Document:

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

GENERAL MILLS, INC.

1996 COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. PURPOSE

     The purpose of the General Mills, Inc. 1996 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the
“Plan”) is to provide a compensation program which will attract and retain qualified individuals
not employed by General Mills, Inc. or its subsidiaries (the “Company”) to serve on the Board of
Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and to further align the interests of non-employee directors
with those of the stockholders by providing that a portion of compensation will be linked directly
to increases in stockholder value.

B. EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION OF PLAN AND TRANSITION RIGHTS

     This Plan shall become effective as of September 30, 1996, subject to the approval of the Plan
by the stockholders. The Plan will terminate on September 30, 2001 or such earlier date as
determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”); provided that
no such termination shall affect rights earned or accrued under the Plan prior to the date of
termination.

     This Plan supersedes and replaces the General Mills, Inc. Compensation Plan for Non-Employee
Directors, effective as of January 1, 1979 (the “1979 Plan”), the General Mills, Inc. Retirement
Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective as of April 28, 1986 (the “1986 Plan”) and the General
Mills Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective as of September 17, 1990 (the “1990 Plan”).
Participant rights accrued as of September 30, 1996 under the 1979 Plan and the 1990 Plan shall
remain in effect but no new rights or benefits shall accrue pursuant to such plans. The 1986 Plan
was terminated in February 1996. Participants who have accrued rights under the 1986 Plan shall
receive a one time grant of Stock Units (“Stock Units”) representing the right to receive shares of
General Mills, Inc. Common Stock ($.10 per value) (“Common Stock”) equal to the value as of
September 30, 1996 of the participant’s accrued benefit under the 1986 Plan. The value of each
Stock Unit shall be deemed equal to the mean of the high and low price of shares of Common Stock on
the New York Exchange on September 30, 1996. Common Stock issued in respect of Stock Units granted
in lieu of accrued benefits under the 1986 Plan shall be distributed commencing on the director’s
retirement from the Board, on the date or dates elected by the director at least one year prior to
the date of his or her retirement from the Board. In the absence of such an election, such Common
Stock shall be issued in ten substantially equal annual installments on the January 1 of each year
following the year in which the participant ceases to be a director. Each participant awarded
Stock Units shall receive, upon distribution, one share of Common Stock for each Stock Unit
awarded, and the

 

 

Company shall issue to and register in the name of each such participant a certificate for that
number of shares of Common Stock. Participants receiving Stock Units pursuant to this Part I,
Section B. shall have the same rights, protections and limitations as those provided participants
receiving Stock Units pursuant to Part III, Section B.3. and Section C.1. hereof.

     Awards made under this Plan which were earned and vested (within the meaning of Internal
Revenue Code section 409A) before January 1, 2005 are intended to be grandfathered from section
409A and remain governed by federal tax law applicable to deferred compensation as it existed in
effect prior to Section 409A. Accordingly, changes to the Plan after October 3, 2004 shall not
modify the rights of Participants with respect to deferred amounts that were earned and vested on
or before December 31, 2004. It is further intended that no “material modification” be made to the
Plan, as that term is used in Treasury Regulations governing section 409A, whether by this
amendment and restatement or otherwise.

C. PARTICIPATION

     Each member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company at the date compensation is
earned or accrued shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

D. COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

     Common Stock to be issued under this Plan may be made available from the authorized but
unissued Common Stock, shares of Common Stock held in the treasury, or Common Stock purchased on
the open market or otherwise. Subject to the provisions of the next succeeding paragraph, the
maximum aggregate number of shares authorized to be issued under the Plan shall be 250,000.

     If a corporate transaction has occurred affecting the Common Stock such that an adjustment to
outstanding awards is required to preserve (or prevent enlargement of) the benefits or potential
benefits intended at the time of grant, then in such manner as the Committee deems equitable, an
appropriate adjustment shall be made to (i) the number and kind of shares which may be awarded
under the Plan; (ii) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards; (iii) the number
of shares credited to an account; and, if applicable, (iv) the exercise price of outstanding
Options; provided that the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Option denominated in
Common Stock shall always be a whole number. For this purpose a corporate transaction includes, but
is not limited to, 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 transactions. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, an
adjustment to an Option under this paragraph shall be made in a manner that will not result in a
new grant of an Option under Code Section 409A.

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PART II

ANNUAL RETAINER AND MEETING FEES

A. COMPENSATION STRUCTURE

	 	1.	 	Each non-employee director shall be entitled to receive an annual retainer and
meeting fees as shall be determined from time to time by the Board.
	 
	 	2.	 	Each non-employee director of the Company may elect by written notice to the
Company on or before each annual stockholders’ meeting to participate in the
compensation alternative provisions of the Plan. Any combination of the alternatives
 — Cash, Deferred Cash and/or Common Stock — may be elected, provided the aggregate of
the alternatives elected equals one hundred percent of the non-employee director’s
compensation at the time of the election.
	 
	 	3.	 	The election shall remain in effect for a one-year period which shall begin the
day of the annual stockholders’ meeting and terminate the day before the succeeding
annual stockholders’ meeting (hereinafter “Plan Year”).
	 
	 	4.	 	The Plan Year shall include four plan quarters (hereinafter “Plan Quarters”).
Plan Quarters shall correspond to the Company’s fiscal quarters.
	 
	 	5.	 	A director elected to the Board at a time other than the annual stockholders’
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.
	 
	 	6.	 	Periodically, the Company shall supply to each participant an account statement
of participation under the Plan.

B. CASH ALTERNATIVE

	 	1.	 	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.
	 
	 	2.	 	If a participant dies during a Plan Year, the balance of the amount due to the
date of the participant’s death shall be payable in full to such participant’s
designated beneficiary, or, if none, the estate as soon as practicable following the
date of death.

