Document:

Darden Restaurants, Inc. Stock Plan for Directors, as amended

 Exhibit 10(c) 
 DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. 
 STOCK PLAN FOR DIRECTORS 
 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Stock Plan (the “Plan”) for Directors is to increase the proprietary interest of
Directors in Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the “Company”) by granting them non-qualified options to purchase Common Stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) and shares of Common Stock subject to the restrictions described herein that
will promote long-term shareholder value through ownership of Common Stock. 
 2. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. Grants of options to purchase Common Stock under the Plan and the amount and nature of the awards of Common Stock shall be made automatically or by the Board of Directors as
provided in Section 4. However, subject to the express provisions of the Plan and applicable law, the Compensation Committee shall have full authority to: (i) interpret the Plan; (ii) promulgate such rules and regulations with respect
to the Plan as it deems desirable; (iii) amend the terms and conditions of any award or award agreement, provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 5 hereof, the Committee shall not reprice, adjust or amend the
exercise price of options to purchase Common Stock of the Company previously awarded to any Director, whether through amendment, cancellation and replacement grant, or any other means; (iv) determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances shares of Common Stock payable with respect to an award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder of the award or the Committee; and (v) make all other determinations necessary or
appropriate for the administration of the Plan, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan. By way of clarification, with respect to any deferrals of compensation, the terms of this Plan in
effect on October 3, 2004 shall apply with respect to amounts that were earned and vested as of December 31, 2004. Any deferrals of compensation with respect to amounts earned or vested on or after January 1, 2005 shall be
governed by the terms of the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Director Compensation Program, effective as of October 1, 2005 as amended from time to time. 
 3. Participation. Each person who is a Director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries at the date of each grant or award shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. A “Director” for purposes of
this Plan is defined as a person who has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Company and does not have an employee status with the Company. 
 4. Awards under the Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock authorized for grants under the Plan is 375,000, provided that all such shares shall be issued from Common Stock held in the Company’s
treasury. In addition, all shares of Common Stock authorized, but unissued under the predecessor Stock Plan for Directors effective May 28, 1995, as amended, shall be available and authorized for issuance under this Plan. If any shares of
Common Stock covered by an award or to which an award relates are not purchased or are forfeited or otherwise reacquired by the Company (including shares of Restricted Stock, as described below, whether or not dividends have been paid on such
shares), or if an award otherwise terminates or is cancelled without delivery of any shares of Common Stock, then the number of shares of Common Stock counted against the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan with respect to such
award, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination or cancellation, shall again be available for granting awards under the Plan. In addition, any shares of Common Stock that are used by a participant in connection with the satisfaction of tax
obligations relating to an award, as described below, under the Plan shall be available for granting awards under the Plan. 
  

	 	(a)	Non-qualified Stock Options 

  

	 	(i)	 Grant of Options. Each person who becomes a Director for the first time after the effective date of the Plan shall be awarded an option (“Option”)
to purchase 12,500 shares of Common Stock, effective as of the date such person becomes a Director. In addition, at the close of business on each annual shareholders’ meeting, each Director elected or re-elected to the Board shall be granted an
Option to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock. The written agreement evidencing such Options granted under the Plan 

	 	 
shall be dated as of the applicable date of each grant. All Options granted under the Plan shall be non-qualified stock options governed by Section 83
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

  

	 	(ii)	Option Exercise Price. The per share price to be paid by the Director at the time an Option is exercised shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the
date of grant. “Fair Market Value” shall equal the mean of the high and low price for the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the relevant date or, if the New York Stock Exchange is closed on that date, on the last preceding
date on which the Exchange was open for trading. 

  

	 	(iii)	Term of Option. Each Option shall expire ten (10) years from the date of grant. 

  

	 	(iv)	Exercise of Option. Options shall be exercisable only after one year from the date the Option is granted, except that (1) “SRO’s” may be exercised after a
period of six months or longer if so determined by the Board of Directors at the date of the grant of the SRO and (2) the 12,500 Options granted to a Director upon his or her first election to the Board of Directors shall be exercisable only
after three years from the date the Options are granted. 

