement of deferred taxes. We have not yet computed a reasonable estimate of the effect of this provision and therefore, have not made a policy decision regarding this item.

In addition, in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we adopted new accounting requirements that provide the option to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from TCJA from AOCI to retained earnings. We elected to reclassify the stranded income tax effects of the TCJA of $329.4 million from AOCI to retained earnings. This reclassification consists of deferred taxes originally recorded in AOCI that exceed the newly enacted federal corporate tax rate. The new accounting requirements allow for adjustments to reclassification amounts in subsequent periods as a result of changes to the provisional amounts recorded.

(16) Business Segment Information

We operate in the consumer foods industry. We have four operating segments by type of customer and geographic region as follows: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; and Asia & Latin America.

Our North America Retail operating segment reflects business with a wide variety of grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains, ande-commerce grocery providers. Our product categories in this business segment areready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, 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 refrigerated yogurt, nutrition bars, meal kits, salty snacks,ready-to-eat cereal, and grain snacks.

Our major product categories in our Convenience Stores & Foodservice operating segment areready-to-eat cereals, snacks, refrigerated yogurt, frozen meals, unbaked and fully baked frozen dough products, and baking mixes. 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 in the United States.

Our Europe & Australia operating segment reflects retail and foodservice businesses in the greater Europe and Australia regions. Our product categories include refrigerated yogurt, meal kits, super-premium ice cream, refrigerated and frozen dough products, shelf stable vegetables, grain snacks, and dessert and baking mixes. We also sell super-premium ice cream directly to consumers through owned retail shops. Revenues from franchise fees are reported in the region or country where the end customer is located.

Our Asia & Latin America operating segment consists of retail and foodservice businesses in the greater Asia and South America regions. Our product categories include super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, meal kits, salty and grain snacks, wellness beverages, and refrigerated yogurt. We also sell super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts directly to consumers through owned retail shops. Our Asia & Latin America 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 are reported in the region or country where the end customer is located.

Operating profit for these segments excludes unallocated corporate items, gain or loss on divestitures, 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, 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 frommark-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. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
   Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

 

 

Net sales:

       

North America Retail

  $2,517.4  $2,499.0   $7,727.4   $7,804.8 

Convenience Stores & Foodservice

   460.3   448.5    1,419.6    1,382.3 

Europe & Australia

   469.8   424.5    1,428.4    1,338.0 

Asia & Latin America

   434.8   421.2    1,274.8    1,288.1 

 

 

Total

  $    3,882.3  $    3,793.2   $    11,850.2   $    11,813.2 

 

 

Operating profit:

       

North America Retail

  $518.3  $516.7   $1,674.4   $1,795.9 

Convenience Stores & Foodservice

   84.3   93.6    275.6    295.4 

Europe & Australia

   27.3   42.0    84.8    127.2 

Asia & Latin America

   (2.1  10.0    30.1    61.3 

 

 

Total segment operating profit

   627.8   662.3    2,064.9    2,279.8 

Unallocated corporate items

   27.6   42.2    102.3    143.6 

Divestiture loss

   -   -    -    13.5 

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

   7.5   77.6    14.3    165.5 

 

 

Operating profit

  $592.7  $542.5   $1,948.3   $1,957.2 

 

 

(17) New Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we adopted new requirements for the accounting and presentation of stock-based payments. The adoption of this guidance resulted in the prospective recognition of realized windfall and shortfall tax benefits related to the exercise or vesting of stock-based awards in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings instead of additionalpaid-in capital within our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recognized a windfall tax benefit in income tax expense in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings of $6.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and $26.8 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018. We retrospectively adopted the guidance related to reclassification of realized windfall tax benefits in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. This resulted in reclassifications of $26.8 million and $65.1 million of cash provided by financing activities to operating activities for the nine-month periods ended February 25, 2018 and February 26, 2017, respectively. Additionally, we retrospectively adopted the guidance related to reclassification of employee tax withholdings in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. This resulted in reclassifications of $21.4 million and $35.2 million of cash used by operating activities to financing activities for the nine-month periods ended February 25, 2018 and February 26, 2017, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense continues to reflect estimated forfeitures.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we adopted new accounting requirements which permit reporting entities to measure a goodwill impairment loss by the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Previously, goodwill impairment losses were required to be measured by determining the implied fair value of goodwill. Our annual goodwill impairment test was performed as of the first day of the second quarter of fiscal 2018, and the adoption of this guidance did not impact our results of operations or financial position.    

(18) Subsequent Event

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter fiscal 2018, we approved global cost savings initiatives designed to reduce administrative costs and align resources behind high growth priorities. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, we expect to record total charges of approximately $40 to $60 million, primarily reflecting employee termination benefits, all of which will be cash. The majority of these actions will be completed by the end of fiscal 2018 with the remainder completed in fiscal 2019 subject to consultation as locally required.

4


Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to

redeemable and noncontrolling interests

$

603.8

 

$

463.9

 

$

1,946.1

 

$

1,583.8

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation

 

12.5

 

 

(22.0)

 

 

102.4

 

 

(28.5)

Other fair value changes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge derivatives

 

0.1

 

 

(6.4)

 

 

(10.1)

 

 

(15.4)

Reclassification to earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge derivatives

 

5.4

 

 

4.0

 

 

4.7

 

 

3.6

Amortization of losses and prior service costs

 

19.8

 

 

19.6

 

 

59.1

 

 

58.8

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

37.8

 

 

(4.8)

 

 

156.1

 

 

18.5

Total comprehensive income

 

641.6

 

 

459.1

 

 

2,102.2

 

 

1,602.3

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to

redeemable and noncontrolling interests

 

21.0

 

 

(0.3)

 

 

107.5

 

 

5.9

Comprehensive income attributable to General Mills

$

620.6

 

$

459.4

 

$

1,994.7

 

$

1,596.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

5


Consolidated Balance Sheets

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(In Millions, Except Par Value)

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

May 31, 2020

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

2,754.2

 

$

1,677.8

Receivables

 

1,776.2

 

 

1,615.1

Inventories

 

1,758.8

 

 

1,426.3

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

323.2

 

 

402.1

Total current assets

 

6,612.4

 

 

5,121.3

Land, buildings, and equipment

 

3,505.5

 

 

3,580.6

Goodwill

 

14,034.6

 

 

13,923.2

Other intangible assets

 

7,148.3

 

 

7,095.8

Other assets

 

1,348.0

 

 

1,085.8

Total assets

$

32,648.8

 

$

30,806.7

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

3,391.6

 

$

3,247.7

Current portion of long-term debt

 

3,899.8

 

 

2,331.5

Notes payable

 

184.6

 

 

279.0

Other current liabilities

 

2,113.7

 

 

1,633.3

Total current liabilities

 

9,589.7

 

 

7,491.5

Long-term debt

 

9,766.6

 

 

10,929.0

Deferred income taxes

 

2,006.2

 

 

1,947.1

Other liabilities

 

1,502.4

 

 

1,545.0

Total liabilities

 

22,864.9

 

 

21,912.6

Redeemable interest

 

596.0

 

 

544.6

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, 754.6 shares issued, $0.10 par value

 

75.5

 

 

75.5

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,353.8

 

 

1,348.6

Retained earnings

 

16,655.0

 

 

15,982.1

Common stock in treasury, at cost, shares of 142.8 and 144.8

 

(6,351.3)

 

 

(6,433.3)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(2,842.7)

 

 

(2,914.4)

Total stockholders' equity

 

8,890.3

 

 

8,058.5

Noncontrolling interests

 

297.6

 

 

291.0

Total equity

 

9,187.9

 

 

8,349.5

Total liabilities and equity

$

32,648.8

 

$

30,806.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

6


Consolidated Statements of Total Equity and Redeemable Interest

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

Total equity, beginning balance

 

 

$

8,852.6

 

 

 

$

8,020.6

Common stock, 1 billion shares authorized, $0.10 par value

754.6

 

 

75.5

 

754.6

 

 

75.5

Additional paid-in capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

 

1,333.3

 

 

 

 

1,387.0

Stock compensation plans

 

 

 

(8.3)

 

 

 

 

(36.2)

Unearned compensation related to stock unit awards

 

 

 

(0.5)

 

 

 

 

(1.4)

Earned compensation

 

 

 

20.7

 

 

 

 

17.8

Decrease (increase) in redemption value of

redeemable interest

 

 

 

8.6

 

 

 

 

(32.3)

Ending balance

 

 

 

1,353.8

 

 

 

 

1,334.9

Retained earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

 

16,374.2

 

 

 

 

15,501.8

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

595.7

 

 

 

 

454.1

Cash dividends declared ($0.51 and $0.98 per share)

 

 

 

(314.9)

 

 

 

 

(595.9)

Ending balance

 

 

 

16,655.0

 

 

 

 

15,360.0

Common stock in treasury:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

(143.2)

 

 

(6,365.4)

 

(150.0)

 

 

(6,662.2)

Shares purchased

0

 

 

(0.5)

 

0

 

 

(2.7)

Stock compensation plans

0.4

 

 

14.6

 

1.2

 

 

54.1

Ending balance

(142.8)

 

 

(6,351.3)

 

(148.8)

 

 

(6,610.8)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

 

(2,867.6)

 

 

 

 

(2,589.8)

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

24.9

 

 

 

 

5.3

Ending balance

 

 

 

(2,842.7)

 

 

 

 

(2,584.5)

Noncontrolling interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

 

302.6

 

 

 

 

308.3

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

3.7

 

 

 

 

(1.5)

Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders

 

 

 

(8.7)

 

 

 

 

(21.8)

Ending balance

 

 

 

297.6

 

 

 

 

285.0

Total equity, ending balance

 

 

$

9,187.9

 

 

 

$

7,860.1

Redeemable interest:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

$

587.7

 

 

 

$

545.1

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

17.3

 

 

 

 

1.2

(Decrease) increase in redemption value of

redeemable interest

 

 

 

(8.6)

 

 

 

 

32.3

Distributions to redeemable interest holder

 

 

 

(0.4)

 

 

 

 

(40.0)

Ending balance

 

 

$

596.0

 

 

 

$

538.6

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

7


Consolidated Statements of Total Equity and Redeemable Interest

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Shares

 

Amount

Total equity, beginning balance

 

 

$

8,349.5

 

 

 

$

7,367.7

Common stock, 1 billion shares authorized, $0.10 par value

754.6

 

 

75.5

 

754.6

 

 

75.5

Additional paid-in capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

 

1,348.6

 

 

 

 

1,386.7

Stock compensation plans

 

 

 

12.9

 

 

 

 

(22.4)

Unearned compensation related to stock unit awards

 

 

 

(78.2)

 

 

 

 

(71.3)

Earned compensation

 

 

 

68.9

 

 

 

 

65.1

Decrease (increase) in redemption value of

redeemable interest

 

 

 

1.6

 

 

 

 

(23.2)

Ending balance

 

 

 

1,353.8

 

 

 

 

1,334.9

Retained earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

 

15,982.1

 

 

 

 

14,996.7

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

1,923.0

 

 

 

 

1,555.5

Cash dividends declared ($2.02 and $1.96 per share)

 

 

 

(1,244.4)

 

 

 

 

(1,192.2)

Adoption of current expected credit loss accounting requirements

 

 

 

(5.7)

 

 

 

 

0

Ending balance

 

 

 

16,655.0

 

 

 

 

15,360.0

Common stock in treasury:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

(144.8)

 

 

(6,433.3)

 

(152.7)

 

 

(6,779.0)

Shares purchased

0

 

 

(0.6)

 

0

 

 

(2.8)

Stock compensation plans

2.0

 

 

82.6

 

3.9

 

 

171.0

Ending balance

(142.8)

 

 

(6,351.3)

 

(148.8)

 

 

(6,610.8)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

 

(2,914.4)

 

 

 

 

(2,625.4)

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

71.7

 

 

 

 

40.9

Ending balance

 

 

 

(2,842.7)

 

 

 

 

(2,584.5)

Noncontrolling interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

 

291.0

 

 

 

 

313.2

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

31.8

 

 

 

 

2.2

Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders

 

 

 

(25.2)

 

 

 

 

(30.4)

Ending balance

 

 

 

297.6

 

 

 

 

285.0

Total equity, ending balance

 

 

$

9,187.9

 

 

 

$

7,860.1

Redeemable interest:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning balance

 

 

$

544.6

 

 

 

$

551.7

Comprehensive income

 

 

 

75.7

 

 

 

 

3.7

(Decrease) increase in redemption value of

redeemable interest

 

 

 

(1.6)

 

 

 

 

23.2

Distributions to redeemable interest holder

 

 

 

(22.7)

 

 

 

 

(40.0)

Ending balance

 

 

$

596.0

 

 

 

$

538.6

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

GENERAL MILLS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Unaudited) (In Millions)

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Cash Flows - Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings, including earnings attributable to redeemable and noncontrolling interests

$

1,946.1

 

$

1,583.8

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

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

454.5

 

 

456.4

After-tax earnings from joint ventures

 

(89.5)

 

 

(57.5)

Distributions of earnings from joint ventures

 

41.9

 

 

37.7

Stock-based compensation

 

69.5

 

 

66.0

Deferred income taxes

 

110.9

 

 

1.7

Pension and other postretirement benefit plan contributions

 

(25.7)

 

 

(21.7)

Pension and other postretirement benefit plan costs

 

(25.5)

 

 

(23.2)

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

 

5.7

 

 

20.6

Changes in current assets and liabilities

 

(145.4)

 

 

91.3

Other, net

 

(134.6)

 

 

4.7

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

2,207.9

 

 

2,159.8

Cash Flows - Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of land, buildings, and equipment

 

(346.4)

 

 

(269.4)

Investments in affiliates, net

 

18.1

 

 

(40.9)

Proceeds from disposal of land, buildings, and equipment

 

1.8

 

 

0.9

Other, net

 

(5.5)

 

 

4.8

Net cash used by investing activities

 

(332.0)

 

 

(304.6)

Cash Flows - Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Change in notes payable

 

(96.9)

 

 

(282.9)

Issuance of long-term debt

 

1,576.5

 

 

867.8

Payment of long-term debt

 

(1,159.0)

 

 

(1,396.5)

Debt exchange participation incentive cash payment

 

(201.4)

 

 

0

Proceeds from common stock issued on exercised options

 

39.4

 

 

109.4

Purchases of common stock for treasury

 

(0.6)

 

 

(2.8)

Dividends paid

 

(932.4)

 

 

(895.4)

Distributions to noncontrolling and redeemable interest holders

 

(47.9)

 

 

(70.4)

Other, net

 

(30.4)

 

 

(20.6)

Net cash used by financing activities

 

(852.7)

 

 

(1,691.4)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

53.2

 

 

(6.9)

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

1,076.4

 

 

156.9

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year

 

1,677.8

 

 

450.0

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

$

2,754.2

 

$

606.9

Cash Flow from changes in current assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

$

(119.2)

 

$

(60.3)

Inventories

 

(302.2)

 

 

2.5

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

58.8

 

 

54.8

Accounts payable

 

154.7

 

 

119.9

Other current liabilities

 

62.5

 

 

(25.6)

Changes in current assets and liabilities

$

(145.4)

 

$

91.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

9


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 (GAAP) 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 28, 2021, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending May 30, 2021.

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 31, 2020. 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 with the exception of new requirements adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we adopted new accounting requirements related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including trade receivables. The new standard and subsequent amendments replace the incurred loss impairment model with a forward-looking expected credit loss model, which will generally result in earlier recognition of credit losses. Our allowance for doubtful accounts represents our estimate of expected credit losses related to our trade receivables. We pool our trade receivables based on similar risk characteristics, such as geographic location, business channel, and other account data. To estimate our allowance for doubtful accounts, we leverage information on historical losses, asset-specific risk characteristics, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future conditions. Account balances are written off against the allowance when we deem the amount is uncollectible. We adopted the requirements of the new standard and subsequent amendments using the modified retrospective transition approach, and recorded a decrease to retained earnings of $5.7 million after-tax.

Certain terms used throughout this report are defined in the “Glossary” section below.