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C. DEFERRED CASH ALTERNATIVE

	 	1.	 	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.
	 
	 	2.	 	For each director who has made this deferred cash election, the Company shall
establish a deferred compensation account and shall credit such account at the end of
each plan quarter for the compensation due. Interest shall be credited to each such
account monthly based on the following rates as specified by the Committee from time to
time:

	 	a.	 	the rate of return as from time to time earned by the Fixed Income
Fund of the General Mills 401(k) Savings Plan; or
	 
	 	b.	 	the rate of return as from time to time earned by the Equity Fund
of the General Mills 401(k) Savings Plan; or
	 
	 	c.	 	any other rates of return of other funds or portfolios established
under a qualified benefit plan maintained by the Company which the Minor
Amendment Committee, or its delegate, in its discretion, may from time to time
establish.

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

	 	a.	 	at the time, and in the form of payment, elected by the participant
at the time of deferral; or
	 
	 	b.	 	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; provided,
however, that for compensation earned in Plan Years commencing after December 9,
1996, distributions must be made or commenced by the later of (i) the date the
participant attains age 70 and (ii) five years after the director’s retirement
from the Board.

	 	4.	 	In the event of the termination of a participant from Board service other than
by retirement, the Committee may in its sole discretion require that distribution of
all amounts allocated to a participant’s deferred compensation account be accelerated
and distributed as of the first business day of the calendar year next following
termination.
	 
	 	5.	 	The Company has established a Supplemental Benefits Trust with Wells Fargo Bank
Minnesota, N.A. as Trustee to hold assets of the Company under certain circumstances as
a reserve for the discharge of the Company’s obligations as to deferred cash
compensation under the Plan

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	 	 	 	and certain other plans of deferred compensation of the Company. In the event of a
Change in Control as defined in Part IV hereinbelow, the Company shall be obligated to
immediately contribute such amounts to the Trust as may be necessary to fully fund all
cash benefits payable under the Plan. Any participant of the Plan shall have the
right to demand and secure specific performance of this provision. All assets held in
the trust remain subject only to the claims of the Company’s general creditors whose
claims against the Company are not satisfied because of the Company’s bankruptcy or
insolvency (as those terms are defined in the Trust Agreement). No participant has
any preferred claim on, or beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Trust
before the assets are paid to the participant and all rights created under the Trust,
as under the Plan, are unsecured contractual claims of the participant against the
Company.

D. GMI COMMON STOCK ALTERNATIVE

	 	1.	 	Each participant may elect to receive all or a specified percentage of his or
her compensation in shares of Common Stock, which will be issued at the end of each
Plan Quarter.
	 
	 	2.	 	The Company shall ensure that an adequate number of shares of Common Stock are
available for distribution to those participants making this election.
	 
	 	3.	 	Only whole numbers of shares will be issued, with any fractional share amounts
paid in cash.
	 
	 	4.	 	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 price of shares of
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the third Business Day preceding the
last 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.
	 
	 	5.	 	If a participant dies during a Plan Year, the balance of the amount due to the
date of the participant’s death shall be payable in full to the participant’s
designated beneficiary, or, if none, to the participant’s estate, in cash, as soon as
practicable following the date of death.

PART III

STOCK COMPENSATION

A. NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

	 	1.	 	Grant of Options. Each non-employee director on the effective date of
the Plan (or, if first elected after the effective date of the Plan, on the date the
non-employee director is first elected) shall be awarded an option (an

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	 	 	 	“Option”) to purchase 2,500 shares of Common Stock. As of the close of business on
each successive annual stockholders’ meeting date after the date of the original
award, each non-employee director re-elected to the Board shall be granted an
additional Option to purchase 2,500 shares of Common Stock (or, beginning September
27, 1999, an Option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock). All Options granted
under the Plan shall be non-statutory options not entitled to special tax treatment
under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

	 	2.	 	Option Exercise Price. The per share price to be paid by the
non-employee 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 closing price for the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the relevant
date.
	 
	 	3.	 	Term of Option. Each Option shall expire ten (10) years from the date
of grant.
	 
	 	4.	 	Exercise and Vesting of Option. Each Option will vest on the date of
the annual stockholders’ meeting next following the date the Option is granted. If,
for any reason, a non-employee director ceases to serve on the Board prior to the date
an Option vests, such Option shall be forfeited and all further rights of the
non-employee director to or with respect to such Option shall terminate. If a
participant should die while employed by the Company, any vested Option may be
exercised by the person designated in such participant’s last will and testament or, in
the absence of such designation, by the participant’s estate and any unvested Options
shall vest and become exercisable in a proportionate amount, based on the full months
of service completed during the vesting period of the Option from the date of grant to
the date of death.
	 
	 	5.	 	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.
	 
	 	6.	 	Non-transferability. Except as provided by rule adopted by the
Committee, an Option shall be non-assignable and non-transferable by a non-employee
director other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. A non-employee
director shall forfeit any Option assigned or transferred, voluntarily or
involuntarily, other than as permitted under this subsection.

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B. DEFERRAL OF STOCK OPTION GAINS

     Subject to the limitations below, Participants may defer receipt of the net shares of Common
Stock to be issued upon the stock-for-stock exercise of an Option issued hereunder, as well as
dividend equivalents on the net shares.

	 	1.	 	Option Gain Deferral Election. A participant can elect to defer receipt
of Net Shares (defined below) of Common Stock resulting from a stock-for-stock exercise
of an exercisable Option issued to the participant by completing and submitting to the
Company an irrevocable stock option deferral election at least six months in advance of
exercising the Option (which exercise must be done on or prior to the expiration of the
Option) and, on or prior to the exercise date, delivering personally-owned shares equal
in value to the Option exercise price on the date of the exercise. “Net Shares” means
the difference between the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option
exercise and the number of shares of Common Stock delivered to satisfy the Option
exercise price. A participant may not revoke an Option gain deferral election after it
is received by the Company. A participant may choose to defer receipt of all or only a
portion of the Net Shares to be received upon exercise of an Option. If only a portion
of the Net Shares is deferred, the balance will be issued at the time of exercise.
	 