  

	 	(v)	Method of Exercise and Tax Obligations. Each notice of exercise shall be accompanied by the full purchase price of the shares being purchased. Such payment may be made in
cash, check, shares of Common Stock valued using the Fair Market Value as of the exercise date or a combination thereof. The Company may also require payment of the amount of any federal, state or local withholding tax attributable to the exercise
of an Option or the delivery of shares of Common Stock upon lapse of the Restricted Period described below. 

  

	 	(vi)	Non-transferability. An Option shall be non-assignable and non-transferable by a Director other than by (1) the Director’s last will and testament, or (2) the
applicable laws of descent and distribution, or (3) by gift by a Director to a “family member” defined by the Compensation Committee. Such Option may be exercised only by such Director or his or her guardian or legal representative or
the donee family member. A Director shall forfeit any Option assigned or transferred, voluntarily or involuntarily, other than as permitted under this subsection. 

  

	 	(vii)	Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, upon retirement of a Director or other cessation of service on the Board of Directors, the Director’s Options will
vest and be exercisable according to the following schedules. 

  

	 	(1)	For a Director with at least five years of Board service, including service on the predecessor General Mills, Inc. Board of Directors, unvested Options granted prior to September
1999 will continue to vest. Once vested, Options will be exercisable for the full term of the Option. 

  

	 	(2)	For a Director with less than five years of Board service, including service on the predecessor General Mills, Inc. Board of Directors, unvested Options will be forfeited. Options
granted prior to September 1999 that have vested will be exercisable for the full Option term. Options granted beginning with and after the September 1999 grant if vested, must be exercised within ninety days of the end of Board service or,
otherwise, will be forfeited. 

  

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	 	(b)	Restricted Stock. 

  

	 	(i)	Awards. Each Director on the effective date of the Plan shall be granted an award of 3,000 shares of Common Stock, restricted as described below (“Restricted
Stock”). At the close of business on each successive annual stockholders’ meeting date thereafter, each Director then elected or re-elected to the Board shall be granted an award of 3,000 shares of Restricted Stock. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, prior to the date of each annual stockholders’ meeting, with respect to any such award of Restricted Stock to be made for such upcoming year, a Director may elect (1) on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine
(including through the terms of the Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors), to defer receipt of all or any portion of the Common Stock that would otherwise be received pursuant to his or her Restricted Stock award until a date that is on or
after the cessation of Board service or (2) to receive the equivalent of 1,000 of the 3,000 shares of any Restricted Stock award in cash based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of such stockholders’ meeting. Any such
deferral election shall result in the Restricted Stock not being issued to the Director and, in exchange, the Director will be credited with stock units, representing the Company’s obligation to pay deferred compensation at a later date in the
form of unrestricted Common Stock, all on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine (including through the terms of the Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors). 

  

	 	(ii)	Restricted Period. The restrictions set forth shall apply from the date of each grant until the earlier of the following: (1) the last day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading immediately prior to the annual stockholders meeting next succeeding the grant of such Restricted Stock, or (2) the Director’s death or disability (the “Restricted Period”). Until the expiration of
the Restricted Period, none of the Restricted Stock may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of, and all of the Restricted Stock shall be forfeited and all further rights of the Director to or with respect to
such Restricted Stock shall terminate without any obligation on the part of the Company unless the Director has remained a Director throughout the Restricted Period applicable to such Restricted Stock. 

  

	 	(iii)	Other Terms and Conditions. Any shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee deems appropriate, including, without
limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of stock certificates, and may be held in escrow. If certificated, each such certificate shall bear a legend giving notice of the restrictions. Each Director must also endorse in blank and return to
the Company a stock power for each grant of Restricted Stock. During the Restricted Period, each Director shall have all the rights and privileges of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Stock, including the right to vote the shares and to
receive dividends thereon. At the expiration of the Restricted Period, a stock certificate free of all restrictions for the number of shares of Restricted Stock so registered shall be delivered to the Director or his or her estate.

  

	 	(c)	Stock Award. 