(2) Restructuring, Impairment, and Other Exit Costs

Restructuring charges were as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Asia & Latin America route-to-market

and supply chain optimization

$

11.5

 

$

0

 

$

11.5

 

$

0

Charges associated with restructuring actions

previously announced

 

0.2

 

 

12.4

 

 

2.1

 

 

37.2

Total restructuring charges

$

11.7

 

$

12.4

 

$

13.6

 

$

37.2

In the third quarter of fiscal 2021, we approved restructuring actions to leverage more efficient and effective route-to-market models and to optimize our supply chain in our Asia & Latin America segment. We expect to incur approximately $21 million of restructuring charges related to these actions, of which approximately $15 million will be cash. These charges are expected to consist of approximately $10 million of severance and $11 million of other costs, primarily asset write-offs. We recognized $8.9 million of severance and $2.6 million of other costs in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 related to these actions. We expect these actions to be completed by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022.

The charges associated with restructuring actions previously announced primarily relate to actions to drive efficiencies in targeted areas of our global supply chain. We expect these actions to be completed by the end of fiscal 2023.

Certain actions are subject to union negotiations and works counsel consultations, where required.

We paid net $7.9 million of cash in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, related to restructuring actions. We paid net $16.6 million of cash in the same period of fiscal 2020.

10


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

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

$

11.0

 

$

5.8

 

$

11.9

 

$

12.9

Cost of sales

 

0.7

 

 

6.6

 

 

1.7

 

 

24.3

Total restructuring charges

$

11.7

 

$

12.4

 

$

13.6

 

$

37.2

Project-related costs classified in cost of sales

$

0

 

$

0.4

 

$

0

 

$

1.1

(3) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

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

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

May 31, 2020

Goodwill

$

14,034.6

 

$

13,923.2

Other intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets not subject to amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

Brands and other indefinite-lived intangibles

 

6,619.1

 

 

6,561.4

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

817.5

 

 

777.8

Less accumulated amortization

 

(288.3)

 

 

(243.4)

Intangible assets subject to amortization, net

 

529.2

 

 

534.4

Other intangible assets

 

7,148.3

 

 

7,095.8

Total

$

21,182.9

 

$

21,019.0

Based on the carrying value of finite-lived intangible assets as of February 28, 2021, annual amortization expense for each of the next five fiscal years is estimated to be approximately $40 million.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021 were as follows:

In Millions

 

North America Retail

 

Pet

 

Convenience Stores & Foodservice

 

Europe & Australia

 

Asia & Latin America

 

Joint Ventures

 

Total

Balance as of May 31, 2020

 

$

6,403.7

 

$

5,300.5

 

$

918.8

 

$

690.7

 

$

203.8

 

$

405.7

 

$

13,923.2

Other activity, primarily

foreign currency translation

 

 

9.0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

66.3

 

 

0.5

 

 

35.6

 

 

111.4

Balance as of Feb. 28, 2021

 

$

6,412.7

 

$

5,300.5

 

$

918.8

 

$

757.0

 

$

204.3

 

$

441.3

 

$

14,034.6

The changes in the carrying amount of other intangible assets during the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021 were as follows:

In Millions

 

 

Total

Balance as of May 31, 2020

 

$

7,095.8

Other activity, primarily foreign currency translation

 

 

52.5

Balance as of Feb. 28, 2021

 

$

7,148.3

Our annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment test was performed on the first day of the second quarter of fiscal 2021, and we determined there was no impairment of our intangible assets as their related fair values were substantially in excess of the carrying values.

While having significant coverage as of our fiscal 2021 assessment date, the Europe & Australia reporting unit and the Progresso, Green Giant, and EPIC brand intangible assets had risk of decreasing coverage. We will continue to monitor these businesses for potential impairment.

11


(4) Inventories

The components of inventories were as follows:

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

May 31, 2020

Raw materials and packaging

$

420.4

 

$

392.2

Finished goods

 

1,418.5

 

 

1,142.6

Grain

 

119.0

 

 

93.6

Excess of FIFO over LIFO cost

 

(199.1)

 

 

(202.1)

Total

$

1,758.8

 

$

1,426.3

(5) Risk Management Activities

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), dairy products, natural gas, and diesel fuel. Our primary objective when entering into these derivative contracts is to achieve certainty with regard to the future price of commodities purchased for use in our supply chain. We manage our exposures through a combination of purchase orders, long-term contracts with suppliers, exchange-traded futures and options, and over-the-counter options and swaps. We offset our exposures based on current and projected market conditions and generally seek to acquire the inputs at as close to our planned cost as possible.

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

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

Unallocated corporate items for the quarters and nine-month periods ended February 28, 2021, and February 23, 2020, included:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

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

commodity positions

$

51.0

 

$

(8.7)

 

$

95.0

 

$

(19.7)

Net (gain) loss on commodity positions reclassified from

unallocated corporate items to segment

operating profit

 

(3.9)

 

 

4.5

 

 

12.8

 

 

19.8

Net mark-to-market revaluation of certain grain inventories

 

8.6

 

 

(4.4)

 

 

10.2

 

 

(1.1)

Net mark-to-market valuation of certain

commodity positions recognized in unallocated

corporate items

$

55.7

 

$

(8.6)

 

$

118.0

 

$

(1.0)

As of February 28, 2021, the net notional value of commodity derivatives was $280.0 million, of which $52.0 million related to energy inputs and $228.0 million related to agricultural inputs. These contracts relate to inputs that generally will be utilized within the next 12 months.

In advance of planned debt financing, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, we entered into $300.0 million of treasury locks due January 13, 2022 with an average fixed rate of 0.85 percent.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2020, we entered into a €600.0 million interest rate swap to convert our €600.0 million fixed rate notes due January 15, 2026, to a floating rate.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, we entered into a $500.0 million interest rate swap to convert a portion of our $850.0 million floating-rate notes due April 16, 2021, to a fixed rate.

12


The fair values of the derivative positions used in our risk management activities and other assets recorded at fair value were not material as of February 28, 2021, and were Level 1 or Level 2 assets and liabilities in the fair value hierarchy. We did not significantly change our valuation techniques from prior periods.

We offer certain suppliers access to third party services that allow them to view our scheduled payments online. The third party services also allow 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 parties, or any financial institutions concerning these services. All of our accounts payable remain as obligations to our suppliers as stated in our supplier agreements. As of February 28, 2021, $1,420.3 million of our total accounts payable were payable to suppliers who utilize these third party services.

(6) Debt

The components of notes payable were as follows:

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

May 31, 2020

U.S. commercial paper

$

0

 

$

99.9

Financial institutions

 

184.6

 

 

179.1

Total

$

184.6

 

$

279.0

 To ensure availability of funds, we maintain bank credit lines and have commercial paper programs available to us in the United States and Europe. We also have committed 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 28, 2021:

In Billions

Facility

Amount

 

Borrowed Amount

Credit facility expiring:

 

 

 

 

 

May 2022

$

2.7

 

$

0

September 2022

 

0.2

 

 

0.1

Total committed credit facilities

 

2.9

 

 

0.1

Uncommitted credit facilities

 

0.6

 

 

0.1

Total committed and uncommitted credit facilities

$

3.5

 

$

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 28, 2021.

Long-Term Debt

The fair values and carrying amounts of long-term debt, including the current portion, were $14,760.9 million and $13,666.4 million, respectively, as of February 28, 2021. 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.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2021, we completed an offer to exchange certain series of outstanding notes for a combination of newly issued notes and cash. Holders exchanged $603.9 million of notes previously issued with rates between 4.15 percent and 5.4 percent for $605.2 million of newly issued 3.0 percent fixed-rate notes due February 1, 2051 and $201.4 million of cash, representing a participation incentive.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we issued €500.0 million principal amount of 0.0 percent fixed-rate notes due November 16, 2021. We used the net proceeds to repay €200.0 million of 0.0 percent fixed-rate notes and forgeneral corporate purposes.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we issued €500.0 million principal amount of 0.0 percent fixed-rate notes due August 21, 2021. We used the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, to repay €500.0 million of 2.1 percent fixed-rate notes.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, we issued $750.0 million of 2.875 percent fixed-rate notes due April 15, 2030. We used the net proceeds to repay a portion of our outstanding commercial paper and for general corporate purposes.

13


In the third quarter of fiscal 2020, we issued €600.0 million of 0.45 percent fixed-rate notes due January 15, 2026 and €200.0 million of 0.0 percent fixed-rate notes due November 16, 2020. We used the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, to repay €500.0 million of floating-rate notes and €300.0 million of 0.0 percent fixed-rate notes.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2020, we repaid $500.0 million of 2.2 percent fixed-rate notes with proceeds from commercial paper.

Certain of our long-term debt agreements contain restrictive covenants. As of February 28, 2021, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

(7) Redeemable and Noncontrolling Interests

We have a 51 percent controlling interest in Yoplait SAS and a 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques SNC and Liberté Marques Sàrl. Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) holds the remaining interests in each of the entities. On the acquisition date, we recorded the $904.4 million fair value of Sodiaal’s 49 percent euro-denominated interest in Yoplait SAS as a redeemable interest on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Sodiaal has the ability to put all or a portion of its redeemable interest to us at fair value once per year, up to three times before December 2024. 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 SAS pays dividends annually if it meets certain financial metrics set forth in its shareholders’ agreement. As of February 28, 2021, the redemption value of the euro-denominated redeemable interest was $596.0 million.

A subsidiary of Yoplait SAS has an exclusive milk supply agreement for its European operations with Sodiaal through July 1, 2021. Net purchases totaled $155.0 million for the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, and $141.4 million for the nine-month period ended February 23, 2020.

On the acquisition dates, we recorded the $281.4 million fair value of Sodiaal’s 50 percent euro-denominated interest in Yoplait Marques SNC and 50 percent Canadian dollar-denominated interest in Liberté Marques Sàrl as noncontrolling interests on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Yoplait Marques SNC earns a royalty stream through a licensing agreement with Yoplait SAS for the rights to Yoplait and related trademarks. Liberté Marques Sàrl earns a royalty stream through licensing agreements with certain Yoplait group companies for the rights to Liberté 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 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 to the holder’s capital account balance established in the most recent mark-to-market valuation (currently $251.5 million). On June 1, 2018, the floating preferred return rate on GMC’s Class A Interests was reset to the sum of three-month LIBOR plus 142.5 basis points. 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 28, 2021, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

(8) Stockholders’ Equity

The following tables provide details of total comprehensive income:

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

$

595.7

$

1.1

$

7.0

 

 

 

 

$

454.1

$

3.2

$

6.6

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation

$

(7.8)

$

6.7

 

(1.1)

 

2.6

 

11.0

$

(11.7)

$

0

 

(11.7)

 

(4.7)

 

(5.6)

Other fair value changes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge derivatives

 

2.5

 

(1.5)

 

1.0

 

0

 

(0.9)

 

(7.7)

 

1.1

 

(6.6)

 

0

 

0.2

Reclassification to earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge derivatives (a)

 

6.8

 

(1.6)

 

5.2

 

0

 

0.2

 

4.7

 

(0.7)

 

4.0

 

0

 

0

Amortization of losses and

prior service costs (b)

 

25.6

 

(5.8)

 

19.8

 

0

 

0

 

25.4

 

(5.8)

 

19.6

 

0

 

0

Other comprehensive income (loss)

$

27.1

$

(2.2)

 

24.9

 

2.6

 

10.3

$

10.7

$

(5.4)

 

5.3

 

(4.7)

 

(5.4)

Total comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

$

620.6

$

3.7

$

17.3

 

 

 

 

$

459.4

$

(1.5)

$

1.2

(a)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 benefit plan non-service income.

14


 

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

$

1,923.0

$

3.9

$

19.2

 

 

 

 

$

1,555.5

$

11.7

$

16.6

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation

$

(41.4)

$

58.3

 

16.9

 

27.9

 

57.6

$

(7.3)

$

0

 

(7.3)

 

(9.5)

 

(11.7)

Other fair value changes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge derivatives

 

(11.1)

 

2.0

 

(9.1)

 

0

 

(1.0)

 

(16.9)

 

2.7

 

(14.2)

 

0

 

(1.2)

Reclassification to earnings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge derivatives (a)

 

6.7

 

(1.9)

 

4.8

 

0

 

(0.1)

 

4.5

 

(0.9)

 

3.6

 

0

 

0

Amortization of losses and prior service costs (b)

 

76.7

 

(17.6)

 

59.1

 

0

 

0

 

76.4

 

(17.6)

 

58.8

 

0

 

0

Other comprehensive income (loss)

$

30.9

$

40.8

 

71.7

 

27.9

 

56.5

$

56.7

$

(15.8)

 

40.9

 

(9.5)

 

(12.9)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

$

1,994.7

$

31.8

$

75.7

 

 

 

 

$

1,596.4

$

2.2

$

3.7

(a)Loss (gain) 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 benefit plan non-service income.

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

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

May 31, 2020

Foreign currency translation adjustments

$

(872.1)

 

$

(889.0)

Unrealized loss from:

 

 

 

 

 

Hedge derivatives

 

(16.9)

 

 

(12.6)

Pension, other postretirement, and postemployment benefits:

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss

 

(1,961.6)

 

 

(2,022.5)

Prior service credits

 

7.9

 

 

9.7

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

$

(2,842.7)

 

$

(2,914.4)

(9) 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 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020.

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. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Compensation expense related to stock-based payments

$

20.8

 

$

18.2

 

$

69.5

 

$

66.0

Windfall tax benefits from stock-based payments in income tax expense in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings were as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Windfall tax benefits from stock-based payments

$

1.6

 

$

4.1

 

$

8.4

 

$

12.3

As of February 28, 2021, unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options, restricted stock units, and performance share units was $123.2 million. This expense will be recognized over 21 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. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Net cash proceeds

$

39.4

 

$

109.4

Intrinsic value of options exercised

$

24.2

 

$

54.0

15


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 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020.

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. 28, 2021

Feb. 23, 2020

Estimated fair values of stock options granted

$

8.03

 

$

7.10

 

Assumptions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

0.7

%

 

2.0

%

Expected term

 

8.5

years

 

8.5

years

Expected volatility

 

19.5

%

 

17.4

%

Dividend yield

 

3.3

%

 

3.6

%

The total grant date fair value of restricted stock unit awards that vested during the period follows:

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Total grant date fair value

$

73.0

 

$

57.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10) Earnings Per Share

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

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions, Except per Share Data

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

$

595.7

 

$

454.1

 

$

1,923.0

 

$

1,555.5

Average number of common shares - basic EPS

 

615.0

 

 

607.9

 

 

614.6

 

 

607.1

Incremental share effect from: (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

2.0

 

 

2.6

 

 

2.6

 

 

2.8

Restricted stock units and performance share units

 

2.4

 

 

2.3

 

 

2.4

 

 

2.2

Average number of common shares - diluted EPS

 

619.4

 

 

612.8

 

 

619.6

 

 

612.1

Earnings per share – basic

$

0.97

 

$

0.75

 

$

3.13

 

$

2.56

Earnings per share – diluted

$

0.96

 

$

0.74

 

$

3.10

 

$

2.54

(a)Incremental shares from stock options, restricted stock units, and performance share units are computed by the treasury stock method.