	 	2.	 	Distribution of Deferred Common Stock. At the time of a participant’s
election to defer receipt of Common Stock issuable upon an Option exercise or upon the
election to receive Stock Units as provided in Part III, Section C.1. a participant
must also select a distribution date and a form of distribution. The distribution date
may be any date that is at least one year subsequent to either the exercise date for
the related Option or the date of grant in the case of Stock Units granted under Part
III, Section C.1. but the distribution must be made or commenced by the later of (i)
the date the participant attains age 70 and (ii) five year after the date of the
director’s retirement from the Board.
	 
	 	 	 	A participant may elect to have deferred Common Stock distributed in a single payment
or in substantially equal annual installments for a period not to exceed ten (10)
years, or in another form requested by the Participant, in writing, and approved by
the Committee. In the absence of an election, Common Stock issued in respect of Stock
Units shall be distributed 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. Common Stock issuable under a single Option grant or pursuant to a single
grant under Part III, Section C.1. shall have the same distribution date and form of
distribution. Notwithstanding the above, the following provisions shall apply:

	 	a.	 	If an Option as to which a participant has made an Option gain
deferral election terminates prior to the exercise date selected by the

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	 	 	 	participant, or if the participant dies or fails to deliver personally-owned
shares in payment of the exercise price, then the deferral election shall not
become effective.
	 
	 	b.	 	In the event of the termination of a participant from Board service
other than by retirement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, require that
distribution of all Stock Units allocated to a participant’s Deferred Stock Unit
Accounts (as defined in Part III, Section B.3.a. below) be accelerated and
distributed as of the first business day of the calendar year next following the
date of termination.
	 
	 	c.	 	At the time elected by the participant for distribution of Common
Stock attributable to allocations under the participant’s Deferred Stock Unit
Accounts, the Company shall cause to be issued to the Participant, within three
(3) days of the date of distribution, shares of Common Stock equal to the number
of Stock Units credited to the Deferred Stock Unit Account and cash equal to any
dividend equivalent amounts which had not been used to “purchase” additional
Stock Units as provided below. Prior to distribution and pursuant to any rules
the Committee may adopt, a Participant may authorize the Company to withhold a
portion of the shares of Common Stock to be distributed for the payment of all
federal, state, local and foreign withholding taxes required to be collected in
respect of the distribution.

     3. Deferred Stock Unit Accounts and Dividend Equivalents.

	 	a.	 	A deferred stock unit account (“Deferred Stock Unit Account”) will
be established for each Option grant covered by a participant election to defer
the receipt of Common Stock under Part III, Section B.1. above and, for each Net
Share deferred, a Stock Unit will be credited to the Deferred Stock Unit Account
as of the date of the Option exercise. A Deferred Stock Unit Account will also
be established each time a participant elects to receive Stock Units pursuant to
Part III, Section C.1. hereof. Participants may make an election to receive
dividend equivalents on Stock Units in cash or reinvest such amount, and any
change to such election shall become effective six months after the date of the
change. If the amounts are reinvested, on each dividend payment date for the
Company’s Common Stock, the Company will credit each Deferred Stock Unit Account
with an amount equal to the dividends paid by the Company on the number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the number of Stock Units in the Deferred Stock Unit
Account. Dividend equivalent amounts credited to each Deferred Stock Unit
Account shall be used to “purchase” additional Stock Units for the Deferred Stock
Unit Account at a price equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the
dividend date. No fractional Stock Units will be credited. The Committee may,
in its sole discretion, direct either that all dividend equivalent amounts be
paid currently or all such

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	 	 	 	amounts be reinvented if, for any reason, such Committee believes it is in the
best interest of the Company to do so. If the participant fails to make an
election, the dividend equivalent amounts shall be reinvested. Periodically,
each participant will receive a statement of the number of Stock Units in his or
her Deferred Stock Unit Account(s).

	 	b.	 	Participants who elect under the Plan to defer the receipt of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Options or elect to receive Stock
Units under Part III, Section C.1. below will have no rights as stockholders of
the Company with respect to allocations made to their Deferred Stock Unit
Account(s), except the right to receive dividend equivalent allocations under
Part III, Section B.3.a. above. Stock Units may not be sold, transferred,
assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no gains from stock option
exercises are permitted after December 31, 2004.

C. RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS

	 	1.	 	Awards. Until September 27, 1999, on the effective date of the Plan
(or, if a non-employee director is first elected after the effective date of the Plan,
on the date the non-employee director is first elected) and at the close of business on
each successive annual stockholders’ meeting date, each non-employee director may elect
to receive either (i) an award of five hundred (500) shares of Restricted Stock subject
to vesting and restricted as described in subsection 2 hereof (the “Restricted Stock”)
or (ii) an award of five hundred (500) Stock Units, subject to vesting as provided in
subsection 2. Only non-employee directors re-elected to the Board shall be entitled to
a grant under this Section III. C.1. of Restricted Stock or Stock Units awarded at the
close of business on an annual meeting date after the date of the original grant to the
non-employee director. Beginning September 27, 1999, only Stock Units and not
Restricted Stock will be awarded under the Plan.
	 