  

	 	(i)	 Awards. At the close of business on the date of each annual stockholders’ meeting occurring after July 26, 2002, in lieu of the award of Restricted
Stock described in Section 4(b) above, each Director elected or re-elected to the Board at such stockholders’ meeting shall be granted an award equal to that number of shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of grant
equal to $100,000, rounded to the nearest whole share (the “Stock Award”). Each Director who, after July 26, 2002, is appointed as a Director of the Company at any time other than at an annual stockholders’ meeting shall be
granted on the date of such appointment a prorated Stock Award equal to that number of shares of Common Stock, rounded to the nearest whole share, having a Fair Market Value on the date of grant equal to $100,000 multiplied by a fraction, the
numerator of which is 365 minus the number of days in the period from the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting immediately preceding such appointment to the date of 

  

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such appointment and the denominator of which is 365. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the date of each annual stockholders’ meeting or the date
of any such appointment, as the case may be, a Director may elect with respect to each such Stock Award to be granted on such date (1) on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine (including through the terms of the
Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors), to defer receipt of all or any portion of the Common Stock that would otherwise be received pursuant to his or her Stock Award until a date that is on or after the cessation of Board service or
(2) to receive 25% or 50% of the Stock Award in cash. Any such deferral election shall result in such shares of Common Stock not being issued to the Director and, in exchange, the Director will be credited with stock units, representing the
Company’s obligation to pay deferred compensation at a later date in the form of unrestricted Common Stock, all on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine (including through the terms of the Compensation Plan for Non-Employee
Directors). 

  

	 	(ii)	Non-transferability. From the date of grant to the first anniversary of the date of grant of any Stock Award (the “Non-transferability Period”), none of the shares
of Common Stock subject to the Stock Award may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of by a Director other than by (1) the Director’s last will and testament, or (2) the applicable laws of
descent and distribution. During the Non-transferability Period, any certificate representing shares of Common Stock that are subject to a Stock Award shall bear a legend giving notice of the restrictions described in this Section 4(c)(ii).
During the Non-transferability Period, each Director shall have all the rights and privileges of a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Award, including the right to vote such shares and to receive dividends
thereon. 

  

	 	(d)	“SRO’s”. 

 In addition to the awards
described in Sections 4(a), (b) and (c) above, the Board of Directors also shall grant salary replacement options (“SRO’s”) to one or more of the Directors pursuant to the annual decision of each Director in lieu of all or
part of an annual retainer or for directors fees for attendance at Board or Committee meetings or other compensation for services as a Director. Such grants shall be made on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Company for compensation accrued
during such quarter and be valued by the same formula as used by the Compensation Committee for awards of SRO’s to employees of the Company. SRO’s shall be treated as Options under this Plan for all other purposes. 
  

	 	(e)	Change of Control. 

 The Options granted hereunder
shall become exercisable and the restrictions on Restricted Stock and Stock Awards shall lapse upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control.” Each of the following shall constitute a “Change of Control”: 
  

	 	(i)	if any person (including a group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act) becomes, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the shares of the
Company entitled to vote for the election of directors; 

  

	 	(ii)	as a result of or in connection with any cash tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or combination of the
foregoing, the persons who were Directors of the Company just prior to such event cease to constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors; or 

  

	 	(iii)	the stockholders of the Company approve an agreement providing for a transaction in which the Company will cease to be an independent publicly-owned corporation or a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company occurs. 

  