Stock options, restricted stock units, and performance share 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. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Anti-dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and

performance share units

 

4.8

 

 

10.5

 

 

3.4

 

 

10.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16


(11) Statements of Cash Flows

Our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows include the following:

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Net cash interest payments

$

286.1

 

$

291.2

Net income tax payments

$

459.8

 

$

387.1

(12) Retirement and Postemployment Benefits

Components of net periodic benefit (income) expense are as follows:

 

 

Defined Benefit

Pension Plans

 

 

Other Postretirement

Benefit Plans

 

 

Postemployment Benefit Plans

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

Quarter Ended

In Millions

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Service cost

$

26.1

 

$

23.3

 

$

2.0

 

$

2.3

 

$

2.3

 

$

2.1

Interest cost

 

48.0

 

 

57.7

 

 

4.5

 

 

6.8

 

 

0.4

 

 

0.7

Expected return on plan assets

 

(105.3)

 

 

(112.5)

 

 

(8.7)

 

 

(10.6)

 

 

0

 

 

0

Amortization of losses (gains)

 

27.1

 

 

26.5

 

 

(1.3)

 

 

(0.5)

 

 

0.7

 

 

0.2

Amortization of prior service costs (credits)

 

0.3

 

 

0.4

 

 

(1.3)

 

 

(1.3)

 

 

0.1

 

 

0.1

Other adjustments

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

2.1

 

 

2.2

Net (income) expense

$

(3.8)

 

$

(4.6)

 

$

(4.8)

 

$

(3.3)

 

$

5.6

 

$

5.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Service cost

$

78.1

 

$

69.7

 

$

6.3

 

$

7.1

 

$

6.9

 

$

6.3

Interest cost

 

143.9

 

 

173.0

 

 

13.5

 

 

20.4

 

 

1.2

 

 

2.0

Expected return on plan assets

 

(315.4)

 

 

(337.5)

 

 

(26.0)

 

 

(31.6)

 

 

0

 

 

0

Amortization of losses (gains)

 

81.1

 

 

79.9

 

 

(3.8)

 

 

(1.6)

 

 

2.1

 

 

0.5

Amortization of prior service costs (credits)

 

0.9

 

 

1.2

 

 

(4.1)

 

 

(4.1)

 

 

0.5

 

 

0.5

Other adjustments

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

0

 

 

6.5

 

 

6.6

Net (income) expense

$

(11.4)

 

$

(13.7)

 

$

(14.1)

 

$

(9.8)

 

$

17.2

 

$

15.9

(13) Income Taxes

During the first quarter of fiscal 2020, we reorganized certain wholly owned subsidiaries, including the movement of certain assets between legal entities. As a result of these actions, we recorded a $53.1 million decrease to our deferred income tax liabilities, with a corresponding discrete, non-cash reduction to income taxes in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.

(14) Contingencies

During fiscal 2020, we received notice from the tax authorities of the State of São Paulo, Brazil regarding our compliance with its state sales tax requirements. As a result, we have been assessed additional state sales taxes, interest, and penalties. We believe that we have meritorious defenses against this claim and will vigorously defend our position. As of February 28, 2021, we are unable to estimate any possible loss and have not recorded a loss contingency for this matter.

(15) Business Segment and Geographic Information

We operate in the packaged foods industry. Our operating segments are as follows: North America Retail; Europe & Australia; Pet; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; and Asia & Latin America.

17


Our North America Retail operating segment reflects business with a wide variety of grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains, and e-commerce grocery providers. Our product categories in this business segment are ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit snacks, savory snacks, and a wide variety of organic products including ready-to-eat cereal, frozen and shelf-stable vegetables, meal kits, fruit snacks, snack bars, and refrigerated yogurt.

Our Europe & Australia operating segment reflects retail and foodservice businesses in the greater Europe and Australia regions. Our product categories include refrigerated yogurt, meal kits, snack bars, super-premium ice cream, refrigerated and frozen dough products, shelf stable vegetables, and dessert and baking mixes. Revenues from franchise fees are reported in the region or country where the franchisee is located.

Our Pet operating segment includes pet food products sold primarily in the United States in national pet superstore chains, e-commerce retailers, grocery stores, regional pet store chains, mass merchandisers, and veterinary clinics and hospitals. Our product categories include dog and cat food (dry foods, wet foods, and treats) made with whole meats, fruits, and vegetables and other high-quality natural ingredients. Our tailored pet product offerings address specific dietary, lifestyle, and life-stage needs and span different product types, diet types, breed sizes for dogs, lifestages, flavors, product functions and textures, and cuts for wet foods.

Our Asia & Latin America operating segment consists of retail and foodservice businesses in the greater Asia and South America regions. Our product categories include super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts, meal kits, dessert and baking mixes, snack bars, salty snacks, refrigerated and frozen dough products, and wellness beverages. We also sell super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts directly to consumers through owned retail shops. Our Asia & Latin America 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 or franchisee is located.

Our major product categories in our Convenience Stores & Foodservice operating segment are ready-to-eat cereals, snacks, refrigerated yogurt, frozen meals, unbaked and fully baked frozen dough products, baking mixes, and bakery 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 in the United States.

Operating profit for these segments excludes unallocated corporate items, gain or loss on divestitures, and restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs. Unallocated corporate items include corporate overhead expenses, variances to planned North American 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.

18


Our operating segment results were as follows:

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America Retail

$

2,726.8

 

$

2,501.9

 

$

8,355.3

 

$

7,554.1

Europe & Australia

 

484.2

 

 

421.9

 

 

1,442.6

 

 

1,308.9

Pet

 

436.3

 

 

383.5

 

 

1,288.0

 

 

1,140.0

Asia & Latin America

 

455.6

 

 

408.2

 

 

1,268.3

 

 

1,177.3

Convenience Stores & Foodservice

 

417.1

 

 

464.8

 

 

1,249.2

 

 

1,423.3

Total

$

4,520.0

 

$

4,180.3

 

$

13,603.4

 

$

12,603.6

Operating profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North America Retail

$

605.7

 

$

532.0

 

$

2,002.8

 

$

1,734.4

Europe & Australia

 

29.4

 

 

22.1

 

 

118.3

 

 

81.1

Pet

 

102.3

 

 

94.0

 

 

311.9

 

 

255.7

Asia & Latin America

 

12.0

 

 

8.1

 

 

62.5

 

 

42.6

Convenience Stores & Foodservice

 

63.7

 

 

92.1

 

 

211.6

 

 

298.4

Total segment operating profit

$

813.1

 

$

748.3

 

$

2,707.1

 

$

2,412.2

Unallocated corporate items

 

(24.5)

 

 

91.7

 

 

98.3

 

 

274.9

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs

 

11.0

 

 

5.8

 

 

11.9

 

 

12.9

Operating profit

$

826.6

 

$

650.8

 

$

2,596.9

 

$

2,124.4

Net sales for our North America Retail operating units were as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

U.S. Meals & Baking

$

1,165.8

 

$

1,010.6

 

$

3,629.0

 

$

3,005.5

U.S. Cereal

 

614.1

 

 

563.9

 

 

1,862.3

 

 

1,725.6

U.S. Snacks

 

476.1

 

 

491.0

 

 

1,479.4

 

 

1,513.0

Canada

 

245.3

 

 

217.3

 

 

702.5

 

 

652.7

U.S. Yogurt and Other

 

225.5

 

 

219.1

 

 

682.1

 

 

657.3

Total

$

2,726.8

 

$

2,501.9

 

$

8,355.3

 

$

7,554.1

Net sales by class of similar products were as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

In Millions

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Snacks

$

871.9

 

$

840.4

 

$

2,608.6

 

$

2,547.7

Convenient meals

 

785.0

 

 

706.0

 

 

2,334.8

 

 

1,961.2

Cereal

 

715.4

 

 

674.5

 

 

2,168.7

 

 

2,048.1

Yogurt

 

505.3

 

 

499.8

 

 

1,513.5

 

 

1,510.1

Dough

 

498.0

 

 

440.6

 

 

1,456.8

 

 

1,309.6

Baking mixes and ingredients

 

416.8

 

 

394.6

 

 

1,293.6

 

 

1,211.6

Pet

 

436.3

 

 

383.5

 

 

1,288.0

 

 

1,140.0

Super-premium ice cream

 

164.0

 

 

131.5

 

 

596.4

 

 

551.3

Other

 

127.3

 

 

109.4

 

 

343.0

 

 

324.0

Total

$

4,520.0

 

$

4,180.3

 

$

13,603.4

 

$

12,603.6

19


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

INTRODUCTIONItem 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 Form10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 201731, 2020 for important background regarding, among other things, our key business drivers. Significant trademarks and service marks used in our business are set forth initalicsherein. Certain terms used throughout this report are defined in the “Glossary” section below.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we expect the largest factor impacting our fiscal 2021 performance will be the relative balance of at-home versus away-from-home consumer food demand. At-home food demand has remained elevated relative to pre-pandemic levels, though it has moderated from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. We will continue to evaluate the nature and extent of the impact to our business and consolidated results of operations.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Third Quarter Results

In the third quarter of fiscal 2018,2021, net sales increased 28 percent compared to the same period last year,year. Organic net sales increased 7 percent compared to the same period last year. Operating profit margin of 18.3 percent increased 270 basis points, primarily driven by favorable foreign currency exchange and favorable net price realization and mix. Increased contributions from volume growthmix, a favorable change to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, favorable net corporate investment activity, and a larger increase in the North America Retail and Convenience Stores & Foodservice segments were offset by lower contributions from volume growth in the Europe & Australia and Asia & Latin America segments. In the third quarter, increased sales from innovation and merchandising contributed to organic net sales growth of 1 percentas compared to the increase in selling, general, and market share gains in the majority of our key global platforms. Operating profit margin of 15.3 percent was up 100 basis points fromyear-ago levels primarily driven by a decrease in restructuringadministrative (SG&A) expenses, partially offset by lower segment operating profit results. higher input costs. Adjusted operating profit margin decreased 12030 basis points to 15.715.8 percent compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by higher input costs, partially offset by improvedfavorable net price realization and mix and lower media and advertising expense.a larger increase in net sales as compared to the increase in SG&A expenses. Diluted earnings per share of $1.62$0.96 increased 16630 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.82 increased 6 percent on a constant-currency basis compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2017 and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.79, which excludes certain items affecting comparability, on a constant-currency basis increased 8 percent compared to2020. See the third quarter last year (see the“Non-GAAP“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for a description of our use of measures not defined by GAAP).GAAP.

A summary of our consolidated financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 follows:

Quarter Ended Feb. 25, 2018 In millions, except
per share
  Quarter Ended
Feb. 25, 2018 vs.
Feb. 26, 2017
  Percent of Net
Sales
  Constant-
Currency
Growth (a)
 

 

 

Net sales

 $3,882.3   2 %   

Operating profit

  592.7   9 %   15.3  

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

  941.4   163 %   

Diluted earnings per share

 $1.62   166 %   

Organic net sales growth rate (a)

   1 %   

Total segment operating profit (a)

  627.8   (5)%    (6)%     

Adjusted operating profit margin (a)

    15.7  

Diluted earnings per share, excluding certain items affecting comparability (a)

 $0.79   10 %    8 %     

 

 
(a)See the“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of measures not defined by GAAP.    

Quarter Ended Feb. 28, 2021

In millions, except per share

 

Quarter Ended

Feb. 28, 2021 vs. Feb. 23, 2020

Percent

of Net

Sales

Constant-Currency Growth (a)

Net sales

$

4,520.0

 

8

%

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

826.6

 

27

%

18.3

%

 

 

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

 

595.7

 

31

%

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.96

 

30

%

 

 

 

 

Organic net sales growth rate (a)

 

 

 

7

%

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit (a)

 

715.6

 

6

%

15.8

%

5

%

Adjusted diluted earnings per share (a)

$

0.82

 

6

%

 

 

6

%

(a) See the "Non-GAAP Measures" section below for our use of measures not defined by GAAP.

 

Consolidatednet sales were as follows:

  Quarter Ended 
  Feb. 25, 2018   Feb. 25, 2018 vs
Feb. 26, 2017
 Feb. 26,
2017
 

Quarter Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs

Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales (in millions)

  $    3,882.3            2 %      $    3,793.2 

$

4,520.0

 

8%

 

$

4,180.3

Contributions from volume growth (a)

     (1)pt  

 

 

 

5

pts

 

 

Net price realization and mix

     1 pt  

 

 

 

3

pts

 

 

Foreign currency exchange

     2 pts  

 

 

 

1

pt

 

 

 

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

 

 

The 8 percent increase in net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 reflects an increase in contributions from volume growth, favorable net price realization and mix, and favorable foreign currency exchange.

20


Components of organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

(a)

Quarter Ended Feb. 28, 2021 vs

Quarter Ended Feb. 23, 2020

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

5

pts

Organic net price realization and mix

3

pts

Organic net sales growth

7

pts

Foreign currency exchange

1

pt

Net sales growth

8

pts

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

The 2 percent increase in net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was primarily driven by favorable foreign currency exchange and favorable net price realization and mix. All four segments contributed to the increase in net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to the same period last year.

Organic net sales increased 17 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 primarily driven by an increase in contributions from organic volume growth and favorable organic net price realization and mix. To improve comparability of results from period to period, organic net sales exclude the impacts of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, as well as acquisitions, divestitures, and a 53rd week of results, when applicable.

Components of organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

Quarter Ended Feb. 25, 2018 vs.
Quarter Ended Feb. 26, 2017

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

Flat

Organic net price realization and mix

1 pt

Organic net sales growth

1 pt

Foreign currency exchange

2 pts

Acquisitions and divestitures

(1)pt

Net sales growth

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

Cost of salesincreased $142$189 million fromto $2,966 million in the third quarter of fiscal 20172021 compared to $2,627 million.the same period in fiscal 2020. The increase includedwas primarily driven by a $180$135 million increase attributable to product rate and mix partially offset byand a $24$125 million decrease attributableincrease due to lowerhigher volume. We recorded a $3$56 million net increasedecrease in cost of sales related to themark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 compared to a net decreaseincrease of $8$9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2017. We2020. In addition, we recorded immaterial$1 million of restructuring charges in cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 compared to $16$7 million in the same period last year. We also recorded $3 million of restructuring initiative project-related costs in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to $12 million in the same period last year2020 (please refer to Note 32 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report).

Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A)

SG&A expensesdecreased $32$30 million to $655$716 million in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2017. The decrease in SG&A2020, primarily reflecting favorable net corporate investment activity, partially offset by higher administrative expenses primarily reflects a 22 percentage point decrease inand increased media and advertising expense and savings from cost management initiatives. In addition, we recorded $4 million of transaction costs related to our planned acquisition of Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc., (“Blue Buffalo”).expenses. SG&A expenses as a percent of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 decreased 120210 basis points compared withto the third quarter of fiscal 2017.2020.

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit coststotaled $8$11 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared2021, primarily related to $78Asia & Latin America route-to-market and supply chain optimization actions. We recorded $6 million of charges in the same period last year.

Total charges associated with our currentyear related to restructuring initiatives were as follows:

   Quarter Ended 
In Millions  Feb. 25, 2018  Feb. 26, 2017 
   Charge   Cash  Charge  Cash 

Global reorganization

   $-    $6.2   $73.1   $9.2 

Closure of Melbourne, Australia plant

   3.1    3.2   5.7   0.1 

Restructuring of certain international product lines

   -    -   2.3   0.2 

Closure of Vineland, New Jersey plant

   0.2    1.2   7.7   0.3 

Project Compass

   -    (0.1  (1.4  3.4 

Project Century

   3.6    1.2   7.1   8.9 

Project Catalyst

   -    -   -   0.6 

Combination of certain operational facilities

   0.7    0.8   (0.5  1.1 
  

Total restructuring charges (a)

   7.6    12.5   94.0   23.8 

Project-related costs

   3.0    3.0   11.5   11.5 
  

Restructuring charges and project-related costs

   $10.6    $15.5   $105.5   $35.3 
  
(a)Includes $ 0.1 million of restructuring charges recorded in cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and $16.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

For further information on these restructuring initiatives, pleaseactions previously announced (please refer to Note 32 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part 1,I, Item 1 of this report.

report).

Benefit plan non-service income totaled $33 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $30 million in the same period last year, primarily reflecting lower interest costs, partially offset by lower expected return on plan assets.

Interest, netfor the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 totaled $89$106 million, up $13down $4 million from the third quarter of fiscal 2017,2020, primarily driven by $14 million of charges related to the repurchase of medium term notes and $2 million of charges related to the bridge term loan credit facility undertaken in order to provide financing for the Blue Buffalo acquisition.lower rates.

Theeffective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 was an 85.921.5 percent benefit compared to a 23.020.7 percent charge for the third quarter of fiscal 2017.2020. The 108.90.8 percentage point decrease in our effective tax rate as compared to the prior yearincrease was primarily due to the provisional net benefit of approximately $504 million recordedcertain nonrecurring discrete tax benefits in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).2020, partially offset by favorable changes in earnings mix by jurisdiction in fiscal 2021. Our adjusted effective tax rate excluding certain items affecting comparability was 15.221.6 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 compared to 24.721.0 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2017same period last year (see the“Non-GAAP “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for a description of our use of measures not defined by GAAP). The 9.50.6 percentage point decrease in the effective tax rate excluding certain items affecting comparabilityincrease was primarily due to the lower U.S. federal blended statutory rate forcertain nonrecurring discrete tax benefits in fiscal 2018, including an adjustment to reduce the tax expense recorded in the first half of fiscal 2018 to the lower blended statutory rate, as a result of the TCJA,2020, partially offset by nonrecurring discrete benefits recordedfavorable changes in the earnings mix by jurisdiction in fiscal 2021.