	 	2.	 	Vesting of and Restrictions on Restricted Stock and Stock Units. A
participant’s interest in the Restricted Stock and Stock Units shall vest on the date
of the annual stockholders’ meeting next following the date of the award of the
Restricted Stock or Stock Units (the “Restricted Period”). If, for any reason, a
non-employee director ceases to serve on the Board prior to the date the non-employee
director’s interest in a grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units vests, such
Restricted Stock and Stock Units shall be forfeited and all further rights of the
non-employee director to or with respect to such Restricted Stock or Stock Units shall
terminate. A participant who dies prior to the vesting of Restricted Stock or Stock
Units shall vest in a proportionate number of shares of Restricted Stock or Stock
Units, based on the full months of service completed during the vesting period of the

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	 	 	 	Restricted Stock or Stock Units from the date of grant to the date of death.
Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise
encumbered or disposed until the Restricted Period has expired and Stock Units may not
be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed until such
time as share certificates for Common Stock are issued to the participants.

	 	3.	 	Distribution of Stock Units.

	 	a.	 	Each participant electing the award of Stock Units under Part III,
Section C.1. above must select a date of distribution and form of distribution as
provided under Part III, Section B.2. The participant may also elect to have
dividend equivalents payable on Stock Units paid currently or reinvested in Stock
Units as provided under Part III, Section B.3.

	 	4.	 	Other Terms and Conditions. Any shares of Restricted Stock granted
under the Plan 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. Each participant granted Restricted Stock
shall have all rights as a stockholder with respect to such shares, including the right
to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions. The Company may
require payment of the amount of any federal, state or local withholding tax
attributable to the constructive or actual delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement.

D. GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR DEFERRED CASH, OPTION GAINS AND RSU’s

     The following provisions shall apply to the deferral of cash compensation described in Part
II, Section C hereof, the deferral of receipt of Common Stock issued upon exercise of Options
described in Part III, Section B hereof and the treatment of Stock Units granted under Part III,
Section C hereof.

	 	1.	 	A participant may, at any time prior or subsequent to the commencement of
benefit payments or distribution of Common Stock in respect of Stock Units under this
Plan, elect in writing to have his or her form of distribution under this Plan changed
to an immediate single distribution which shall be made within one (1) business day of
receipt by the Company of such request in the case of deferred cash and three (3)
business days in the case of Common Stock; provided that the cash amount or number of
shares of Common Stock subject to such single distribution shall be reduced by an
amount or number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (X) the rate for set
forth in Statistical Release H.15(519), or any successor publication, as published by
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for one-year U.S. Treasury notes
under the heading “Treasury Constant Maturities” for the first day of the calendar
month in which the

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	 	 	 	request for a single sum distribution is received by the Company and (Y) either (i) as
to a cash distribution, the total single sum distribution otherwise payable (based on
the value of the account as of the first day of the month in which the single sum
amount is paid, adjusted by a pro-rata portion of the specified rate of return for the
prior month in which the single sum is paid, determined by multiplying the actual rate
of return for such prior month by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days in the month in which the request is received prior to the date of payment, and
the denominator of which is the number of days in the month), or (ii) as to a
distribution of Common Stock in respect of Stock Units, the number of Stock Units held
on behalf of the participant multiplied by the mean of the high and low price of
shares of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of the request or,
if the date of the request is not a Business Day, on the Business Day preceding the
date of the request.

	 	2.	 	In the event of a severe financial hardship occasioned by an emergency,
including, but not limited to, illness, disability or personal injury sustained by the
participant or a member of the participant’s immediate family, a participant may apply
to receive a distribution, including a distribution of Common Stock in respect of Stock
Units, earlier than initially elected. The Committee may, in its sole discretion,
either approve or deny the request. The determination made by the Committee will be
final and binding on all parties. If the request is granted, the distributions will be
accelerated only to the extent reasonably necessary to alleviate the financial
hardship.
	 
	 	3.	 	If the death of a participant occurs before a full distribution of deferred
cash amounts or Common Stock in respect of Stock Units is made, a single distribution
shall be made to the beneficiary designated by the participant to receive such amounts.
This distribution shall be made as soon as practical following notification that death
has occurred. In the absence of any such designation, the distribution shall be made
to the personal representative, executor or administrator of the participant’s estate.
	 
	 	4.	 	As to all previous and future Plan years, and subject to the last sentence of
the first paragraph of Part III, Section B.2. hereof, a participant who (a) has elected
a distribution date and distribution in either a single distribution or substantially
equal installments and (b) is not within twelve (12) months of the date that such
deferred amount, deferred Common Stock or the first installment thereof would be
distributed under this Plan, shall be permitted to make no more than two amendments to
the initial election to defer distributions such that his or her distribution date is
either in the same calendar year as the date of the distribution which would have been
made in the absence of such election amendment(s) or is at least one year after the
date of the distribution which would have been made in the absence of such election
amendment(s). A participant satisfying the conditions set forth in the preceding
sentence may also amend such election so that his or her

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	 	 	 	form of distribution is changed to substantially equal annual installments for a
period not to exceed ten (10) years or is changed to a single distribution.
	 
	 	5.	 	Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the
Committee, by majority approval, may, in its sole discretion, direct that distributions
be made before such distributions 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 distributions that are or will be
payable to such participants 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.

E. CHANGE OF CONTROL

     Stock Options granted under the Plan will become immediately exercisable, restrictions on the
Restricted Stock will lapse and Common Stock and dividend equivalents to be issued in respect of
Stock Units will be immediately distributed upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control” as defined
in Part IV hereinbelow.