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 5. Adjustments. In the event of a stock dividend or stock split, or combination or other reduction
in the number of issued shares of Common Stock, a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, sale or exchange of substantially all assets or dissolution of the Company, or whenever the Committee determines such adjustments are
appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan, then appropriate adjustments shall be made in the shares and number of shares of Common Stock subject to and
authorized by this Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Options, Restricted Stock and Stock Awards previously granted hereunder and the exercise price of Options previously granted hereunder, in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the rights of the Directors under the Plan. 
 6. Amendment of the Plan. The Board of Directors may suspend or
terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, and the Board of Directors may amend the Plan from time to time as may be deemed to be in the best interests of the Company; provided, however, that no such amendment, alteration or
discontinuation shall be made (a) that would impair the rights of a Director with respect to Options, Restricted Stock or Stock Awards theretofore awarded, without such person’s consent, or (b) without the approval of the
stockholders, (i) if such approval is necessary to comply with any legal, tax or statutory requirement, including any approval requirement which is a prerequisite for exemptive relief from Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the “1934 Act”) or (ii) would materially change the definition of persons eligible to receive awards under this Plan, or (c) unless such amendment is necessary to comply with changes in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or rules promulgated thereunder. 
 7. Miscellaneous
Provisions. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Director any right to be nominated for re-election to the Board. The Plan shall be governed by the laws of the state of Florida. 
 8. Effective Date and Duration of Plan. The Plan shall be deemed effective as of the effective date of the distribution of Common Stock to the
holders of General Mills, Inc. Common Stock. No awards shall be made hereunder after September 30, 2005. 
 9. Section 16.
With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, transactions under the Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act. To the extent any provision of the Plan or
action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee. 
 As
amended and restated July 26, 2002 
 As further amended March 19, 2003, effective as of July 26, 2002 
 As amended June 19, 2003 
 As amended December 18, 2008 

 

 5Darden Restaurants, Inc. Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors as amended

 Exhibit 10(d) 
 DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. 
 COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS 
 PART I 
 GENERAL PROVISIONS 

 

	A.	OBJECTIVE AND SUMMARY OF THE PLAN 

 It is the intent
of the Company to provide a compensation program for its non-employee directors which will attract and retain highly qualified individuals to serve in this capacity. This program shall be called the “Darden Restaurants, Inc. Compensation Plan
for Non-Employee Directors” (hereinafter the “Plan”). “Compensation” shall mean the annual retainer and meeting fees for each regular or special Board of Directors meeting and any committee meeting attended. Such
Compensation may be received in any combination of the following: 
  

	 	1.	Cash 

  

	 	2.	Deferred Cash 

  

	 	3.	Darden Restaurants, Inc. Common Stock (“Common Stock”) 

 The combination of alternatives for each non-employee director shall equal the aggregate Compensation earned by each non-employee director. Such Compensation shall be distributed as outlined in Parts II, III, and IV hereof. By way of
clarification, with respect to any deferrals of Compensation, the terms of this Plan in effect on October 3, 2004 shall apply with respect to amounts that were earned and vested as of December 31, 2004. Any deferrals of Compensation
with respect to amounts earned or vested on or after January 1, 2005 shall be governed by the terms of the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Director Compensation Program, effective as of October 1, 2005 as amended from time to time. 
  

	B.	ADMINISTRATION 

 The Plan shall be administered by
the Compensation Committee (hereinafter the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors. The Committee shall have full authority and complete discretion to interpret the Plan, to promulgate such rules and regulations with respect to the Plan as
it deems desirable and to make all other determinations necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan. 
  

	C.	AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN 

 The aggregate number of
shares of Company Common Stock authorized to be issued under Parts III and IV hereof is 75,000, provided that all of such shares shall be issued from shares of Common Stock held in the Company’s treasury. In addition, all shares of Common Stock
authorized, but unissued under the predecessor Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective May 28, 1995, as amended, shall be available and authorized for issuance under Part III or IV of this Plan. 
  

	D.	EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF THE PLAN 

 The Plan
shall be deemed effective October 1, 2000. No awards shall be made hereunder after September 30, 2005. 
  

	E.	AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN 

 The Board of Directors may
suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, and the Board of Directors may amend the Plan from time to time as may be deemed to be in the best interests of the Company; 

 
provided, however, that no such amendment, suspension or termination shall be made (a) which would impair the rights of a non-employee director with
respect to Compensation theretofore earned, without such person’s consent, or (b) without the approval of the stockholders, which would materially increase the maximum number of shares subject to this Plan, materially increase the maximum
number of shares issuable to any non-employee director under this Plan, or materially change the definition of persons eligible to receive awards under this Plan, or (c) if the Plan has been amended within the preceding six months, unless such
amendment is necessary to comply with changes in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or rules promulgated thereunder. 
  