21


After-tax earnings from joint ventures for the third quarter of fiscal 2017.

On December 22, 2017 the TCJA was signed into law. The TCJA results in significant revisions2021increased to the U.S. corporate income tax system, including a reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate, implementation of a territorial system, and a deemed repatriation tax on untaxed foreign earnings. The TCJA also results in a U.S. federal blended statutory rate of 29.4 percent for fiscal 2018. Generally, the impacts of the new legislation would be required to be recorded in the period of enactment, which for us is the third quarter of fiscal 2018. However, Accounting Standards Update2018-05:Income Taxes (Topic 740) (ASU2018-05) was issued with guidance allowing for the recognition of provisional amounts in the event that the accounting is not complete and a reasonable estimate can be made. The guidance allows for a measurement period of up to one year to finalize the accounting related to the TCJA. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part 1, Item 1 of this report for additional information.

After-tax earnings from joint venturesincreased $6$12 million to $17 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to $11 million in the same period lastin fiscal year,2020, primarily driven by higher volume and favorable foreign currency exchange fornet sales at Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) and favorable foreign currency exchange forHäagen-DazsHaagen-Dazs Japan, Inc. (HDJ)., partially offset by higher SG&A expenses at CPW and HDJ. On a constant-currency basis,after-tax earnings from joint ventures increased 30 percentwere flat (see the“Non-GAAP “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for a description of our use of measures not defined by GAAP). The components of our joint ventures’ net sales growth are shown in the following table:

Quarter Ended Feb. 25, 2018 vs.
Quarter Ended Feb. 26, 2017CPW     HDJ     

Contributions from volume growth (a)

4 pts1 pt

Net price realization and mix

(2)pts(4)pts

Foreign currency exchange

9 pts3 pts

Net sales growth

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

Quarter Ended Feb. 28, 2021 vs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter Ended Feb. 23, 2020

 

CPW

HDJ

Total

Contributions from volume growth (a)

 

6

pts

(1)

pt

 

 

Net price realization and mix

 

Flat

 

3

pts

 

 

Net sales growth in constant currency

 

5

pts

1

pt

4

pts

Foreign currency exchange

 

1

pt

5

pts

2

pts

Net sales growth

 

6

pts

6

pts

6

pts

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

The change in net sales for each joint venture on a constant-currency basis is set forth in the following table:

   Quarter Ended Feb. 25, 2018 
    Percentage Change in Joint
Venture Net Sales as Reported
   Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
   Percentage Change in Joint
Venture Net Sales on Constant-
Currency Basis
 

CPW

   11 %              9    pts    

HDJ

   Flat                 3    pts    (3)% 
  

Joint Ventures

   8 %              7    pts    
  

Average diluted shares outstandingdecreasedincreased by 97 million in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 from the same period a year ago primarily due to the impact of share repurchases, partially offset by option exercises.

Nine-Month Results

In the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, net sales were flatand organic net sales increased 8 percent compared to the same period last year. Operating profit margin of 16.419.1 percent was down 20increased 220 basis points, fromyear-ago levels primarily driven by lower segment operating profit resultsfavorable net price realization and unfavorablemix, a favorable change to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories, favorable net corporate investment activity, and a larger increase in net sales as compared to the increase in SG&A expenses, partially offset by a decrease in restructuring expenses.higher input costs. Adjusted operating profit margin decreased 190increased 50 basis points to 16.717.7 percent, primarily driven by favorable net price realization and mix and a larger increase in net sales as compared to the increase in SG&A expenses, partially offset by higher input costs including currency-driven inflation on imported products in certain markets.costs. Diluted earnings per share of $3.05$3.10 increased 4722 percent compared toin the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017,28, 2021, and adjusted diluted earnings per share which excludes certain items affecting comparability,of $2.88 increased 14 percent on a constant-currency basis decreased 2 percent compared to the same period alast year ago (see the“Non-GAAP “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for a description of our use of measures not defined by GAAP).

A summary of our consolidated financial results for the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, follows:

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 25, 2018  In millions, except
per share
   Nine-Month
Period Ended
Feb. 25, 2018 vs.
Feb. 26, 2017
  Percent of Net
Sales
  Constant-
Currency
Growth (a)
 

Net sales

  $11,850.2    Flat   

Operating profit

   1,948.3    Flat   16.4  

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

   1,776.6    42   

Diluted earnings per share

  $3.05    47   

Organic net sales growth rate (a)

     (1) %   

Total segment operating profit (a)

   2,064.9    (9) %    (10) % 

Adjusted operating profit margin (a)

      16.7  

Diluted earnings per share, excluding certain items affecting comparability (a)

  $2.32    (1) %    (2) % 
  
(a)See the“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of measures not defined by GAAP.

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 28, 2021

In millions, except per share

 

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 28, 2021 vs. Feb. 23, 2020

Percent of Net Sales

Constant-Currency

Growth (a)

Net sales

$

13,603.4

 

8

%

 

 

 

 

Operating profit

 

2,596.9

 

22

%

19.1

%

 

 

Net earnings attributable to General Mills

 

1,923.0

 

24

%

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

$

3.10

 

22

%

 

 

 

 

Organic net sales growth rate (a)

 

 

 

8

%

 

 

 

 

Adjusted operating profit (a)

 

2,413.6

 

11

%

17.7

%

11

%

Adjusted diluted earnings per share (a)

$

2.88

 

15

%

 

 

14

%

(a) See the "Non-GAAP Measures" section below for our use of measures not defined by GAAP.

 

22


Consolidatednet sales were as follows:

   Nine-Month Period Ended 
    Feb. 25, 2018   Feb. 25, 2018 vs
Feb. 26, 2017
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Net sales (in millions)

  $11,850.2    Flat           $    11,813.2 

Contributions from volume growth (a)

     (1)pt         

Net price realization and mix

     Flat           

Foreign currency exchange

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

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales (in millions)

$

13,603.4

 

8

%

$

12,603.6

Contributions from volume growth (a)

 

 

 

5

pts

 

 

Net price realization and mix

 

 

 

3

pts

 

 

Foreign currency exchange

 

 

 

Flat

 

 

 

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

 

 

 

Net

The 8 percent increase in net sales were flat for the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018 compared to the same period28, 2021, reflects an increase in fiscal 2017.

Organic net sales declined 1 percent in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, driven by declining contributions from organic volume growth in the Europe & Australia and Asia & Latin America segments partially offset by increasing contributions from organic volume growth in the Convenience Stores & Foodservice segment. To improve comparability of results from period to period, organicfavorable net sales exclude the impacts of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, as well as acquisitions, divestitures,price realization and a 53rd week of results, when applicable.

mix.

Components of organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 25, 201828, 2021 vs.

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 26, 201723, 2020

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

5

(1)pt

pts

Organic net price realization and mix

3

Flat

pts

Organic net sales growth

8

(1)pt

pts

Foreign currency exchange

Flat

1 pt

Acquisitions and divestituresNet sales growth

8

Flat

pts

Net sales growthNote: Table may not foot due to rounding

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

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

Organic net salesincreased $273 million from8 percent in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017,28, 2021, driven by an increase in contributions from organic volume growth and favorable organic net price realization and mix.

Cost of sales increased $496 million to $7,842 million.$8,738 million in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2020. The increase includedwas driven by a $428$423 million increase due to higher volume and a $215 million increase attributable to product rate and mix partially offset by a $114 million decrease attributable to lower volume.mix. We recorded $13a $118 million net decrease 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 28, 2021, compared to a net increase of $1 million in the nine-month period ended February 23, 2020. In addition, we recorded $2 million of restructuring charges in cost of sales in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, compared to $43$24 million in the same period last year. We also recorded $8of restructuring charges and $1 million of restructuring initiative project-related costs in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, compared to $36 million in the same period last year (please refer to Note 32 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report). We recorded a $4

SG&A expenses increased $32 million net decrease in cost of sales related to themark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, compared to a net decrease of $21$2,257 million in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017.

SG&A expensesdecreased $62 million to $2,046 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2017. The decrease in SG&A expenses2020, primarily reflects savings from cost management initiatives and a 5 percentage point decrease inreflecting higher media and advertising expense. In addition, we recorded $4 million of transaction costs related to our planned acquisition of Blue Buffalo.expenses, increased administrative expenses, and increased other consumer-related expenses, partially offset by favorable net corporate investment activity. SG&A expenses as a percent of net sales in the nine-month period ended February 25, 201828, 2021, decreased 50100 basis points compared withto the same period of fiscal 2017.2020.

Divestiture loss in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017 totaled $14 million from the sale of our Martel, Ohio manufacturing facility.

Restructuring, impairment, and other exit costs totaled $14$12 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, compared to $165$13 million in the same period last year.

Total We recorded restructuring charges associated with our restructuring initiatives consisted of $11 million in the following:

   As Reported     
   Nine-Month Period Ended   Fiscal 2017, 2016
and 2015
   Estimated 
In Millions  Feb. 25, 2018  Feb. 26, 2017   Total   Future  Total      
   Charge  Cash  Charge  Cash   Charge   Cash   Charge  Cash  Charge   Cash   Savings (b) 

Global reorganization

   $1.4   $32.9   $73.1   $9.2    $72.1    $20.0    $2   $23   $76    $76   

Closure of Melbourne, Australia plant

   8.0   6.6   17.7   0.1    21.9    1.6    4   (5  34    3   

Restructuring of certain international product lines

   -   -   45.6   10.6    45.1    10.3    (3  (4  42    6   

Closure of Vineland, New Jersey plant

   12.3   (1.9  35.6   1.5    41.4    7.3    -   5   54    11   

Project Compass

   (0.2  2.9   (0.4  11.4    54.3    48.9    -   2   54    54   

Project Century

   5.1   (2.2  37.2   29.5    408.4    95.5    -   47   413    140   

Project Catalyst

   -   -   -   1.1    140.9    94.1    -   -   141    94   

Combination of certain operational facilities

   0.7   1.3   (0.5  3.7    13.3    16.3    3   (4  17    14   

Total restructuring charges (a)

   27.3   39.6   208.3   67.1    797.4    294.0    6   64   831    398   

Project-related costs

   8.4   8.0   36.4   40.2    114.6    111.1    5   11   128    130      

Restructuring charges and project-related costs

   $35.7   $47.6   $244.7   $107.3    $912.0    $405.1    $11   $75   $959    $528    $700 
(a)Includes $13.0 million of restructuring charges recorded in cost of sales during the nine-month period ending February 25, 2018, $42.8 million during the same period in fiscal 2017, and $179.5 million in fiscal 2017, 2016, and 2015 combined.
(b)Cumulative annual savings versus fiscal 2015 base targeted by fiscal 2018. Includes savings from SG&A cost reduction projects.

For further information on these restructuring initiatives, pleasenine-month period ended February 28, 2021, related to Asia & Latin America route-to-market and supply chain optimization actions (please refer to Note 32 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part 1,I, Item 1 of this report.

report).

Benefit plan non-service income totaled $100 million in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to $91 million in the same period last year, primarily reflecting lower interest costs, partially offset by lower expected returns on plan assets.

Interest, netfor the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, increased $1128, 2021, decreased $30 million to $237$318 million compared to the same period of fiscal 2017,2020, primarily driven by $14 million of charges related to the repurchase of medium term noteslower rates and $2 million of charges related to the bridge term loan credit facility undertaken in order to provide financing for the Blue Buffalo acquisition.lower average debt balances.

Theeffective tax ratefor the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, was a 1.722.0 percent benefit compared to a 29.518.3 percent charge for the same period last year. The 3.7 percentage point increase was primarily due to the net benefit related to the reorganization of certain wholly owned subsidiaries and certain nonrecurring discrete tax benefits in fiscal 2020, partially offset by favorable changes in earnings mix by jurisdiction in fiscal 2021. Our adjusted effective tax rate was 21.9 percent in the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017. The 31.2 percentage point decrease in our effective tax rate as 28, 2021,

23


compared to the prior year was primarily due to the provisional net benefit of approximately $504 million recorded21.3 percent in the third quartersame period of fiscal 2018 related to2020 (see the TCJA. Our effective tax rate excluding certain items affecting comparability was 25.4 percent for the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018 compared to 29.8 percent for the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017 (see the“Non-GAAP“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for a description of our use of measures not defined by GAAP). The 4.40.6 percentage point decrease in the effective tax rate excluding certain items affecting comparabilityincrease was primarily due to the lower U.S. federal blended statutory rate forcertain nonrecurring discrete tax benefits in fiscal 2018 as a result of the TCJA,2020, partially offset by nonrecurring discrete events recorded during the nine-month period ended February 26, 2017.

On December 22, 2017 the TCJA was signed into law. The TCJA results in significant revisions to the U.S. corporate income tax system, including a reductionfavorable changes in the U.S. corporate income tax rate, implementation of a territorial system and a deemed repatriation tax on untaxed foreign earnings. The TCJA also resultsearnings mix by jurisdiction in a U.S. federal blended statutory rate of 29.4 percent for fiscal 2018. Generally, the impacts of the new legislation would be required to be recorded in the period of enactment which for us is the third quarter of fiscal 2018. However, ASU2018-05 was issued with guidance allowing for the recognition of provisional amounts in the event that the accounting is not complete and a reasonable estimate can be made. The guidance allows for a measurement period of up to one year to finalize the accounting related to the TCJA. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part 1, Item 1 of this report for additional information.2021.

After-tax earnings from joint ventures decreased $1 million increased to $64$90 million for the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021 compared to $58 million in the same period in fiscal 2017,2020, primarily driven by higher input costs fornet sales at CPW and unfavorable foreign currency exchange for HDJ partially offset by favorable foreign currency exchange for CPW.HDJ. On a constant-currency basis,after-tax earnings from joint ventures decreased 4increased 54 percent (see the“Non-GAAP “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for a description of our use of measures not defined by GAAP). The components of our joint ventures’ net sales growth are shown in the following table:

Nine-month Period Ended February 25, 2018 vs.
Nine-month Period Ended February 26, 2017CPW    HDJ    

Contributions from volume growth (a)

1 pt  4 pts  

Net price realization and mix

Flat   (2)pts  

Foreign currency exchange

4 pts(4)pts  

Net sales growth

5 pts(2)pts  

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

Nine-Month Period Ending Feb. 28, 2021 vs.

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 23, 2020

 

CPW

HDJ

Total

Contributions from volume growth (a)

 

6

pts

Flat

 

 

 

Net price realization and mix

 

1

pt

4

pts

 

 

Net sales growth in constant currency

 

7

pts

4

pts

7

pts

Foreign currency exchange

 

(1)

pt

3

pts

Flat

 

Net sales growth

 

6

pts

7

pts

6

pts

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding

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

 

 

The change in net sales for each joint venture on a constant-currency basis is set forth in the following table:

   Nine-Month Period Ended February 25, 2018 
   

Percentage Change in Joint

Venture Net Sales as Reported

   

Impact of Foreign

Currency

Exchange

   

Percentage Change in Joint

Venture Net Sales on Constant-

Currency Basis

 

 

 

CPW

   5 %            4 pts    1 %   

HDJ

   (2)%            (4)pts    2 %   

 

 

Joint Ventures

   4 %            3 pts    1 %   

 

 

Average diluted shares outstandingdecreased increased by 188 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, compared to28, 2021, from the same period a year ago primarily due to the impact of share repurchases, partially offset by option exercises.

SEGMENT OPERATING RESULTS

Our businesses are organized into fourfive operating segments: North America Retail; Europe & Australia; Pet; Asia & Latin America; and Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; and Asia & Latin America.Foodservice. Please refer to Note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for a description of our operating segments.