PART IV

ADMINISTRATION

     The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full power to
interpret the Plan, formulate additional details and regulations for carrying out the Plan and
amend or modify the Plan as from time to time it deems proper and in the best interests of the
Company, provided that after a “Change in Control” no amendment, modification of or action to
terminate the Plan may be made which would affect compensation earned or accrued prior to such
amendment, modification 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 of Control” means:

	 	1.	 	The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“1934 Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the 1934 Act) of voting securities of the Company where such
acquisition causes such Person to own 20% or more of the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however,
that for

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	 	 	 	purposes of this subsection (1), the following acquisitions shall not be deemed to
result in a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii)
any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or
related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by
the Company or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that
complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (3) below; and provided,
further, that if any Person’s beneficial ownership of the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities reaches or exceeds 20% as a result of a transaction described in clause (i)
or (ii) above, and such Person subsequently acquires beneficial ownership of
additional voting securities of the Company, such subsequent acquisition shall be
treated as an acquisition that causes such Person to own 20% or more of the
Outstanding Company Voting Securities; or

	 	2.	 	Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent
Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided,
however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose
election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a
vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall
be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office
occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the
election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies
or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
	 
	 	3.	 	The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger,
consolidation, sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company (“Business Combination”) or, if consummation of such Business Combination
is subject, at the time of such approval by shareholders, to the consent of any
government or governmental agency, the obtaining of such consent (either explicitly or
implicitly by consummation); excluding, however, such a Business Combination pursuant
to which (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power
of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that as a result of such
transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either
directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership, immediately prior to such Business combination of the Outstanding
Company Voting Securities, (ii) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or
related trust) of the

-13-

 

	 	 	 	Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or
the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business
Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of
the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the
Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
	 
	 	4.	 	Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.

PART V

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

A. GOVERNING LAW

     The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any such actions taken under or relating
to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable
Federal law.

B. NOTICES

     Unless otherwise notified, all notices under this Plan shall be sent in writing to the
Company, attention Corporate Compensation, P.O. Box 1113, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440. All
correspondence to the participants shall be sent to the address which is their recorded address as
listed on the election forms.

-14-EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

GENERAL MILLS, INC.

1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PLAN

	1.	 	PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
	 
	 	 	The purpose of the General Mills, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Plan (the “Plan”) is to
attract and retain able employees by rewarding employees of General Mills, Inc., its
subsidiaries and affiliates (defined as entities in which General Mills, Inc. has a
significant equity or other interest) (collectively, the “Company”) and to align the
interests of employees with those of the stockholders of the Company through
compensation that is based on the Company’s stock. Grants may be made to employees
under the Plan in lieu of salary increases and certain other compensation and benefits.
	 
	2.	 	EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN
	 
	 	 	This Plan shall become effective as of September 28, 1998. No Awards were made under
the Plan after September 22, 2003.
	 
	3.	 	ELIGIBLE PERSONS
	 
	 	 	Only persons who are employees of the Company shall be eligible to receive grants of
Stock Options, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units (each defined below) and
become “Participants” under the Plan.
	 
	4.	 	AWARD TYPE
	 
	 	 	Under this Plan, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the
“Committee”) may award Participants options (“Stock Options”) to purchase common stock
of the Company ($.10 par value) (“Common Stock”). The grant of a Stock Option entitles
the Participant to purchase a fixed number of shares of Common Stock at an “Exercise
Price” established by the Committee. The Exercise Price for each share of Common Stock
issuable under a Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of
the Common Stock on the date of grant. “Fair Market Value” shall equal the closing price
of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant. The Committee
may also grant Participants shares of Common Stock or the right to receive shares of
Common Stock subject to certain restrictions (“Restricted Stock” or “Restricted Stock
Units”) (Stock Options, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are sometimes
referred to as “Awards”).
	 
	 	 	To the extent that such requirements are applicable, this Plan is intended to comply
with the requirements of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and shall be
interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent. If any provision of the
Plan would otherwise conflict with or frustrate this intent, that provision will be
interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid the conflict. Further, for purposes of
the limitations on nonqualified

 

 

	 	 	deferred compensation under section 409A, each payment of compensation under this Plan
shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation for purposes of applying the
section 409A deferral election rules and the exclusion from section 409A for certain
short-term deferral amounts. Certain awards made under this Plan which were earned and
vested (within the meaning of section 409A) before January 1, 2005 are intended to be
grandfathered from section 409A and remain governed by federal tax law applicable to
deferred compensation as it existed in effect prior to section 409A. Accordingly,
changes to the Plan after October 3, 2004 shall not modify the rights of participants
with respect to deferred amounts that were earned and vested on or before December 31,
2004. It is further intended that no “material modification” be made to the Plan, as
that term is used in Treasury Regulations governing section 409A, whether by this
amendment and restatement or otherwise.
	 
	5.	 	STOCK OPTION TERM AND TYPE
	 
	 	 	Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options governed by
Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The term of
any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, provided
that the term of a Stock Option shall not exceed 10 years and one month.
	 
	6.	 	COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

	 	a)	 	Maximum Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to Section
6(b), the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance to
Participants under the Plan shall be 28,000,000.
	 
	 	 	 	In addition, any Common Stock covered by a Stock Option granted under the Plan,
which is forfeited, cancelled or expires in whole or in part shall be deemed not to
be delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock available for grants under the Plan.
	 
	 	 	 	If any Stock Option is exercised by tendering Common Stock, either actually or by
attestation, to the Company as full or partial payment in connection with the
exercise of the Stock Option under the Plan, only the number of shares of Common
Stock issued net of the Common Stock tendered shall be deemed delivered for purposes
of determining the maximum number of shares available for grants under the Plan.
Upon forfeiture or termination of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units prior
to vesting, the shares of Common Stock subject thereto shall again be available for
Awards under the Plan.
	 
	 	b)	 	Adjustments for Corporate Transactions. If a corporate
transaction has occurred affecting the Common Stock such that an adjustment to
outstanding awards is required to preserve (or prevent enlargement of) the benefits
or potential benefits intended at the time of grant, then in such manner as the
Committee deems equitable, an appropriate adjustment shall be made to (i) the
number and kind of shares which may be awarded under the Plan; (ii) the number and
kind of shares subject to outstanding awards; (iii) the number of shares credited
to an account; and, if applicable, (iv) the exercise price of outstanding Options;
provided that the