	F.	CHANGE OF CONTROL 

 After a “Change in
Control,” no amendments, suspension to or action to terminate the Plan may be made which would affect Compensation earned prior to such amendments, suspensions or termination without the written consent of a majority of participants determined
as of the day before a “Change in Control.” Any decision or interpretation adopted by the Committee shall be final and conclusive. A “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events: 
  

	 	1.	if any person (including a group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of twenty percent
(20%) or more of the shares of the Company entitled to vote for the election of directors; 

  

	 	2.	as a result of or in connection with any cash tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or combination of the
foregoing, the persons who were directors of the Company just prior to such event shall cease to constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors; or 

  

	 	3.	the stockholders of the Company approve an agreement providing for a transaction in which the Company will cease to be an independent publicly-owned corporation or a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company occurs. 

  

	G.	PARTICIPATION 

  

	 	1.	Each non-employee director of Darden Restaurants, Inc., may elect by written notice to the Company on or before each annual stockholder meeting, to participate in the Compensation
alternative provisions of the Plan. Any combination of the alternatives—Cash, Deferred Cash and/or Company Common Stock—may be elected, provided the aggregate of the alternatives elected equals one hundred percent of the non-employee
director’s Compensation. 

  

	 	2.	The election shall remain in effect for a one-year period which shall begin the day of the annual stockholders meeting in September and terminate the day before the succeeding
annual stockholders meeting (hereinafter “Plan Year”). The first election hereunder shall be the election made on or before the September 2000 annual stockholders meeting, and such election shall remain effective until the annual
stockholders meeting to be held in September 2001. If a non-employee director fails to submit an election prior to the commencement of a new Plan Year, the election from the prior year shall remain in effect. 

  

	 	3.	The Plan Year shall include four Plan Quarters. Plan Quarters shall correspond to the Company’s fiscal quarters. 

  

	 	4.	A director elected to the Board after the September Board meeting may elect, by written notice to the Company before such director’s term begins, to participate in the
Compensation alternatives for the remainder of that Plan Year, and elections for succeeding years shall be on the same basis as other directors. 

  

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	 	5.	As soon as possible after the end of each Plan Year, the Company shall supply to each participant an account statement of participation under the Plan. 

  

	 	6.	Unless otherwise notified, all notices under this Plan shall be sent in writing to the Company, attention the Supervisor, Management Stock Plans, 5900 Lake Ellenor Dr., Orlando, FL
32809. All correspondence to the participants shall be sent to the address which is their recorded address as listed on the election forms. 

 PART II 
 CASH COMPENSATION PROVISIONS 
  

	A.	Each non-employee director who elects to participate under the Cash Compensation Provision of the Plan shall be paid all or the specified percentage of his or her Compensation for
the Plan Year in cash, and such cash payment shall be made as of the end of each Plan Quarter. 

  

	B.	If a participant dies prior to payment in full of all amounts due under the Plan, the balance of the amount due shall be payable in full to such participant’s designated
beneficiary, or, if none, the estate as soon as possible following death. 

 PART III 
 DEFERRED CASH COMPENSATION PROVISION 
  

	A.	Each non-employee director may elect to have all or a specified percentage of his or her Compensation for the Plan Year deferred until the participant ceases to be a director.

  

	B.	For each director who has made this Deferred Cash election, the Company shall establish a deferred compensation account and shall credit such account quarterly for the Compensation
due. Each account shall be credited daily at the rate or rates of return of funds or portfolios established under a qualified benefit plan maintained by the Company which the Committee or the Minor Amendment Committee of the Committee (the
“Minor Amendment Committee”), or its delegate, in its discretion, may from time to time establish. With respect to allocations made to the Company Common Stock fund, stock units shall be credited as of the last business day of the fiscal
quarter, based on the mean of the high and low sale prices of Company Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as reported in the consolidated transaction reporting system. On each payment date for cash dividends paid on the Company’s Common
Stock, the Company shall credit to each participant’s account a dividend equivalent amount equal to the cash dividends that would be payable by the Company on a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of stock units then credited
to the participant’s account. Such dividend equivalent amounts shall then be credited in the form of additional stock units, based on the mean of the high and low sale prices of Company Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as reported in
the consolidated transaction reporting system on the date of the dividend payment date. Participants will have no rights as shareholders with respect to stock units credited to their accounts. Payment of amounts allocated to stock units shall be in
the form of Company Common Stock and not in cash. Only a whole number of shares shall be issued, with any fractional share amount paid in cash. 