North America Retail Segment Results

North America Retail net sales were as follows:

   Quarter Ended   Nine-Month Period Ended 
    

Feb. 25,

2018

   

Feb. 25, 2018 vs

Feb. 26, 2017

   

Feb. 26,

2017

   

Feb. 25,

2018

   

Feb. 25, 2018 vs

Feb. 26, 2017

   

Feb. 26,

2017

 

Net sales (in millions)

  $  2,517.4    1 %   $  2,499.0   $  7,727.4    (1)%   $  7,804.8 

Contributions from volume growth (a)

     1 pt        Flat      

Net price realization and mix

     (1)pt        (1)pt   

Foreign currency exchange

        1 pt              Flat         
                      
(a)

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales (in millions)

$

2,726.8

 

9

%

$

2,501.9

 

$

8,355.3

 

11

%

$

7,554.1

Contributions from volume growth (a)

 

 

 

9

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

pts

 

 

Net price realization and mix

 

 

 

Flat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

pt

 

 

Foreign currency exchange

 

 

 

Flat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flat

 

 

 

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

The 1 percent increase in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

North America Retail net sales increased 9 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by growthan increase in the U.S. Meals & Baking, U.S. Snacks and Canada operating units partially offset by declines in the U.S. Yogurt and U.S. Cereal operating units.contributions from volume growth.

The 1 percent decrease in

North America Retail net sales forincreased 11 percent in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, was28, 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by declinesan increase in the U.S. Yogurt and U.S. Cereal operating unitscontributions from volume growth, partially offset by growth in the U.S. Snacksunfavorable net price realization and Canada operating units.mix.

24


The components of North America Retail organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

Quarter Ended            Nine-Month Period Ended      
Feb. 25, 2018            Feb. 25, 2018      

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

1 pt      Flat          

Organic net price realization and mix

Flat         (1)pt       

Organic net sales growth

1 pt      (1)pt       

Foreign currency exchange

1 pt      Flat          

Acquisitions and divestitures

(1)pt      Flat          

Net sales growth

1 pt      (1)pt       
(a)Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

9

pts

 

12

pts

Organic net price realization and mix

Flat

 

 

(1)

pt

Organic net sales growth

9

pts

 

11

pts

Foreign currency exchange

Flat

 

 

Flat

 

Net sales growth

9

pts

 

11

pts

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

North America Retail organic net sales increased 19 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2018,2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2017,2020, driven by an increase in contributions from organic volume growth.

North America Retail organic net sales decreased 1 percentage pointincreased 11 percent in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2017,2020, driven by an increase in contributions from organic volume growth, partially offset by unfavorable organic net price realization and mix.

North America Retail net sales percentage change by operating unit are shown in the following table:

   Quarter Ended Nine-Month
Period Ended
   Feb. 25, 2018 Feb. 26, 2017

 

U.S. Snacks

          3 %         2 %

Canada (a)

  6 4

U.S. Meals & Baking

  2 Flat

U.S. Cereal

  (1) (1)

U.S. Yogurt

  (8) (14)

 

Total

          1 %           (1) %

 

(a)

On a constant currency basis, Canada net sales increased 1 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 and were flat for the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018. See the“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP.

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021

U.S. Meals & Baking

15

%

 

21

%

U.S. Cereal

9

 

 

8

 

Canada (a)

13

 

 

8

 

U.S. Snacks

(3)

 

 

(2)

 

U.S. Yogurt and Other

3

 

 

4

 

Total

9

%

 

11

%

(a)On a constant-currency basis, Canada net sales increased 9 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 and increased 7 percent for the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to the same periods in fiscal 2020. See the "Non-GAAP Measures" section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP.

Segment operating profit of $518increased 14 percent to $606 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was flat2021 compared to $532 million in the same period ofin fiscal 2017 as higher net sales and reduced SG&A expenses, including a 27 percent decrease2020, primarily driven by an increase in media and advertising, werecontributions from volume growth, partially offset by higher input costs, including inflation.costs. Segment operating profit was flatincreased 14 percent on a constant-currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 compared to the third quarter ofsame period in fiscal 20172020 (see the“Non-GAAP “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Segment operating profit decreased 7increased 15 percent to $1,674$2,003 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, compared to $1,79628, 2021 from $1,734 million in the same period ofin fiscal 2017,2020, primarily driven primarily by lower net sales including increased merchandising activityan increase in contributions from volume growth and higherlower input costs, including inflation, partially offset by reducedunfavorable net price realization and mix and higher SG&A expenses, including increased media and advertising expenses. Segment operating profit decreased 7increased 15 percent on a constant-currency basis in the first nine months of fiscal 2018nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to the first nine months ofsame period in fiscal 20172020 (see the“Non-GAAP “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

25


Europe & Australia Segment Results

Europe & Australia net sales were as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales (in millions)

$

484.2

 

15

%

$

421.9

 

$

1,442.6

 

10

%

$

1,308.9

Contributions from volume growth (a)

 

 

 

2

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flat

 

 

 

Net price realization and mix

 

 

 

4

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

pts

 

 

Foreign currency exchange

 

 

 

9

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

pts

 

 

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Europe & Australia net sales increased 15 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by favorable foreign currency exchange, favorable net price realization and mix, and an increase in contributions from volume growth.

Europe & Australia net sales increased 10 percent in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by favorable foreign currency exchange and favorable net price realization and mix.

The components of Europe & Australia organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

Quarter Ended

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

2

pts

 

1

pt

Organic net price realization and mix

4

pts

 

5

pts

Organic net sales growth

7

pts

 

5

pts

Foreign currency exchange

9

pts

 

6

pts

Divestiture

(1)

pt

 

(1)

pt

Net sales growth

15

pts

 

10

pts

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

Europe & Australia organic net sales increased 7 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by favorable organic net price realization and mix and an increase in contributions from organic volume growth.

Europe & Australia organic net sales increased 5 percent in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by favorable organic net price realization and mix and an increase in contributions from organic volume growth.

Segment operating profit increased 33 percent to $29 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 from $22 million in the same period in fiscal 2020, primarily driven by favorable net price realization and mix, an increase in contributions from volume growth, and lower SG&A expenses, partially offset by higher input costs. Segment operating profit increased 24 percent on a constant-currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Segment operating profit increased 46 percent to $118 million in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, from $81 million in the same period in fiscal 2020, primarily driven by favorable net price realization and mix, partially offset by higher input costs. Segment operating profit increased 40 percent on a constant-currency basis in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2020 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

26


Pet Segment Results

Pet net sales were as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales (in millions)

$

436.3

 

14

%

$

383.5

 

$

1,288.0

 

13

%

$

1,140.0

Contributions from volume growth (a)

 

 

 

16

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

pts

 

 

Net price realization and mix

 

 

 

(3)

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

pt

 

 

Foreign currency exchange

 

 

 

Flat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flat

 

 

 

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

Pet net sales increased 14 percent during the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by an increase in contributions from volume growth, partially offset by unfavorable net price realization and mix.

Pet net sales increased 13 percent during the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by an increase in contributions from volume growth, partially offset by unfavorable net price realization and mix.

The components of Pet organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

16

pts

 

14

pts

Organic net price realization and mix

(3)

pts

 

(1)

pt

Organic net sales growth

14

pts

 

13

pts

Foreign currency exchange

Flat

 

 

Flat

 

Net sales growth

14

pts

 

13

pts

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Segment operating profit increased 9 percent to $102 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $94 million in the same period in fiscal 2020, primarily driven by an increase in contributions from volume growth, partially offset by unfavorable net price realization and mix, higher input costs, and higher SG&A expenses. Segment operating profit increased 9 percent on a constant-currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Segment operating profit increased 22 percent to $312 million in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021 compared to $256 million in the same period in fiscal 2020, primarily driven by an increase in contributions from volume growth and lower input costs, partially offset by higher SG&A expenses, including increased media and advertising expenses, and unfavorable net price realization and mix. Segment operating profit increased 22 percent on a constant-currency basis in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

27


Asia & Latin America Segment Results

Asia & Latin America net sales were as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs

Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs

Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales (in millions)

$

455.6

 

12

%

$

408.2

 

$

1,268.3

 

8

%

$

1,177.3

Contributions from volume growth (a)

 

 

 

9

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

pts

 

 

Net price realization and mix

 

 

 

5

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

pt

 

 

Foreign currency exchange

 

 

 

(3)

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6)

pts

 

 

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

Asia & Latin America net sales increased 12 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by an increase in contributions from volume growth and favorable net price realization and mix, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange.

Asia & Latin America net sales increased 8 percent in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by an increase in contributions from volume growth and favorable net price realization and mix, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange.

The components of Asia & Latin America organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

 

9

pts

 

12

pts

Organic net price realization and mix

 

5

pts

 

1

pt

Organic net sales growth

 

14

pts

 

13

pts

Foreign currency exchange

 

(3)

pts

 

(6)

pts

Net sales growth

 

12

pts

 

8

pts

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

Asia & Latin America organic net sales increased 14 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by an increase in contributions from organic volume growth and favorable organic net price realization and mix.

Asia & Latin America organic net sales increased 13 percent in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by an increase in contributions from organic volume growth and favorable organic net price realization and mix.

Segment operating profit increased 48 percent to $12 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 from $8 million in the same period in fiscal 2020, primarily driven by favorable net price realization and mix and an increase in contributions from volume growth, partially offset by higher input costs. Segment operating profit increased 18 percent on a constant-currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

28


Segment operating profit increased 47 percent to $62 million in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to $43 million in the same period in fiscal 2020, primarily driven by an increase in contributions from volume growth, favorable net price realization and mix, and favorable foreign currency exchange, partially offset by higher input costs and higher SG&A expenses, including increased media and advertising expenses. Segment operating profit increased 24 percent on a constant-currency basis in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020 (see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Convenience Stores & Foodservice Segment Results

Convenience Stores & Foodservice net sales were as follows:

  Quarter Ended  Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
  Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 25, 2018 vs
Feb. 26, 2017
  Feb. 26,
2017
  Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 25, 2018 vs
Feb. 26, 2017
  Feb. 26,
2017
 
  

Net sales (in millions)

 $460.3   3 %    $448.5  $  1,419.6   3 %    $  1,382.3 

Contributions from volume growth (a)

   1 pt       1 pt    

Net price realization and mix

      2 pts           2 pts     
          
(a)Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021 vs Feb. 23, 2020

Feb. 23, 2020

Net sales (in millions)

$

417.1

 

(10)

%

$

464.8

 

$

1,249.2

 

(12)

%

$

1,423.3

Contributions from volume growth (a)

 

 

 

(7)

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9)

pts

 

 

Net price realization and mix

 

 

 

(3)

pts

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3)

pts

 

 

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

Convenience Stores & Foodservice net sales increased 3decreased 10 percent forin the third quarter of fiscal 2018, reflecting higher2021 compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by a decrease in contributions from volume growth and unfavorable net sales across Focus 6 platformsprice realization and benefits from market index pricing on bakery flour.mix.

Convenience Stores & Foodservice net sales increased 3decreased 12 percent forin the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, reflecting higher28, 2021, compared to the same period in fiscal 2020, driven by a decrease in contributions from volume growth and unfavorable net sales across Focus 6 platformsprice realization and benefits from market index pricing on bakery flour.mix.

The components of Convenience Stores & Foodservice organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

Quarter EndedNine-Month
Period Ended
Feb. 25, 2018Feb. 25, 2018

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

1 pt1 pt

Organic net price realization and mix

2 pts2 pts

Organic net sales growth

3 pts3 pts

Net sales growth

3 pts3 pts
(a)Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 28, 2021

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

(7)

pts

 

(9)

pts

Organic net price realization and mix

(3)

pts

 

(3)

pts

Organic net sales growth

(10)

pts

 

(12)

pts

Net sales growth

(10)

pts

 

(12)

pts

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

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

Segment operating profit decreased 1031 percent to $84$64 million in the third quarter of fiscal 20182021 compared to $94$92 million in the same period in fiscal 2020, primarily driven by unfavorable net price realization and mix, a decrease in contributions from volume growth, and higher input costs.

Segment operating profit decreased 29 percent to $212 million in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to $298 million in the same period in fiscal 2020, primarily driven by unfavorable net price realization and mix, a decrease in contributions from volume growth, and higher input costs.

UNALLOCATED CORPORATE ITEMS

Unallocated corporate items totaled $24 million of income in the third quarter of fiscal 2017, primarily driven by higher input costs, partially offset by higher net sales.

Segment operating profit decreased 7 percent to $276 million for the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,2021 compared to $295expense of $92 million in the same period in fiscal 2020. We recorded a $56 million net decrease in expense related to the mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories in the third quarter of fiscal 2017, primarily driven by higher input costs, partially offset by higher2021 compared to a $9 million net sales.

Europe & Australia Segment Results

Europe & Australia net sales were as follows:

   Quarter Ended   Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
    Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 25, 2018 vs.
Feb. 26, 2017
   Feb. 26,
2017
   Feb. 25,
2018
   Feb. 25, 2018 vs.
Feb. 26, 2017
   Feb. 26,
2017
 

Net sales (in millions)

  $469.8    11 %     $  424.5   $  1,428.4    7 %   $  1,338.0 

Contributions from volume growth (a)

     (3) pts        (1) pt   

Net price realization and mix

     2 pts        2 pts   

Foreign currency exchange

        12 pts              6 pts      
            
(a)Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

The 11 percent increase in Europe & Australiaexpense in the same period last year. We recorded $59 million of net gains related to valuation adjustments and the gain on sale of certain corporate investments in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $3 million of losses related to valuation adjustments in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. We recorded $1 million of restructuring charges in cost of sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was driven primarily by favorable foreign currency exchange.

The 7 percent increase in Europe & Australia net sales2021 compared to $7 million in the nine-monthsame period ended February 25, 2018, was driven primarily bylast year. We also recorded an $8 million favorable foreign currency exchange and higher net salesadjustment related to a product recall in the U.K. market.

The components of Europe & Australia organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

Quarter EndedNine-Month Period
Ended
Feb. 25, 2018Feb. 25, 2018

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

(3)pts(1)pt

Organic net price realization and mix

2 pts2 pts

Organic net sales growth

(1)pt1 pt

Foreign currency exchange

12 pts6 pts

Net sales growth

11 pts7 pts
(a)Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

The 1 percent decrease in Europe & Australia organic net sales growthour international Green Giant business in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 was driven primarily by a decrease in contributions from organic volume growth.2021.

The 1 percent increase in Europe & Australia organic net sales growth in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, was driven by favorable organic net price realization and mix partially offset by a decrease in contributions from organic volume growth.

Segment operating profit decreased 35 percent to $27 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to $42 million in the same period of fiscal 2017 primarily driven by input cost inflation, including currency-driven inflation on imported products in certain markets. Segment operating profit decreased 46 percent on a constant-currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2017 (see the“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Segment operating profit decreased 33 percent to $85Unallocated corporate expense totaled $98 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, compared to $127$275 million in the same period last year. We recorded a $118 million net decrease in expense related to the mark-to-market valuation of fiscal 2017 primarily driven by input cost inflation, including currency-driven inflation on imported products in certain markets. Segment operating profit decreased 38 percent on a constant-currency basis

29


commodity positions and grain inventories in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, compared to a $1 million net increase in expense in the same period last year. We recorded $78 million of fiscal 2017 (seenet gains related to valuation adjustments and the“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use gain on sale of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Asia & Latin America Segment Results

Asia & Latin America net sales were as follows:

  Quarter Ended  Nine-Month
Period Ended
 
   Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 25, 2018 vs.
Feb. 26, 2017
  Feb. 26,
2017
  Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 25, 2018 vs.
Feb. 26, 2017
  Feb. 26,
2017
 

Net sales (in millions)

 $  434.8   3 %     $  421.2  $  1,274.8   (1)%   $  1,288.1 

Contributions from volume growth (a)

   (9) pts     (11)pts  

Net price realization and mix

   9 pts      8 pts   

Foreign currency exchange

      3 pts            2 pts      
          
(a)Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

Asia & Latin America net sales increased 3 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to the same period in the prior year, with higher net sales across Asia markets partially offset by lower net sales across Latin America markets.

Asia & Latin America net sales declined 1 percentcertain corporate investments in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, compared to $7 million of net losses related to valuation adjustments and the loss on sale of certain corporate investments in the same period of fiscal 2017, which reflects lower net sales in Latin America markets due to the shift in reporting period in fiscal 2017 and challenges related to an enterprise reporting system implementation at our General Mills Brasil Alimentos Ltda subsidiary, partially offset by higher net sales in Asia markets.