-2-

 

	 	 	 	number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Option denominated in
Common Stock shall always be a whole number. For this purpose a corporate
transaction includes, but is not limited to, 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 transactions. Notwithstanding anything in this
paragraph to the contrary, an adjustment to an Option under this paragraph shall be
made in a manner that will not result in a new grant of an Option under Code Section
409A.
	 
	 	c)	 	Limits on Distribution. Distribution of shares of Common Stock
or other amounts under the Plan shall be subject to the following:

	 	(i)	 	The total number of shares of Common Stock that shall be
available for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards under the Plan
shall be limited to 15% of the total shares authorized for Awards hereunder.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company
shall have no liability to deliver any shares of Common Stock under the Plan or
make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless such delivery or
distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without
limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933), and the applicable
requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of stock
certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Common Stock or Restricted
Stock, the issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent
not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.

	 	d)	 	The Committee, in its discretion, may require as a condition to the
grant of Awards, the deposit of Common Stock owned by the Participant receiving
such grant, and the forfeiture of such grants if such deposit is not made or
maintained during the required holding period. Such shares of deposited Common
Stock may not be otherwise sold or disposed of during the applicable holding period
or restricted period. The Committee may also determine whether any shares issued
upon exercise of a Stock Option shall be restricted in any manner.

	7.	 	EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS

	 	a)	 	Exercise. Except as provided in Sections 11 and 12 (Change of
Control and Termination of Employment), each Stock Option may be exercised only in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Stock Option grant and during the
periods as may be established by the Committee. Twenty percent of each Stock
Option granted under the Plan in lieu of salary increases and certain other
compensation and benefits may be exercised immediately upon granting and, subject
to the Participant’s continued

-3-

 

	 	 	 	employment with the Company, additional 20% portions of such Stock Option
shall become exercisable each year thereafter. All other Stock Options granted
hereunder may be exercised only after three years of the Participant’s continued
employment with the Company following the date of the Stock Option grant.
	 
	 	 	 	A Participant exercising a Stock Option shall give notice to the Company of such
exercise and of the number of shares elected to be purchased prior to 4:30 P.M.
CST/CDT on the day of exercise, which must be a business day at the executive
offices of the Company.
	 
	 	b)	 	Payment. The Exercise Price shall be paid to the Company at
the time of such exercise, subject to any applicable rule or regulation adopted by
the Committee:

	 	(i)	 	in cash (including check, draft, money order or wire transfer
made payable to the order of the Company);
	 
	 	(ii)	 	through the tender of shares of Common Stock owned by the
Participant (by either actual delivery or attestation); or
	 
	 	(iii)	 	by a combination of (i) and (ii) above.

	 	 	 	For determining the amount of the payment, Common Stock delivered pursuant to (ii)
or (iii) shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on
the date of exercise.
	 
	 	c)	 	Deferrals. Prior to January 1, 2005, the Committee may permit
or require Participants to defer receipt of any Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of a Stock Option, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish, which
may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest, or dividend
equivalents, including converting such credits into deferred Common Stock
equivalents. Stock option gains may not be deferred after December 31, 2004.

	8.	 	RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
	 
	 	 	With respect to Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, the Committee
shall:

	 	a)	 	select Participants to whom Awards will be made, provided that
Restricted Stock Units may only be awarded to those employees of the Company who
are employed in a country other than the United States;
	 
	 	b)	 	determine the number of shares of Restricted Stock or the number of
Restricted Stock Units to be awarded;
	 
	 	c)	 	determine the length of the restricted period, which shall be no less
than one year;
	 
	 	d)	 	determine the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the Participant for
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units; and
	 
	 	e)	 	determine any restrictions other than those set forth in this Section
8.

-4-

 

	 	 	Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 8, each Participant who receives
Restricted Stock shall have all rights as a stockholder with respect to such shares,
including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions.
	 
	 	 	Each Participant who receives Restricted Stock Units shall be eligible to receive, at
the expiration of the applicable restricted period, one share of Common Stock for each
Restricted Stock Unit awarded, and the Company shall issue to each such Participant that
number of shares of Common Stock. Participants who receive Restricted Stock Units shall
have no rights as stockholders with respect to such Restricted Stock Units until such
time as share certificates for Common Stock are issued to the Participants; provided,
however, that quarterly during the applicable restricted period for all Restricted Stock
Units awarded hereunder, the Company shall pay to each such Participant an amount equal
to the sum of all dividends and other distributions paid by the Company during the prior
quarter on that equivalent number of shares of Common Stock.

	9.	 	TRANSFERABILITY OF STOCK OPTIONS
	 
	 	 	Except as otherwise provided by rules of the Committee, no Stock Options shall be
transferable by a Participant otherwise than (i) by the Participant’s last will and
testament or (ii) by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and such Stock
Options shall be exercised during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or
his or her guardian or legal representative. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8,
no shares of Restricted Stock and no Restricted Stock Units shall be sold, exchanged,
transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of during the restricted period.
	 
	10.	 	TAXES
	 
	 	 	Whenever the Company issues Common Stock under the Plan, the Company may require the
recipient to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any Federal, state or
local tax withholding requirements prior to the delivery of such Common Stock, or, in
the discretion of the Committee, upon the election of the Participant, the Company may
withhold from the shares to be delivered shares sufficient to satisfy all or a portion
of such tax withholding requirements.
	 
