EXHIBIT 1.1 DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. (a Florida corporation) $150,000,000 8.375% Notes Due 2005 TERMS AGREEMENT August 30, 2000 To: Darden Restaurants, Inc. 5900 Lake Ellenor Drive Orlando, Florida 32809 Ladies and Gentlemen: We understand that Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.375% Notes Due 2005 (the "Notes") (such securities also being hereinafter referred to as the "Underwritten Securities"). Subject to the terms and conditions set forth or incorporated by reference herein, we, the underwriters named below (the "Underwriters"), offer to purchase, severally and not jointly, the principal amount of Underwritten Securities opposite our names set forth below at the purchase price set forth below. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings given to such terms under the Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996 (the "Indenture") between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association (formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), as trustee (the "Trustee"), and under the Officer's Certificate and Authentication Order, (the "Certificate") duly authorized and executed by the Company and dated as of August 30, 2000 relating to the Notes, the form of which is attached hereto as Annex I, including in the case of certain terms the respective meanings given to such terms under the form of the Notes included in the Certificate. This Terms Agreement supplements the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement attached hereto as Annex II, dated the date hereof between the Company and the Underwriters, which shall govern the offering of the Underwritten Securities. Underwriters Principal Amount of Notes ------------ ------------------------- Banc of America Securities LLC $ 90,000,000 First Union Securities, Inc. $ 18,000,000 SunTrust Equitable Securities Corporation $ 18,000,000 Wachovia Securities, Inc. $ 18,000,000 The Williams Capital Group, L.P. $ 6,000,000 ------------ Total $150,000,000 ============ Price to the Company: 99.093% Company Proceeds: $148,639,500 ------------ The Underwritten Securities shall have the following terms: Title: $150,000,000 8.375% Notes Due 2005 Rank: On a parity with all of the Company's other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Ratings: Baa1/BBB+ Aggregate principal amount: $150,000,000 Denominations: $1,000.00 Currency of payment: U.S. Dollars Interest rate or formula: 8.375% per annum Interest payment dates: Semi-annually on September 15 and March 15, beginning March 15, 2001 Regular record dates: the September 1 and March 1 preceding the respective interest payment dates Stated maturity date: September 15, 2005 Redemption provisions: Redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company's option at any time on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice at the greater of (i) 100% of principal amount of the Notes being redeemed or (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes (not including any portion of those payments of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date. The terms and conditions relating to any such redemption shall be as set forth under the Certificate (including the form of the Notes contained therein). Sinking fund requirements: None. Defeasance provisions: The Notes are subject to defeasance and the Company will be discharged from its obligations with respect to the Notes upon compliance with certain conditions. 2 The Company may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants applicable to the Notes upon compliance with certain conditions. The terms and conditions relating to any such defeasance and covenant defeasance shall be as set forth in the Certificate and under the Indenture. Listing requirements: The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system. Black-out provisions: None. Fixed or Variable Price Offering: Fixed price offering with an initial public offering price of 99.693% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus in each case accrued interest, if any, from September 5, 2000 or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for. Form: The form of the Notes shall be as set forth in the Certificate. Other terms and conditions: The terms and conditions of the Notes shall be as set forth in the Certificate and under the Indenture, as provided for in the Certificate. Closing date and location: September 5, 2000 at 11:00 A.M. (Eastern time) at the offices of McGuireWoods LLP, 100 North Tryon Street, Suite 2900, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 or at such other time and place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives of the Underwriters and the Company. Co-managers: First Union Securities, Inc. SunTrust Equitable Securities Corporation Wachovia Securities, Inc. The Williams Capital Group, L.P. All of the provisions contained in the Certificate attached as Annex I hereto and in the Underwriting Agreement attached as Annex II hereto are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein and shall be deemed to be a part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. 3 Please accept this offer no later than 5:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on August 30, 2000 by signing a copy of this Terms Agreement in the space set forth below and returning the signed copy to us. Very truly yours, BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC. SUNTRUST EQUITABLE SECURITIES CORPORATION WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC. THE WILLIAMS CAPITAL GROUP, L.P. By: BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC By: /s/ Lily Chang ------------------------------------ Authorized Signatory Acting on behalf of itself and the other named Underwriters Accepted: DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. By: /s/ Clarence Otis, Jr. ----------------------------- Name: Clarence Otis, Jr. Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 4