The components of Asia & Latin America organic net sales growth are shown in the following table:

Quarter EndedNine-Month Period
Ended
Feb. 25, 2018Feb. 25, 2018

Contributions from organic volume growth (a)

(9)pts(11)pts

Organic net price realization and mix

9 pts8 pts

Organic net sales growth

Flat(3)pts

Foreign currency exchange

3 pts2 pts

Net sales growth

3 pts(1)pt
(a)Measured in tons based on the stated weight of our product shipments.

Asia & Latin America organic net sales were flat for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to the same period of fiscal 2017, reflecting a 9 percent decrease in contributions from organic volume growth offset by a 9 percent increase in organic net price realization and mix.

The 3 percent decrease in Asia & Latin America organic net sales forlast year. In the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, was driven by an 11 percent decrease in contributions from organic volume growth, partially offset by an 8 percent increase in organic net price realization and mix.

Segment operating profit decreased 121 percent to a $2 million loss in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to a $10 million profit in the same period of fiscal 2017 primarily driven by higher input costs, including currency driven inflation on imported products in certain markets, and an increase in SG&A expenses. Segment operating profit decreased 134 percent on a constant-currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2017 (see the“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

Segment operating profit decreased 51 percent to $30 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, compared to $61 million in the same period of fiscal 2017 primarily driven by input cost inflation, including currency driven inflation on imported products in certain markets. Segment operating profit decreased 56 percent on a constant-currency basis in the first nine months of fiscal 2018 compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2017 (see the“Non-GAAP Measures” section below for our use of this measure not defined by GAAP).

UNALLOCATED CORPORATE ITEMS

Unallocated corporate expense totaled $28 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to $42 million in the same period in fiscal 2017. In the third quarter of fiscal 2018,28, 2021, we recorded $3$2 million of restructuring initiative project-related costscharges in cost of sales, compared to $16$24 million of restructuring charges and $12$1 million of restructuring initiative project-related costs in cost of sales in the same period last year. In addition, we recorded a $3 million net increase in expense related to themark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared to an $8 million net decrease in expense in the same period last year. In addition, we recorded $4 million of acquisition transaction costs related to our planned acquisition of Blue Buffalo.

Unallocated corporate expense totaled $102 million in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, compared to $144 million in the same period last year. In the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, we recorded $13 million of restructuring charges and $8 million of restructuring initiative project-related costs in cost of sales compared to $43 million of restructuring charges and $36 million of restructuring initiative project-related costs in cost of sales in the same period last year. In addition, we recorded a $4 million net decrease in expense related to themark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions and grain inventories in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, compared to a $21 million net decrease in expense in the same period a year ago. In addition, we recorded $4 million of acquisition transaction costs related to our planned acquisition of Blue Buffalo.

LIQUIDITY

During the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, cash provided by operations was $2,135$2,208 million compared to $1,659$2,160 million in the same period last year. The $476$48 million increase iswas primarily driven by a $764$362 million increase in net earnings and a $109 million change in deferred income taxes, partially offset by a $237 million change in current assets and liabilities partially offset byand a $153$140 million change in restructuring activitiesother non-cash items in the first nine monthsnet earnings, including $77 million of fiscal 2018.gains related to valuation adjustments on certain corporate investments. The $764$237 million change in current assets and liabilities iswas primarily due to changesdriven by a $305 million change in the timing of accounts payable, including the impact of extended payment terms, changes in inventory balances and changesinventories, partially offset by an $88 million change in other current liabilities which were largelyprimarily driven by changes in incentive accruals and income taxes payable.    trade promotion accruals.

Cash used by investing activities during the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, was $425$332 million comparablecompared to $305 million for the same period in fiscal 2017.2020. Investments of $398$346 million in land, buildings, and equipment in the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, decreased28, 2021, increased by $77 million compared to the same period a year ago. We received proceeds of $18 million related to the sale of our Martel, Ohio facility in the first nine months of fiscal 2017. In addition, we received the final payment of $13 million from Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) in the first nine months of fiscal 2017 to fully repay the exchangeable note we purchased in fiscal 2012.

Cash used by financing activities during the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, was $1,570$853 million compared to $1,083$1,691 million in the same period last year.in fiscal 2020. We had $137$321 million of net debt repaymentsissuances in the first nine months of fiscal 2018nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to $1,428$812 million of net debt issuancesrepayments in the same period a year ago. We paid $601 million in cash to repurchase common stock and paid $846$932 million of dividends in the first nine months of fiscal 2018nine-month period ended February 28, 2021, compared to $1,651$895 million and $856 million, respectively, in the same period last year. In addition, we paid a participation incentive of $201 million related to a debt exchange in the nine-month period ended February 28, 2021.

Our sources of liquidity were not materially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of February 25, 2018, 28, 2021, we had $907$853 million of cash and cash equivalents held in foreign jurisdictions. As a resultIn anticipation of the TCJA, the historic undistributed earnings of ourrepatriating funds from foreign subsidiaries will be taxed in the U.S. via theone-time repatriation tax in fiscal 2018. We arere-evaluating our indefinite reinvestment assertions in connection with the TCJA. As of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2018,jurisdictions, we have recorded a provisional estimate forrecord local country withholding taxes related to certain entities from which we expect to begin repatriating undistributed earnings.on our international earnings, as applicable. As a result of this transition tax,such, we may repatriate our cash and cash equivalents held by our foreign subsidiaries without such funds being subject to further U.S. income tax liability. We planEarnings prior to repatriate a portion of these funds to finance part of the Blue Buffalo acquisition, to reduce commercial paper balances or for general corporate purposes. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statementsfiscal 2018 from our foreign subsidiaries remain permanently reinvested in Part 1, Item 1 of this report for further information on the indefinite reinvestment assertion.

those jurisdictions.

CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our capital structure was as follows:

In Millions  Feb. 25,
2018
   May 28,
2017
 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

May 31, 2020

 

Notes payable

  $1,210.8   $1,234.1 

$

184.6

 

$

279.0

Current portion of long-term debt

   1,250.5    604.7 

 

3,899.8

 

 

2,331.5

Long-term debt

   7,163.6    7,642.9 

 

9,766.6

 

 

10,929.0

 

Total debt

   9,624.9    9,481.7 

 

13,851.0

 

 

13,539.5

Redeemable interest

   817.5    910.9 

 

596.0

 

 

544.6

Noncontrolling interests

   369.1    357.6 

 

297.6

 

 

291.0

Stockholders’ equity

   4,965.6    4,327.9 

 

Stockholders' equity

 

8,890.3

 

 

8,058.5

Total capital

  $    15,777.1   $    15,078.1 

$

23,634.9

 

$

22,433.6

 

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 February 2018, we entered into afee-paid commitment letter with certain lenders, pursuant to which such lenders have committed to provide a364-day senior unsecured bridge term loan credit facility (the “Bridge Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $8.5 billion to provide the financing for the planned acquisition of Blue Buffalo. To the extent we obtain funding for the acquisition by issuing debt or equity securities, the availability of the Bridge Facility will be correspondingly reduced. The funding of the Bridge Facility is contingent on the satisfaction of certain customary conditions set forth in the commitment letter.

The following table details thefee-paid committed and uncommitted credit lines we had available as of February 25, 2018:28, 2021:

In Billions  Facility
Amount
   Borrowed
Amount
 

Facility

Amount

 

Borrowed Amount

 

Credit facility expiring:

    

 

 

 

 

 

February 2019

  $        8.5   $        - 

May 2022

   2.7    - 

$

2.7

 

$

-

June 2019

   0.2    0.2 
  

 

 

 

September 2022

 

0.2

 

 

0.1

Total committed credit facilities

   11.4    0.2 

 

2.9

 

 

0.1

Uncommitted credit facilities

   0.5    0.2 

 

0.6

 

 

0.1

 

Total committed and uncommitted credit facilities

  $11.9   $0.4 

$

3.5

 

$

0.2

 

30


We have a 51 percent controlling interest in Yoplait SAS and a 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques SNC and Liberté Marques Sàrl. Sodiaal International (Sodiaal) holds the remaining interests in each of these entities. We consolidate these entities into our consolidated financial statements. We record Sodiaal’s 50 percent interests in Yoplait Marques SNC and Liberté Marques Sàrl as noncontrolling interests, and its 49 percent interest in Yoplait SAS as a redeemable interest on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Sodiaal has the ability to put all or a portion of its redeemable interest to us at fair value once per year, up to three times before December 2024. As of February 28, 2021, the redemption value of the redeemable interest was $596 million, which approximates its fair value.

On March 23, 2021, subsequent to the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2021, we entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding to sell our 51 percent controlling interest in our European Yoplait business to Sodiaal. As part of the proposed transaction, we would obtain Sodiaal’s 49 percent ownership interest in our Canadian yogurt business, making the Canadian yogurt business a wholly owned subsidiary. The proposed transaction is expected to close in fiscal 2022, subject to labor consultations, regulatory filings, and other customary closing conditions.

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 to the holder’s capital account balance established in the most recentmark-to-market valuation (currently $252 million). On June 1, 2015,2018, the floating preferred return rate on GMC’s Class A Interests was reset to the sum of three-month LIBOR plus 125142.5 basis points. The preferred return rate is adjusted every three years through a negotiated agreement with the Class A Interest holder or through a remarketing auction.

We have an 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 third-party holder’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

To ensure availability of funds, we maintain bank credit lines and have a 51 percent controlling interestcommercial paper programs available to us in Yoplait SASthe United States and a 50 percent interest in Yoplait Marques SNCEurope. In response to uncertainty surrounding the availability and Liberté Marques Sàrl. Sodiaal holds the remaining interests in eachcost of these entities. We consolidate these entities into our consolidated financial statements. As of February 25, 2018, we recorded Sodiaal’s 50 percent interests in Yoplait Marques SNC and Liberté Marques Sàrl as noncontrolling interests, and the redemption value of its 49 percent interest in Yoplait SAScommercial paper borrowings as a redeemable interest on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. These euro- and Canadian dollar-denominated interests are reported in U.S. dollars on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Sodiaal has the ability to put all or a portion of its redeemable interest to us at fair value once per year, up to three times before December 2024. As of February 25, 2018, the redemption valueresult of the redeemable interest was $818COVID-19 pandemic, we issued $750 million which approximatesof fixed-rate notes in April 2020 and reduced our borrowings under commercial paper programs. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, we will continue to evaluate its fair value.

impact to our sources of liquidity. We also have uncommitted and asset-backed credit lines that support our foreign operations.

Certain of our long-term debt agreements, our credit facilities, and our noncontrolling interests contain restrictive covenants. As of February 25, 2018,28, 2021, we were in compliance with all of these covenants.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Blue Buffalo, a publicly held pet food company, pursuant to which a subsidiary of General Mills will merge into Blue Buffalo, with Blue Buffalo surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of General Mills. Equity holders of Blue Buffalo will receive $40.00 per share in cash, representing an enterprise value of approximately $8.0 billion in addition to the assumption of approximately $394 million of outstanding debt which will be repaid upon transaction close. We expect to finance the transaction with a combination of debt, cash on hand and approximately $1.0 billion in equity.

We have $1,250$3,900 million of long-term debt maturing in the next 12 months that is classified as current, including $1,150$850 million of 5.65floating-rate notes due April 2021, $600 million of 3.2 percent notes due in February 2019 and $100April 2021, €200 million of 6.592.2 percent fixed rate medium termfixed-rate notes due for remarketing in October 2018.June 2021, €500 million of 0.0 percent fixed-rate notes due August 2021, €500 million of 0.0 percent fixed-rate notes due November 2021, and $1 billion of 3.15 percent fixed-rate notes due December 2021. 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 oroff-balance sheet arrangements during the third quarter of fiscal 2018.2021.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2017.31, 2020. The accounting policies used in preparing our interim fiscal 2018 2021 Consolidated Financial Statements are the same as those described in our Form10-K with the exception of the new accounting requirements adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 for stock-based payments and goodwill impairment testing. See2021 related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, including trade receivables. Please see Note 171 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.

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,revenue recognition, 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 25, 2018,28, 2021, are the same as those described in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2017, with the exception of the new accounting requirements adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 for stock-based payments and goodwill impairment testing, new accounting requirements adopted in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 for the reclassification of certain income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings, and provisional estimates recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 in response to the TCJA (see below for further information). See Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.31, 2020.

In response to the TCJA enacted on December 22, 2017, ASU2018-05 was issued with guidance that allows us to record provisional amounts for the impacts of the TCJA for which final accounting cannot be completed before we file our quarterly report on Form10-Q for the third quarter of fiscal 2018. For provisions of the tax law where we are unable to make a reasonable estimate of the impact, the guidance allows us to continue to apply the historical tax provisions in computing our income tax liability and deferred tax assets and liabilities as of February 25, 2018. The guidance also allows us to finalize accounting for the TCJA changes within one year of the December 22, 2017 enactment date. See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information.

31


We tested ourOur annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on our annual assessment datetest was performed on the first day of the second quarter of fiscal 2018. As of our annual impairment assessment date,2021, and we determined there was no impairment of our intangible assets as their related fair values were substantially in excess of the carrying values, except for theYokiand Progressobrand intangible assets and the Latin America reporting unit. The excess fair value as of the fiscal 2018 test date of theYokiandProgressobrand intangible assets and the Latin America reporting unit was as follows:values.

In Millions  Carrying Value
of Intangible
Asset
   Excess Fair Value as of
Fiscal 2018 Test Date
 
  

Yoki

  $138.2    1

Progresso

   462.1    6

Latin America

  $272.0    21
  

In addition, whileWhile having significant coverage as of our fiscal 20182021 assessment date, the Food Should Taste Good Europe & Australia reporting unit and the Progresso, Green Giant, and EPICbrand intangible assets and the U.S. Yogurt reporting unit had risk of decreasing coverage. We will continue to monitor these businesses for potential impairment.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2017,March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new hedgeoptional accounting requirements.guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The new standard amends theprovides expedients and exceptions to existing accounting requirements for contract modifications and hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirementsrelated to better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting.transitioning from discontinued reference rates, such as LIBOR, to alternative reference rates, if certain criteria are met. The new standard also simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance. The requirements can be applied as of the new standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning afterof the interim period including March 12, 2020, or any date thereafter, through December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2020. Early adoption is permitted.31, 2022. We are in the process of reviewing our contracts and arrangements that will be affected by a discontinued reference rate and are analyzing the impact of this standardguidance on our results of operations and financial position.

In March 2017, the FASB issued new accounting requirements related to the presentation of net periodic defined benefit pension expense, net periodic postretirement benefit expense, and net periodic postemployment benefit expense. The new standard requires the service cost component of net periodic benefit expense to be recorded in the same line items as other employee compensation costs within our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Other components of net periodic benefit expense must be presented separately outside of operating profit in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. In addition, the new standard requires that only the service cost component of net periodic benefit expense is eligible for capitalization. We recognized net periodic benefit expense of $56 million in fiscal 2017, $163 million in fiscal 2016, and $153 million in fiscal 2015 of which $141 million, $161 million, and $167 million, respectively, related to service cost. These amounts may not necessarily be indicative of future amounts that may be recognized subsequent to the adoption of this new standard. The new standard requires retrospective adoption of the presentation of net periodic benefit expense and prospective application of the capitalization of the service cost component. The requirements of the new standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted.

In October 2016, the FASB issued new accounting requirements related to the recognition of income taxes resulting from intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. This will result in the recognition of the income tax consequences resulting from the intra-entity transfer of assets in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings in the period of the transfer. The requirements of the new standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Based on our assessment to date, we do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.NON-GAAP MEASURES

In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting requirements for accounting, presentation and classification of leases. This will result in most leases being capitalized as a right of use asset with a related liability on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The requirements of the new standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those annual periods, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2020. We are in the process of implementing lease accounting software and analyzing the impact of this standard on our results of operations and financial position. Based on our assessment to date, we expect this guidance will have a material impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheets due to the amount of our lease commitments but we are unable to quantify the impact at this time.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting requirements for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The requirements of the new standard and its subsequent amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods, which for us is the first quarter of fiscal 2019. We expect to adopt using the cumulative effect approach at that time. We are in the process of documenting the impact of the guidance on our current accounting policies and practices in order to identify material differences, if any, that would result from applying the new requirements to our revenue contracts. We continue to make progress on our revenue recognition review and are also in the process of evaluating the impact, if any, on changes to our business processes, systems, and controls to support recognition and disclosure requirements under the new guidance. Based on our assessment to date, 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 thesenon-GAAP financial measures, we are providing below a reconciliation of the differences between thenon-GAAP measure and the most directly comparable GAAP measure, an explanation of why we believe thenon-GAAP measure provides useful information to investors, and any additional material purposes for which we useour management or Board of Directors uses thenon-GAAP measure. Thesenon-GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, the comparable GAAP measure.