  

	C.	Distribution of the participant’s deferred compensation account shall be as follows: 

  

	 	1.	at the time, and in the form of payment, elected by the participant at the time of deferral, provided that payments will not commence until the participant ceases to be a director;
or 

  

	 	2.	in the absence of an election at the time of deferral, in ten substantially equal annual installments beginning on January 1 of each year following the year in which the
participant ceases to be a director; or 

  

	 	3.	 as to any future or previous deferral, a participant may request to amend his or her distribution date and, if the participant elects, his or her form of payment,
with respect to the deferral, provided: (i) the initial 

  

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distribution date in the absence of such distribution election amendment is not within twelve (12) months of the date of the amendment; (ii) his or
her amended distribution date is at least one year after the distribution date in the absence of such distribution election amendment; (iii) his or her amended form of payment is in substantially equal annual installments for a period not to
exceed ten (10) years, or a lump sum; and (iv) no modifications for distribution dates and/or forms of payment are permitted with respect to any deferrals after payment of such deferrals has commenced. No more than two amendments to the
participant’s initial distribution election with respect to a particular deferral shall be permitted. Any such amendment must be in writing and submitted to the Committee for approval; or 

  

	 	4.	a participant may, at any time prior or subsequent to the distribution date selected by the participant, request in writing to the Committee to have his or her form of payment with
respect to a deferral changed to an immediate lump-sum distribution, provided, however, that the amount of any such lump-sum distribution shall be reduced by an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the balance of the participant’s account
attributable to that deferral. Any such lump sum distribution shall be paid within one (1) business day of approval by the Committee of such request. 

 Each installment or lump sum payment shall include the rate of return on the outstanding account balance to the date on which the distribution occurs. 
  

	D.	At any time prior to the time an amount is otherwise payable hereunder, a participant may request a distribution of deferred amounts on account of the participant’s financial
hardship, subject to the following requirements: 

  

	 	1.	Such distribution shall be made, in the sole discretion of the Committee, if the participant has incurred an unforeseeable emergency. 

  

	 	2.	For purposes of this Plan, an “unforeseeable emergency” shall mean an unanticipated emergency that is caused by an event beyond the control of the participant and that
would result in severe financial hardship to the participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the participant or a participant’s dependent (as defined in Code section 152(a)), loss of the participant’s property
due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the participant’s control. The circumstances that will constitute an unforeseeable emergency will depend upon the facts of each
case and be based on the information supplied by the participant, in writing, on the form provided by the Committee. 

  

	 	3.	Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment under this Subpart D may not be made to the extent that such hardship is or may be relieved: 

  

	 	(a)	through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise; 

  

	 	(b)	by liquidation of the participant’s assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship; or 

  

	 	(c)	by cessation of deferrals under the Plan. 

 In addition to
the foregoing, distributions under this Subpart D shall not be allowed for purposes of sending a child to college or the participant’s desire to purchase a home or other residence. In all events, distributions made on account of an
unforeseeable emergency are limited to the extent reasonably needed to satisfy the emergency need. 
  

	 	4.	All distributions under this Subpart D shall be made as soon as practicable after the Committee has approved the distribution and the requirements of this paragraph are met.

  

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	E.	If a participant dies prior to payment in full of all amounts due under the Plan, the balance of the amount due shall be payable in full to the participant’s designated
beneficiary, or, if none, the estate as soon as possible following death. 