	11.	 	CHANGE OF CONTROL
	 
	 	 	Each outstanding Stock Option shall become immediately and fully exercisable for a
period of one (1) year following the date of the following occurrences, each
constituting a “Change of Control”:

	 	a)	 	The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act), (a “Person”) of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of
voting securities of the Company where such acquisition causes such Person to own
20% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
of the Company entitled to vote

-5-

 

	 	 	 	generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Voting Securities”);
provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (a), the following
acquisitions shall not be deemed to result in a Change of Control: (i) any
acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii)
any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any
acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses
(i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) below; and provided, further, that if any
Person’s beneficial ownership of the Outstanding Voting Securities reaches or
exceeds 20% as a result of a transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above, and
such Person subsequently acquires beneficial ownership of additional voting
securities of the Company, such subsequent acquisition shall be treated as an
acquisition that causes such Person to own 20% or more of the Outstanding Voting
Securities; or
	 
	 	b)	 	Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the
Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least of a majority of the
directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose,
any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an
actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of
directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or
on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
	 
	 	c)	 	The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company (“Business Combination”) or, if consummation of such
Business Combination is subject, at the time of such approval by stockholders, to
the consent of any government or governmental agency, the obtaining of such consent
(either explicitly or implicitly by consummation); excluding, however, such a
Business Combination pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Voting
Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own,
directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares
of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may
be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without
limitation, a corporation that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or
all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or
more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Voting
Securities, (ii) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination)
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the

-6-

 

	 	 	 	Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the
members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the
initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business
Combination; or
	 
	 	d)	 	approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation
or dissolution of the Company.

	 	 	After such one (1) year period the normal Stock Option exercise provisions of the Plan
shall govern. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, but subject to Section
5, in the event a Participant’s employment with the Company is terminated within two (2)
years of any of the events specified in (a), (b), (c) or (d), all outstanding Stock
Options of such Participant at that date of termination shall be exercisable for a
period of six (6) months beginning on the date of termination.
	 
	 	 	With respect to Stock Option grants outstanding as of the date of any such Change of
Control which require the deposit of owned Common Stock as a condition to obtaining
rights, the deposit requirement shall be terminated as of the date of the Change of
Control and any such deposited stock shall be promptly returned to the Participant.
	 
	 	 	In the event of a Change of Control, a Participant shall fully vest in all shares of
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, effective as of the date of such Change of
Control, and any deposited shares of Common Stock shall be promptly returned to the
Participant. If the Change of Control constitutes a “change in control” event as
described in IRS regulations or other guidance under Code section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v),
Participants’ Restricted Stock Units shall be settled upon the Change of Control. If
the Change of Control does not constitute a “change in control” event as described in
IRS regulations or other guidance under Code section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v), Restricted Stock
Units that are not Section 409A Restricted Stock Units and on which a deferral election
was not made shall be settled upon the Change of Control. However, the Section 409A
Restricted Stock Units, or Restricted Stock Units for which a proper deferral election
was made, shall be settled on the date the original restriction period would have
closed, or the date elected pursuant to the proper deferral election, as applicable.

	12.	 	TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

	 	a)	 	Resignation or Termination for Cause. If the Participant’s
employment by the Company is terminated by either

	 	(i)	 	the voluntary resignation of the Participant, or
	 
	 	(ii)	 	a Company discharge due to Participant’s illegal activities,
poor work performance, misconduct or violation of the Company’s policies or
practices,

	 	 	 	then Participant’s Stock Options shall terminate three months after such termination
(but in no event beyond the original full term of the Stock Options) and no Stock
Options shall become exercisable after such

-7-

 

	 	 	 	termination, and all shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units which are
subject to restriction on the date of termination shall be forfeited.

	 	b)	 	Other Termination. If the Participant’s employment by the
Company terminates for any reason other than specified in Sections 11, 12 (a), (c),
(d) or (e), the following rules shall apply:

	 	(i)	 	In the event that, at the time of such termination, the sum of the
Participant’s age and service with the Company equals or exceeds 70, the
following shall apply:

	 	(A)	 	The Participant’s outstanding Stock Options shall
continue to become exercisable (and remain exercisable), and shares of
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units subject to share deposit
requirements shall continue to vest, each according to the schedule
established at the time of grant, unless otherwise provided in the
applicable Award agreement.
	 
	 	(B)	 	Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock
Units not subject to share deposit requirements or attributable to a
Participant whose termination of employment is on or after August 1,
2003, shall fully vest and be paid (or deferred, as appropriate)
immediately.

	 	(ii)	 	In the event that, at the time of such termination, the sum of
Participant’s age and service with the Company is less than 70, Participant’s
outstanding unexercisable Stock Options and unvested Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units shall become exercisable or vest, as the case may be,
and be paid (or deferred, as appropriate) immediately as of the date of
termination, in a pro-rata amount based on the full months of employment
completed during the full vesting period from the date of grant to the date of
termination with such newly-vested Stock Options and Stock Options exercisable
on the date of termination remaining exercisable for the lesser of one year
from the date of termination and the original full term of the Stock Option.
All other Stock Options, shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
shall be forfeited as of the date of termination. Provided, however, that if
the Participant is an executive officer of the Company, the Participant’s
outstanding Stock Options which, as of the date of termination are not yet
exercisable, shall become exercisable effective as of the date of such
termination and, with all outstanding Stock Options already exercisable on the
date of termination, shall remain exercisable for the lesser of one year
following the date of termination and the original full term of the Stock
Option, and all shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall
fully vest and be paid (or deferred, as appropriate) immediately as of the date
of termination.
	 