Several measures below are presented on an adjusted basis. The adjustments are either items resulting from infrequently occurring events or items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the year-to-year assessment of operating results.

Organic Net Sales Growth Rates

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 provide organic net sales growth rates for our consolidated net sales and segment net sales. This measure is used in reporting to our Board of Directors and executive management and as a component of the measurement of our performance for incentive compensation purposes. We believe that organic net sales growth rates provide useful information to investors because they provide transparency to underlying performance in our net sales by excluding the effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, as well as acquisitions, divestitures, and a 53rd week, when applicable, have onyear-to-year comparability. A reconciliation of these measures to reported net sales growth rates, the relevant GAAP measures, are included in our Consolidated Results of Operations and Results of Segment Operating ResultsOperations discussions in the MD&A above.

Total Segment

32


Adjusted Operating Profit as a Percent of Net Sales (Adjusted Operating Profit Margin)

We believe this measure provides useful information to investors because it is important for assessing our operating profit margin on a comparable basis.

Our adjusted operating profit margins are calculated as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

In Millions

 

Value

 

Percent of

Net Sales

 

 

Value

 

Percent of

Net Sales

Operating profit as reported

$

826.6

 

18.3

%

 

$

650.8

 

15.6

%

Mark-to-market effects (a)

 

(55.7)

 

(1.2)

%

 

 

8.6

 

0.2

%

Investment activity, net (b)

 

(59.3)

 

(1.3)

%

 

 

3.0

 

0.1

%

Restructuring charges (c)

 

11.7

 

0.3

%

 

 

12.4

 

0.3

%

Project-related costs (c)

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

0.4

 

-

%

Product recall adjustment (d)

 

(7.8)

 

(0.2)

%

 

 

-

 

-

%

Adjusted operating profit

$

715.6

 

15.8

%

 

$

675.1

 

16.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

In Millions

 

Value

 

Percent of

Net Sales

 

 

Value

 

Percent of

Net Sales

Operating profit as reported

$

2,596.9

 

19.1

%

 

$

2,124.4

 

16.9

%

Mark-to-market effects (a)

 

(118.0)

 

(0.9)

%

 

 

1.0

 

-

%

Investment activity, net (b)

 

(78.3)

 

(0.6)

%

 

 

6.7

 

0.1

%

Restructuring charges (c)

 

13.6

 

0.1

%

 

 

37.2

 

0.3

%

Project-related costs (c)

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

1.1

 

-

%

Product recall adjustment, net (d)

 

(0.7)

 

-

%

 

 

-

 

-

%

Adjusted operating profit

$

2,413.6

 

17.7

%

 

$

2,170.3

 

17.2

%

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

(a)Net mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions recognized in unallocated corporate items. Please see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

(b)Valuation adjustments and Related Constant-Currencythe gain on sale of certain corporate investments in fiscal 2021. Valuation adjustments and the loss on sale of certain corporate investments in fiscal 2020.

(c)Restructuring charges for Asia & Latin America route-to-market and supply chain optimization actions and previously announced restructuring actions in fiscal 2021. Restructuring and project-related charges for previously announced restructuring actions in fiscal 2020. Please see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

(d)Net product recall adjustment related to our international Green Giant business.

33


Adjusted Operating Profit Growth Rateon a Constant-currency Basis

This measure is used in reporting to our Board of Directors and 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 profitabilityoperating profit measure we use to evaluate segment performance. A reconciliation of this measure to operating profit the relevant GAAPperformance on a comparable year-to-year basis. The measure is includedevaluated on a constant-currency basis by excluding the effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have on year-to-year comparability given the volatility in foreign currency exchange rates.

Our adjusted operating profit growth on a constant-currency basis is calculated as follows:

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Change

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Change

Operating profit as reported

$

826.6

 

$

650.8

27

%

 

$

2,596.9

 

$

2,124.4

22

%

Mark-to-market effects (a)

 

(55.7)

 

 

8.6

 

 

 

 

(118.0)

 

 

1.0

 

 

Investment activity, net (b)

 

(59.3)

 

 

3.0

 

 

 

 

(78.3)

 

 

6.7

 

 

Restructuring charges (c)

 

11.7

 

 

12.4

 

 

 

 

13.6

 

 

37.2

 

 

Project-related costs (c)

 

-

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

1.1

 

 

Product recall adjustment, net (d)

 

(7.8)

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

(0.7)

 

 

-

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

$

715.6

 

$

675.1

6

%

 

$

2,413.6

 

$

2,170.3

11

%

Foreign currency exchange impact

 

 

 

 

 

1

pt

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

pt

Adjusted operating profit growth,

on a constant-currency basis

 

 

 

 

 

5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

%

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

(a)Net mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions recognized in unallocated corporate items. Please see Note 165 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Constant-currency total segment operating profit growth is calculated as follows:(b)Valuation adjustments and the gain on sale of certain corporate investments in fiscal 2021. Valuation adjustments and the loss on sale of certain corporate investments in fiscal 2020.

   Percentage Change in
Total Segment
Operating Profit as
Reported
  Impact of
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
   Percentage Change in
Total Segment Operating
Profit on a Constant-
Currency Basis
 

 

 

Quarter Ended Feb. 25, 2018

   (5)%   1 pt    (6)%     

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 25, 2018

   (9)%   1 pt    (10)%     

 

 
(c)Restructuring charges for Asia & Latin America route-to-market and supply chain optimization actions and previously announced restructuring actions in fiscal 2021. Restructuring and project-related charges for previously announced restructuring actions in fiscal 2020. Please see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

(d)Net product recall adjustment related to our international Green Giant business.

34


Adjusted Operating Profit as a Percent of Net Sales (Adjusted Operating Profit Margin) Excluding Certain Items Affecting Comparability

We believe this measure provides useful information to investors because it is important for assessing our operating profit margin on a comparable 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.

   Quarter Ended 
  

 

 

 
   Feb. 25, 2018      Feb. 26, 2017 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
In Millions  Value   Percent of Net
Sales
      Value   Percent of
Net Sales
 

 

 

Operating profit as reported

  $592.7    15.3    $542.5    14.3 %   

 Mark-to-market effects (a)

   2.8    0.1     (8.2   (0.2)%   

 Restructuring charges (b)

   7.6    0.1     94.0    2.5 %   

 Project-related costs (b)

   3.0    0.1     11.5    0.3 %   

 Acquisition transaction costs (c)

   3.5    0.1     -    - %   

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

  $            609.6    15.7    $        639.8    16.9 %   

 

 

   Nine-Month Period Ended 
  

 

 

 
   Feb. 25, 2018      Feb. 26, 2017 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
In Millions  Value   Percent of
Net Sales
      Value   Percent of
Net Sales
 

 

 

Operating profit as reported

  $1,948.3    16.4    $1,957.2    16.6 %   

 Mark-to-market effects (a)

   (3.5       (20.7   (0.2)%   

 Restructuring charges (b)

   27.3    0.2     208.3    1.8 %   

 Project-related costs (b)

   8.4    0.1     36.4    0.3 %   

 Divestiture loss (c)

   -        13.5    0.1 %   

 Acquisition transaction costs (c)

   3.5        -    -       

 

 

Adjusted operating profit

  $            1,984.0    16.7    $    2,194.7    18.6 %   

 

 
(a)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.
(c)See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report. Acquisition transaction costs include $3.5 million of costs recorded in SG&A expenses for the quarter and nine-month period ended February 25, 2018.

Diluted EPS Excluding Certain Items Affecting Comparability and Related Constant-CurrencyConstant-currency Growth Rate

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.Directors and executive management. 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-yearyear-to-year basis. The adjustments are either items resulting from infrequently occurring events or items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the year-over-year assessment of operating results.

The reconciliation of our GAAP measure, diluted EPS, to adjusted 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. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
  Change  Feb. 25,
2018
  Feb. 26,
2017
  Change 

Diluted earnings per share, as reported

  $1.62  $0.61   166 %  $3.05  $2.08   47 % 

Provisional net tax benefit (a)

   (0.86  -    (0.86  -  

Tax adjustment (b)

   -   -    0.07   -  

Mark-to-market effects (c)

   -   (0.01   -   (0.02 

Divestiture loss (d)

   -   -    -   0.01  

Acquisition transaction costs (d)

   0.02   -    0.02   -  

Restructuring charges (e)

   0.01   0.11    0.03   0.24  

Project-related costs (e)

   -   0.01    0.01   0.04  

Diluted earnings per share, excluding certain items affecting comparability

  $0.79  $0.72   10  $2.32  $2.35   (1) % 

Foreign currency exchange impact

           2 pts           1 pt 

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

     8 %     (2) % 
  
(a)See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
(b)See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
(c)See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
(d)See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report. Acquisition transaction costs include $15.9 million of charges recorded in interest, net, and $3.5 million of costs recorded in SG&A expenses for the quarter and nine-month period ended February 25, 2018.
(e)See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

Per Share Data

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Change

 

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

Change

 

Diluted earnings per share,

as reported

$

0.96

 

$

0.74

30

%

 

$

3.10

 

$

2.54

22

%

Mark-to-market effects (a)

 

(0.07)

 

 

0.01

 

 

 

 

(0.15)

 

 

-

 

 

Investment activity, net (b)

 

(0.08)

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

(0.10)

 

 

-

 

 

Restructuring charges (c)

 

0.02

 

 

0.02

 

 

 

 

0.02

 

 

0.05

 

 

Product recall adjustment, net (d)

 

(0.01)

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

Tax item (e)

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

(0.09)

 

 

CPW restructuring charges (f)

 

-

 

 

0.01

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

0.01

 

 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

$

0.82

 

$

0.77

6

%

 

$

2.88

 

$

2.51

15

%

Foreign currency exchange impact

 

 

 

 

 

Flat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

pt

Adjusted diluted earnings

per share growth, on a

constant-currency basis

 

 

 

 

 

6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

%

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

(a)Net mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions recognized in unallocated corporate items. Please see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

(b)Valuation adjustments and the gain on sale of certain corporate investments in fiscal 2021. Valuation adjustments and the loss on sale of certain corporate investments in fiscal 2020.

(c)Restructuring charges for Asia & Latin America route-to-market and supply chain optimization actions and previously announced restructuring actions in fiscal 2021. Restructuring charges for previously announced restructuring actions in fiscal 2020. Please see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

(d)Net product recall adjustment related to our international Green Giant business.

(e)Discrete tax benefit related to the reorganization of certain wholly owned subsidiaries. Please see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statement in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

(f)CPW restructuring charges related to previously announced restructuring actions.

See our reconciliation below of the effective income tax rate as reported to the adjusted effective income tax rate excluding certain items affecting comparability for the tax impact of each item affecting comparability.

Constant-Currency

Constant-currency After-tax Earnings from Joint Ventures Growth Rates

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

After-tax earnings from joint ventures growth ratesrate on a constant-currency basis is calculated as follows:

   

Percentage Change in After-

Tax Earnings from Joint
Ventures

as Reported

  Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
  

Percentage Change in After-

Tax Earnings from Joint
Ventures on Constant-
Currency Basis

 

Quarter Ended Feb. 25, 2018

  51 %   21 pts   30 % 

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 25, 2018

  (2)%   2 pts   (4)% 
  

 

Percentage Change in

After-Tax Earnings from Joint

Ventures as Reported

Impact of Foreign

Currency

Exchange

Percentage Change in After-Tax

Earnings from Joint Ventures

on Constant-Currency Basis

Quarter Ended Feb. 28, 2021

 

9

%

9

pts

Flat

 

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 28, 2021

 

56

%

2

pts

54

%

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Sales Growth Rates for Our Canada Operating Unit on Constant-CurrencyConstant-currency Basis

We believe that this measure of our Canada operating unit net sales provides useful information to investors because it provides transparency to the underlying performance for the Canada operating unit within our North America Retail segment by excluding the

35


effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have onyear-to-year comparability given volatility in foreign currency exchange markets.

Net sales growth rates for our Canada operating unit on a constant-currency basis areis calculated as follows:

   
   

Percentage Change in
Net Sales

as Reported

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

Quarter Ended Feb. 25, 2018

 6  %  5    pts   1  

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 25, 2018

 4  %  4    pts   Flat 
  

 

 

Percentage Change in

Net Sales

as Reported

Impact of Foreign

Currency

Exchange

Percentage Change in

Net Sales on Constant-

Currency Basis

Quarter Ended Feb. 28, 2021

 

13

%

4

pts

9

%

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 28, 2021

 

8

%

1

pt

7

%

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constant-Currency

Constant-currency Segment Operating Profit Growth Rates

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

Our segments’ operating profit growth rates on a constant-currency basis are calculated as follows:

 

Quarter Ended Feb. 28, 2021

 

Percentage Change in

Operating Profit

as Reported

Impact of Foreign

Currency

Exchange

Percentage Change in Operating

Profit on Constant-Currency

Basis

North America Retail

 

14

%

Flat

 

14

%

Europe & Australia

 

33

%

9

pts

24

%

Pet

 

9

%

Flat

 

9

%

Asia & Latin America

 

48

%

31

pts

18

%

 Quarter Ended Feb. 25, 2018 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 28, 2021

 

Percentage Change in
Operating Profit

as Reported

  Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
   Percentage Change in Operating
Profit on Constant-Currency
Basis
 

 

Percentage Change in

Operating Profit

as Reported

Impact of Foreign

Currency

Exchange

Percentage Change in Operating

Profit on Constant-Currency

Basis

North America Retail

 Flat       Flat        Flat 

 

15

%

Flat

 

15

%

Europe & Australia

   (35)%   11 pts    (46)% 

 

46

%

6

pts

40

%

Pet

 

22

%

Flat

 

22

%

Asia & Latin America

 (121)%   13 pts    (134)% 

 

47

%

23

pts

24

%

 
 Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 25, 2018 
 

Percentage Change in
Operating Profit

as Reported

  Impact of Foreign
Currency
Exchange
   Percentage Change in Operating
Profit on Constant-Currency
Basis
 

North America Retail

   (7)%   Flat        (7)% 

Europe & Australia

 (33)%   5 pts    (38)% 

Asia & Latin America

 (51)%   5 pts    (56)% 
 

Note: Tables may not foot due to rounding.

Note: Tables may not foot due to rounding.

 

36


Adjusted Effective Income Tax Rate Excluding Certain Items Affecting Comparability

We believe this measure provides useful information to investors because it is important for assessingpresents the adjusted effective income tax rate excludingon a comparable year-to-year basis.