  

	F.	Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee, by majority approval, may, in its sole discretion, direct that payments be made before such payments
are otherwise due if, for any reason (including, but not limited to, a change in the tax or revenue laws of the United States of America, a published ruling or similar announcement issued by the Internal Revenue Service, a regulation issued by the
Secretary of the Treasury or his or her delegate, or a decision by a court of competent jurisdiction involving a participant or beneficiary), it believes that a participant or beneficiary has recognized or will recognize income for federal income
tax purposes with respect to amounts that are or will be payable to him under the Plan before they are paid to him. In making this determination, the Committee shall take into account the hardship that would be imposed on the participant or
beneficiary by the payment of federal income taxes under such circumstances. 

 PART IV 
 DRI COMMON STOCK PROVISIONS 
  

	A.	Each participant may elect to receive all or a specified percentage of his or her Compensation in shares of Darden Restaurants, Inc. Common Stock, which will be issued at the end of
each Plan Quarter. 

  

	B.	The Company shall ensure that an adequate number of Darden Restaurants, Inc. shares of Common Stock are available for distribution to those participants making this election.

  

	C.	Only whole number of shares will be issued, with any fractional share amounts paid in cash. 

  

	D.	For purposes of computing the number of shares earned each Plan Quarter, the value of each share shall be equal to the mean of the high and low prices of shares of Darden
Restaurants, Inc. Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the last Business Day of each Plan Quarter. For the purposes of this Plan, “Business Day” shall mean a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.

  

	E.	If a participant dies prior to payment in full of all amounts due under the Plan, the balance of the amount due shall be payable in full to the participant’s designated
beneficiary, or, if none, to the participant’s estate, in cash, as soon as possible following death. 

 PART V 

DEFERRAL OF STOCK AWARDS 
  

	A.	PURPOSE AND EFFECT 

 This Part V authorizes the
deferred receipt of Common Stock that would otherwise be received due to a Stock Award, notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan to the contrary. The Stock Awards that may be subject to deferral elections authorized by this Part V are limited
to those made under the following stock plans of the Company (collectively, the “Stock Plans”): 
  

	 	(a)	Darden Restaurants, Inc. Stock Plan for Directors; 

  

	 	(b)	Darden Restaurants, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan; and 

  

	 	(c)	any future stock plan, agreement or arrangement of the Company that explicitly provides for such deferral elections. 

  

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 In accordance with the rules set forth in this Part V, eligible Participants may elect to defer receipt
of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued under a Stock Award in exchange for the Company’s agreement to pay deferred compensation in the form of unrestricted shares of Common Stock (“Stock Deferral”). Grants of Stock
Awards are governed by the Stock Plans, as they may be amended from time to time. No shares of Common Stock are authorized to be issued under this Plan (other than pursuant to Part III or IV of the Plan). Participants who elect to make a deferral in
accordance with this Part V will have no rights as shareholders of the Company with respect to Stock Units credited to their Deferred Stock Unit Accounts. 
  

	B.	DEFINITIONS 

 For purposes of this Part V, the terms
defined elsewhere in the Plan shall have the same meanings when used in this Part V unless a different meaning is given in this Part V. In addition, the terms listed below shall have the following meanings: 
  

	 	(a)	Common Stock shall mean the common stock, without par value, of Darden Restaurants, Inc. 

  

	 	(b)	Compensation Committee shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. 

  

	 	(c)	Deferred Stock Unit Account shall mean the account established for each Participant in accordance with Subpart E of this Part V. 

  

	 	(d)	Net Shares shall mean, with respect to any Stock Deferral, the number of shares of Common Stock that are subject to the deferral election that would have been issued pursuant
to a Stock Award, less any shares that are used to satisfy any taxes due at the time Stock Units are credited due to the Stock Deferral. 

  

	 	(e)	Participant shall mean a person who is eligible under Subpart C of this Part V to make a Stock Deferral as described in Subpart D of this Part V. A person who has become a
Participant shall be considered to continue as a “participant” within the meaning of the Plan (even if such person subsequently becomes ineligible to make deferrals under this Part V) until the date of the Participant’s death or, if
earlier, the date when the Participant no longer satisfies the eligibility requirements in Subpart C of this Part V and the Participant has received a distribution of all of the Participant’s Deferred Stock Unit Account.