	 	 	 	Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Section 409A Restricted Stock Units that
vest under this Section 12(b) shall be paid on the Participant’s separation
from service (within the meaning of Code section 409A), or in the case of a
Participant who is a specified employee (within the meaning of Code section 409A) shall be paid on

-8-

 

	 	 	 	the first day of the seventh month following the month of separation from service.

	 	c)	 	Death. If a Participant dies while employed by the Company,
any Stock Option previously granted under this Plan may be exercised by the person
designated in such Participant’s last will and testament or, in the absence of such
designation, by the Participant’s estate, to the full extent that such Stock Option
could have been exercised by such Participant immediately prior to death. Any
outstanding Stock Options granted on or after June 1, 2002, which, as of the date
of death, are not yet exercisable, shall fully vest and become exercisable upon
death. Outstanding Stock Options granted prior to June 1, 2002, which, as of the
date of death, are not yet exercisable, shall fully vest and become exercisable in
a pro-rata amount, based on the full months of employment completed during the full
vesting period of the Stock Option from the date of grant to the date of death.
	 
	 	 	 	With respect to Stock Options which require the deposit of owned Common Stock as a
condition to obtaining exercise rights, in the event a Participant dies while
employed by the Company, such Stock Options may be exercised as provided in the
first paragraph of this Section 12(c) and any owned Common Stock deposited by the
Participant pursuant to such grant shall be promptly returned to the person
designated in such Participant’s last will and testament or, in the absence of such
designation, to the Participant’s estate, and all requirements regarding deposit by
the Participant shall be terminated.
	 
	 	 	 	A Participant who dies during any applicable restricted period, for Restricted Stock
or Restricted Stock Units granted on or after June 1, 2002, shall fully vest in, and
have settled, such shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, effective
as the date of death. A Participant who dies during any applicable restricted
period, for any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted prior to June 1,
2002, shall vest in, and have settled, a proportionate number of such shares of
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, effective as of the date of death. Such
proportionate vesting shall be pro-rata, based on the number of full months of
employment completed during the restricted period prior to the date of death, as a
percentage of the applicable restricted period.
	 
	 	d)	 	Retirement. The Committee shall determine, at the time of
grant, the treatment of the Stock Options, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock
Units upon the retirement of the Participant. Unless other terms are specified in
the original Grant, if the termination of employment is due to a Participant’s
retirement on or after age 55, the Participant may exercise a Stock Option, subject
to the original terms and conditions of the Stock Option and shall fully vest in,
and be paid or have deferred, all shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units effective as of the date of retirement (unless any such Award specifically
provides otherwise). However, the Restricted Stock Units without a proper deferral
election that vest under this Section 12(d) shall be payable on the Participant’s
separation from service (within the meaning of Code section 409A) or in the case of
a Participant who is a specified employee (within the meaning of Code section 409A)
shall be paid on the first day of the seventh month following the month of
separation from service. A Restricted Stock Unit that could vest upon retirement under this Section 12(d) at any time within

-9-

 

	 	 	 	the Award’s restricted period shall be referred to as a “Section 409A Restricted Stock
Unit”.
	 
	 	e)	 	Spin-offs. If the termination of employment is due to the
cessation, transfer, or spin-off of a complete line of business of the Company, the
Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the treatment of all outstanding
Awards under the Plan. Such treatment shall be consistent with Code section 409A,
and in particular will take into account whether a separation from service has
occurred within meaning of section 409A.

	13.	 	ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

	 	a)	 	Administration. The authority to control and manage the
operations and administration of the Plan shall be vested in Committee in
accordance with this Section 13.
	 
	 	b)	 	Selection of Committee. The Committee shall be selected by the
Board, and shall consist of two or more members of the Board.
	 
	 	c)	 	Powers of Committee. The authority to manage and control the
operations and administration of the Plan shall be vested in the Committee, subject
to the following:

	 	(i)	 	Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have
the authority and discretion to select from among the eligible Company
employees those persons who shall receive Awards, to determine the time or
times of receipt, to determine the types of Awards and the number of shares
covered by the Awards, to establish the terms, conditions, performance
criteria, restrictions, and other provisions of such Awards, and (subject to
the restrictions imposed by Section 14) to cancel or suspend Awards. In making
such determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of services
rendered by the individual, the individual’s present and potential contribution
to the Company’s success and such other factors as the Committee deems
relevant.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	The Committee will have the authority and discretion to
establish terms and conditions of Awards as the Committee determines to be
necessary or appropriate to conform to applicable requirements or practices of
jurisdictions outside of the United States.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	The Committee will have the authority and discretion to
interpret the Plan, to establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of any agreements
made pursuant to the Plan, and to make all other determinations that may be
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
	 
	 	(iv)	 	Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any
decision made by it under the Plan is final and binding.

	 	d)	 	Delegation by Committee. Except to the extent prohibited by
applicable law or the applicable rules of a stock exchange, the Committee may
allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or 

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	 	 	 	more of
its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to
any person or persons selected by it. Any such allocation or delegation may be
revoked by the Committee at any time.

	14.	 	AMENDMENTS OF THE PLAN
	 
	 	 	The Committee may from time to time prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, where
required, the Committee may at any time terminate, amend, or suspend the operation of
the Plan, provided that no action shall be taken by the Committee to:

	 	a)	 	permit granting of Stock Options at less than Fair Market Value; and
	 
	 	b)	 	except as provided in Section 6, permit the repricing of outstanding
Stock Options.

	 	 	No termination, modification, suspension, or amendment of the Plan shall alter or impair
the rights of any Participant pursuant to an outstanding Award without the consent of
the Participant. There is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants
under the Plan.
	 
	15.	 	FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS
	 
	 	 	The Committee may adopt, amend, and terminate such arrangements, not inconsistent with
the intent of the Plan, as it may deem necessary or desirable to make available tax or
other benefits of the laws of any foreign jurisdiction, to employees of the Company who
are subject to such laws and who receive Awards under the Plan.
	 
	16.	 	NOTICES
	 
	 	 	All notices to the Company regarding the Plan shall be in writing, effective as of
actual receipt by the Company, and shall be sent to:

General Mills, Inc.

Number One General Mills Boulevard

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426

Attention: Corporate Compensation

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