Adjusted effective income tax rates are calculated as follows:

 

Quarter Ended

 

Nine-Month Period Ended

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

 

Feb. 28, 2021

 

Feb. 23, 2020

In Millions

(Except Per Share Data)

Pretax

Earnings (a)

Income

Taxes

 

Pretax

Earnings (a)

Income

Taxes

 

Pretax

Earnings

(a)

Income

Taxes

 

Pretax

Earnings

(a)

Income

Taxes

As reported

$

754.0

$

162.0

 

$

571.3

$

118.2

 

$

2,378.8

$

522.2

 

$

1,867.2

$

340.9

Mark-to-market effects (b)

 

(55.7)

 

(12.8)

 

 

8.6

 

1.9

 

 

(118.0)

 

(27.1)

 

 

1.0

 

0.2

Investment activity, net (c)

 

(59.3)

 

(11.7)

 

 

3.0

 

0.7

 

 

(78.3)

 

(16.1)

 

 

6.7

 

5.1

Restructuring charges (d)

 

11.7

 

2.0

 

 

12.4

 

3.7

 

 

13.6

 

2.5

 

 

37.2

 

8.0

Project-related costs (d)

 

-

 

-

 

 

0.4

 

0.1

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

1.1

 

0.2

Product recall adjustment, net (e)

 

(7.8)

 

(0.9)

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

(0.7)

 

(0.1)

 

 

-

 

-

Tax item (f)

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

53.1

As adjusted

$

643.1

$

138.6

 

$

595.6

$

124.8

 

$

2,195.5

$

481.4

 

$

1,913.1

$

407.6

Effective tax rate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reported

 

 

 

21.5%

 

 

 

 

20.7%

 

 

 

 

22.0%

 

 

 

 

18.3%

As adjusted

 

 

 

21.6%

 

 

 

 

21.0%

 

 

 

 

21.9%

 

 

 

 

21.3%

Sum of adjustment to income taxes

 

 

$

(23.4)

 

 

 

$

6.4

 

 

 

$

(40.8)

 

 

 

$

66.6

Average number of common

shares - diluted EPS

 

 

 

619.4

 

 

 

 

612.8

 

 

 

 

619.6

 

 

 

 

612.1

Impact of income tax adjustments

on adjusted diluted EPS

 

 

$

(0.03)

 

 

 

$

0.01

 

 

 

$

(0.06)

 

 

 

$

0.11

Note: Table may not foot due to rounding.

(a)Earnings before income taxes and after-tax earnings from joint ventures.

(b)Net mark-to-market valuation of certain commodity positions recognized in unallocated corporate items. Please see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

(c)Valuation adjustments and the gain on sale of certain corporate investments in fiscal 2021. Valuation adjustments and the loss on sale of certain corporate investments in fiscal 2020.

(d)Restructuring charges for Asia & Latin America route-to-market and supply chain optimization actions and previously announced restructuring actions in fiscal 2021. Restructuring and project-related charges for previously announced restructuring actions in fiscal 2020. Please see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

(e)Net product recall adjustment related to our international Green Giant business.

(f)Discrete tax benefit related to the reorganization of certain wholly owned subsidiaries. Please see Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

37


Glossary

AOCI. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Adjusted diluted EPS. Diluted EPS adjusted for certain items affecting comparability and presents the income tax effects ofyear-to-year comparability.

Adjusted operating profit. Operating profit adjusted for certain items affecting year-to-year comparability.

Effective income tax rates excluding certain items affecting comparability are calculated as follows:

  Quarter Ended     Nine-Month Period Ended 
  Feb. 25, 2018     Feb. 26, 2017     Feb. 25, 2018     Feb. 26, 2017 
In Millions (Except Per Share Data) Pretax
Earnings
(a)
  Income
Taxes
      Pretax
Earnings
(a)
  Income
Taxes
      Pretax
Earnings
(a)
  Income
Taxes
      Pretax
Earnings
(a)
  Income
Taxes
 

As reported

  $503.4   $(432.5)    $466.1   $107.0    $1,711.7   $(29.1)    $1,731.4   $511.0 

Provisional tax benefit (b)

  -   503.8    -   -    -   503.8    -   - 

Mark-to-market effects  (c)

  2.8   1.2    (8.2  (3.1   (3.5  (1.1   (20.7  (7.7

Restructuring charges (d)

  7.6   0.8    94.0   31.0    27.3   6.7    208.3   66.7 

Project-related costs (d)

  3.0   0.7    11.5   4.1    8.4   2.5    36.4   13.1 

Divestiture loss (e)

  -   -    -   -    -   -    13.5   4.3 

Acquisition transaction costs (e)

  19.4   5.6    -   -    19.4   5.6    -   - 

Tax adjustment (f)

  -   1.7    -   -    -   (40.5   -   - 
  

As adjusted

  $536.2   $81.3    $563.4   $139.0    $1,763.3   $447.9    $1,968.9   $587.4 
  

Effective tax rate:

           

As reported

   (85.9)%     23.0%     (1.7)%     29.5% 

As adjusted

   15.2%     24.7%     25.4%     29.8% 
  

Sum of adjustment to income taxes

   $    513.8     $    32.0     $    477.0     $    76.4 
  

Average number of common shares - diluted EPS

 

  582.7     591.4     583.2     601.1 
  

Impact of income tax adjustments on diluted EPS excluding certain items affecting comparability

 

  $0.88     $0.05     $0.82     $0.13 
  
(a)Earnings before income taxes andafter-tax earnings from joint ventures.
(b)See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
(c)See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
(d)See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
(e)See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report. Acquisition transaction costs include $15.9 million of charges recorded in interest, net, and $3.5 million of costs recorded in SG&A expenses for the quarter and nine-month period ended February 25, 2018.
(f)See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

GLOSSARY

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.

Adjusted operating profit margin.Operating profit adjusted for certain items affecting year-over-year comparability, divided by net sales.

AOCI. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Constant currency. Financial results translated to U.S.United States 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.

Core working capital. Accounts receivable plus inventories less accounts payable.

COVID-19. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

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:

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.

Fixed charge coverage ratio. The sum of earnings before income taxes and fixed charges (before tax), divided by the sum ofinputs used in pricing the fixed charges (before tax) and interest.asset or liability.

Focus 6 platforms. The Focus 6 platforms for the Convenience Stores & Foodservice segment consist of cereal, yogurt, snacks, frozen meals, frozen biscuits, and baking mixes.frozen baked goods.

Free cash flow. Net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of land, buildings, and equipment.

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.

Gross margin. Net sales less cost of sales.

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.

Holistic Margin Management (HMM). Company-wide initiative to use productivity savings, mix management, and price realization to offset input cost inflation, protect margins, and generate funds to reinvest in sales-generating activities.

38


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.

Netmark-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.

Net realizable value. The estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.

Noncontrolling interests.Interests of subsidiaries held by third parties.

Notional principal amount.The principal amount of a position or an agreed upon amount in a derivative contract on which fixed-rate or floating-rate interest paymentsthe value of financial instruments are calculated.

OCI.Other Comprehensive Income.

Organic net sales growth. Net sales growth adjusted for foreign currency translation, as well as acquisitions, divestitures and a 53rd week, impact, when applicable.

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.

TCJA. U.S. Tax Cuts

Reporting unit. An operating segment or a business one level below an operating segment.

Strategic Revenue Management (SRM). A company-wide capability focused on generating sustainable benefits from net price realization and Jobs Act which was signed into law on December 22, 2017.mix by identifying and executing against specific opportunities to apply tools including pricing, sizing, mix management, and promotion optimization across each of our businesses.

Total debt.Notes payable

Supply chain input costs. Costs incurred to produce and long-term debt,deliver product, including current portion.costs for ingredients and conversion, inventory management, logistics, and warehousing.

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

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

Working capital. Current assets and current liabilities, all as of the last day of our fiscal year.

39


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 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: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, suppliers, consumers, customers, and employees; disruptions or inefficiencies in the supply chain, including any impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; 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, including our acquisition of Blue Buffalo and issues in the integration of Blue Buffalo and retention of key management and employees; unfavorable reaction to our acquisition of Blue Buffalo by customers, competitors, suppliers, and employees;assets; changes in capital structure; changes in the legal and regulatory environment, including tax reform legislation, 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; effectiveness of restructuring and cost saving initiatives; volatility in the market value of derivatives used to manage price risk for certain commodities; benefit plan expenses due to changes in plan asset values and discount rates used to determine plan liabilities; failure 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 Form10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2017 and Item 1A of Part II in this report,31, 2020 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.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The estimated maximum potentialvalue-at-risk arising from aone-day loss in fair value for our interest rate, foreign exchange, commodity, and equity market-risk-sensitive instruments outstanding as of February 25, 201828, 2021, was $30 million, $22 million, $2 million, and $1 million, respectively. During the nine-month period ended February 25, 2018, the interest ratevalue-at risk increased by $5 million, while foreign exchange and commodityvalue-at-risk decreased by $3 million and $1 million, respectively. The equityvalue-at-risk was flat compared to this measure as of May 28, 2017. Thevalue-at-risk for interest rates increased due to our use of treasury rate locks in connection with planned debt financing for the Blue Buffalo acquisition. Thevalue-at-risk for foreign exchange and commodity decreased due to lower market volatility. follows:

In Millions

 

One-day Loss

in Fair Value

 

 

Change During Nine-Month Period Ended Feb. 28, 2021

 

Analysis of Change

Interest rate instruments

$

72

 

$

(7)

 

Lower Market Volatility

Foreign currency instruments

 

30

 

 

11

 

Higher Market Volatility

Commodity instruments

 

5

 

 

2

 

Higher Market Volatility

Equity instruments

 

5

 

 

-

 

Immaterial

For additional information, see Item 7A of Part II of our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended May 28, 2017.

31, 2020.

40


Item 4.Controls and Procedures.

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 Rule13a-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 25, 2018,28, 2021, 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 Securities and Exchange Commission 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 Rule13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the quarter ended February 25, 201828, 2021 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

41


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There can be no assurance that we will successfully complete our acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Blue Buffalo Pet Products, Inc. (“Blue Buffalo”) on the terms or timetable currently proposed or at all.

No assurance can be given that the Acquisition will be completed when expected, on the terms proposed or at all. Each party’s obligation to consummate the Acquisition is subject to certain conditions, including, among others: (i) expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended; (ii) the absence of any order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or governmental entity or any applicable law or other legal restraint, injunction, or prohibition that makes consummation of the Acquisition illegal or otherwise prohibited; and (iii) the passing of twenty days from the date on which Blue Buffalo mails to Blue Buffalo’s stockholders a Schedule 14C Information Statement in definitive form pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our obligation to consummate the Acquisition is also conditioned on, among other things, the absence of any Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 22, 2018 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among General Mills, Inc., Blue Buffalo, and Bravo Merger Corp.). There can be no assurance that the conditions to closing will be satisfied or waived or that other events will not intervene to delay or prevent the completion of the Acquisition.

We intend to finance a portion of the purchase price for the Acquisition with the net proceeds from an offering of debt securities and an offering of approximately $1.0 billion in equity securities. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in raising sufficient funds therefrom. Although we entered into a Commitment Letter, dated February 22, 2018 (the “Commitment Letter”), with Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GS Bank”) and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC (together with GS Bank, “Goldman Sachs”), pursuant to which and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein Goldman Sachs has agreed to provide a senior unsecured364-day bridge term loan credit facility (the “Bridge Facility”) of up to $8.5 billion in the aggregate for the purpose of providing the financing necessary to fund the consideration to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and related fees and expenses, the funding of the Bridge Facility is contingent on the satisfaction of certain customary conditions set forth in the Commitment Letter, including, among others, (i) the execution and delivery of definitive documentation with respect to the Bridge Facility in accordance with the terms sets forth in the Commitment Letter and (ii) the consummation of the transaction in accordance with the Merger Agreement. We cannot assure you that we will be able to satisfy such conditions.

We have incurred and will continue to incur significant transaction costs in connection with the Acquisition that could adversely affect our results of operations.

Whether or not we complete the Acquisition, we have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant transaction costs in connection with the Acquisition, including payment of certain fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Acquisition and related financing transactions. Additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration process. These could adversely affect our results of operations in the period in which such expenses are recorded or our cash flow in the period in which any related costs are actually paid. Furthermore, we may incur material restructuring charges in connection with the Acquisition, which may adversely affect our operating results following the closing of the Acquisition in which such expenses are recorded or our cash flow in the period in which any related costs are actually paid. A delay in closing or a failure to complete the Acquisition could have a negative impact on our business.

We may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected.

Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition will depend, to a large extent, on our ability to integrate Blue Buffalo, which is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. We have never operated in the pet food sector and our lack of experience in this sector may hinder our ability to manage Blue Buffalo successfully following the Acquisition.

The integration process may disrupt our business and, if implemented ineffectively, could restrict the realization of the full expected benefits. The failure to meet the challenges involved in the integration process and to realize the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition could cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, our operations and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, the integration of Blue Buffalo may result in material unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities, competitive responses, and loss of customers and other business relationships. Additional integration challenges include:

diversion of management’s attention to integration matters;
difficulties in achieving anticipated cost savings, synergies, business opportunities and growth prospects from the Acquisition;
difficulties in the integration of operations and systems;
difficulties in conforming standards, controls, procedures and accounting and other policies, business cultures and compensation structures;
difficulties in the assimilation of employees;
challenges in keeping existing customers, including Blue Buffalo’s largest customer that accounted for 41% of its 2017 net sales, and obtaining new customers, including customers that may not consent to the assignment of their contracts or agree to enter into a new contract with us;
challenges in attracting and retaining key personnel;
the impact of potential liabilities we may be inheriting from Blue Buffalo; and
coordinating a geographically dispersed organization.

Many of these factors will be outside of our control and any one of them could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues, and diversion of management’s time and energy, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations and result in us becoming subject to litigation. In addition, even if Blue Buffalo is integrated successfully, the full anticipated benefits of the Acquisition may not be realized, including the synergies, cost savings or sales or growth opportunities that are anticipated. These benefits may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame, or at all. Further, additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration process. All of these factors could cause reductions in our earnings per share and decrease or delay the expected accretive effect of the Acquisition. As a result, it cannot be assured that the Acquisition will result in the realization of the full or any anticipated benefits.

The pendency of the Acquisition could adversely affect our business, financial results and operations.

The announcement and pendency of the Acquisition could cause disruptions and create uncertainty surrounding our business and affect our relationships with our customers and employees. In addition, we have diverted, and will continue to divert, significant management resources to complete the Acquisition, which could have a negative impact on our ability to manage existing operations or pursue alternative strategic transactions, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If the Acquisition is completed, Blue Buffalo may underperform relative to our expectations.

Following completion of the Acquisition, we may not be able to maintain the growth rate, levels of revenue, earnings, or operating efficiency that we and Blue Buffalo have achieved or might achieve separately. The business and financial performance of Blue Buffalo are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

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 25, 2018:

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 27, 2017-

      

December 31, 2017

  -   $            -   -    39,536,849 

 

 

January 1, 2018-

      

January 28, 2018

  7,328    59.29   7,328    39,529,521 

 

 

January 29, 2018-

      

February 25, 2018

  4,267    57.88   4,267    39,525,254 

 

 

Total

  11,595   $58.77   11,595    39,525,254 

 

 
(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, Rule10b5-1 trading plans, and accelerated repurchase programs. The Board did not specify an expiration date for the authorization.

Item 5.        6.

Other InformationExhibits.

In connection with the preparation of this Form10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 25, 2018, we identified the following transaction which may be subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 and Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In January 2018, an indirect wholly-owned foreign subsidiary of General Mills made two shipments of flour produced in India to a distributor in the United Arab Emirates for distribution to customers in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. An unrelated third party responsible for arranging transportation originally booked shipment of the flour onnon-Iranian flag vessels, but subsequently, without the knowledge or consent of our foreign subsidiary or of General Mills, rebooked the shipments on Iranian flag vessels owned by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). The gross sale proceeds received by our foreign subsidiary from the two shipments of flour totaled $56,319, and our foreign subsidiary paid the freight forwarder in Indian Rupees a total of approximately INR26,316, or the US dollar equivalent of approximately $400, for the cost of shipping. We do not intend to make any future shipments using IRISL vessels.

Item 6.Exhibits.
2.1

10.1

Agreement andSupplemental Retirement Plan of Merger, dated February 22, 2018, by and among General Mills, Inc., Blue Products, Inc. Bravo Merger Corp (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the State Registrant’s Current Report on Form8-K filed February 23, 2018)(Grandfathered).

2.2

10.2

Form of Support Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form8-K filed February 23, 2018)Supplemental Retirement Plan I (Grandfathered).

12.1

10.3

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges2005 Supplemental Retirement Plan.

10.4

Supplemental Savings Plan.

31.1

10.5

2005 Deferred Compensation Plan.

10.6

Supplemental Retirement Plan I.

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 Form10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended February 25, 2018,28, 2021, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language: (i) Consolidated Statements of Earnings; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Total Equity and Redeemable Interest; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

104

Cover Page, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language and contained in Exhibit 101.

42


SIGNATURES

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

Date: March 21, 201824, 2021

/s/ KofiMark A. Bruce                                                           Pallot

Kofi

Mark A. BrucePallot

Vice President, ControllerChief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

43

51