  

	 	(f)	Stock Award shall mean any award of Common Stock pursuant to one or more of the Company’s Stock Plans. 

  

	 	(g)	Stock Unit shall mean one of the units credited to Participants’ Deferred Stock Unit Accounts based on the number of Net Shares. 

  

	C.	ELIGIBILITY  

 A person shall be eligible to make
deferrals pursuant to this Part V if he or she is a non-employee director of the Company. A person who ceases to be a non-employee director of the Company shall not be eligible to make deferrals pursuant to this Part V. 
  

	D.	STOCK DEFERRAL 

 Prior to the date on which a
Participant would be granted a Stock Award, a Participant may complete and submit to the Company an irrevocable election not to receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to that award, and to be credited instead with a number of Stock Units equal to
the number of Net Shares resulting from the deferral election. Such deferral election shall specify the following: 
  

	 	(a)	the anticipated Stock Award; and 

  

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	 	(b)	the distribution date and form of distribution, in accordance with the rules for payment under Part III of the Plan, as modified by Subpart F below. 

 Any deferral election made pursuant to this Subpart D shall apply to all of the shares of Common Stock attributable to the specified Stock Award (after
reduction for any portion of the Stock Award that the Participant has elected to receive in the form of an immediate cash payment). 
  

	E.	DEFERRED STOCK ACCOUNTS 

 A Deferred Stock Unit
Account shall be established on behalf of each Participant for Net Shares deferred under Subpart D of this Part V. The provisions of this Subpart E shall be subject to the following rules: 
  

	 	(a)	For each Net Share deferred, a Stock Unit shall be credited to the Participant’s Deferred Stock Unit Account effective as of the date of the Stock Award.

  

	 	(b)	On each payment date for cash dividends paid on the Company’s Common Stock, the Company shall pay to each Participant a dividend equivalent amount equal to the cash dividends
that would be payable by the Company on a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Stock Units then credited to the Participant’s Deferred Stock Unit Account. Such dividend equivalent amounts shall be paid directly to
Participants in cash and shall not be eligible for deferral under this Plan. 

  

	 	(c)	In the event that the Compensation Committee determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, securities of a subsidiary of the
Company, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company,
issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment to the Participants’ allocations to their
Deferred Stock Unit Accounts is appropriate to prevent the reduction or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Compensation Committee, may, in its sole discretion and in such manner
as it may deem equitable, adjust the Stock Units credited to the Participants’ Deferred Stock Unit Accounts. 

  

	F.	PAYMENT OF DEFERRED AMOUNTS 

 The rules regarding
payment of amounts under Subparts C through F of Part III of the Plan shall apply to Deferred Stock Unit Accounts, except that: 
  

	 	(a)	payment of Deferred Stock Unit Accounts shall be made only in the form of shares of Common Stock and not in cash; 

  

	 	(b)	payment with respect to Stock Units that are attributable to a Stock Deferral shall not occur prior to the time when any transfer restrictions that would have applied to the
relevant Stock Award would have ended; 

  

	 	(c)	unless the Participant elects otherwise prior to the commencement of payment, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, withhold from the shares of Common Stock to be
transferred to the Participant the number of shares sufficient to satisfy any tax withholding required at the time of payment; and 

  

	 	(d)	accelerated distributions described in Section 4 of Subpart C in Part III of the Plan shall not be permitted. 

  

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	G.	FORMS AND PROCEDURE 

 Deferral elections made pursuant to this Part
V must be made in writing on forms approved by the Compensation Committee, and shall be subject to such other procedural rules as the Compensation Committee may establish. 
  

	H.	EFFECT ON STOCK AWARDS 

 Deferral elections made pursuant to this
Part V shall constitute amendments to the Stock Awards to which the deferral elections apply. Any shares of Common Stock paid pursuant to this Part V on account of a Participant’s deferral election shall be deemed issued under the Stock Plan
under which the corresponding Stock Award was granted. 
 As amended and restated July 26, 2002 
 As further amended March 19, 2003, effective as of July 26, 2002 
 As further amended December 18, 2008 
  

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