Document:

exv10w2

Exhibit 10.2

GENERAL MILLS, INC.

2001 COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

1. PURPOSE

     The purpose of the General Mills, Inc. 2001 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.

2. EFFECTIVE DATE, DURATION OF PLAN

     This Plan shall become effective as of September 24, 2001, subject to the approval of the Plan
by the stockholders. The Plan will terminate on September 30, 2006 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.

3. 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 unless prohibited from participating
by the terms of their employment.

4. COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

     a) General. The common stock to be issued under this Plan is Company common stock
(“Common Stock”) ($.10 par value) to 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 paragraphs, the maximum aggregate
number of shares authorized to be issued under the Plan shall be 700,000.

If any Option (defined below) 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 an 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 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 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.

5. ANNUAL RETAINER

     a) General. Each non-employee director shall be entitled to receive an annual
retainer as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. Each non-employee director of the
Company shall elect by written notice to the Company on or before each annual stockholders’ meeting
how he or she shall 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. 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”). The Plan Year shall
include four plan quarters (hereinafter “Plan Quarters”). Plan quarters shall correspond to the
Company’s fiscal quarters. 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 first
attendance at a Board meeting, 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.
Periodically, the Company shall supply to each participant an account statement of participation
under the Plan.

     b) Cash Alternative. Each non-employee director who elects to receive cash
compensation under 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. 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.

     c) Deferred Cash Alternative.

	 	(i)	 	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.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	For each director who has made this deferred cash election, the Company
shall establish a deferred compensation account for the compensation due. Interest
shall be credited to each such account based on the rate earned by the fund or
funds selected by the participant from among funds or portfolios established under
the General Mills, Inc. Savings Plan or any other qualified benefit plan maintained
by the Company which the Minor Amendment Committee, or its delegate, in its
discretion, may from time to time establish.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Distribution of the participant’s deferred compensation account shall
be at the time, and in the form of payment, elected by the participant at the time
of deferral. The distribution date may be any date that is at least one year
subsequent to the date of deferral of such compensation, but the distribution 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.
	 
	 	 	 	A participant may elect to have the deferred compensation account 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.
	 
	 	(iv)	 	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.
	 
	 	(v)	 	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 and certain other of deferred
compensation plans of the Company. In the event of a Change in Control as defined
in Section 11 below, 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.

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     d) GMI Common Stock Alternative. 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. The Company shall ensure that an adequate number of shares of Common
Stock are available for distribution to those participants making this election. Only whole numbers
of shares will be issued, with any fractional share amounts paid in cash. 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. 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.

6. NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

     a) 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
first attends a Board meeting) shall be awarded an option (an “Option”) to purchase 10,000 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 10,000 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.

     b) 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 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.

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

     d) 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 during his or her term of service on the
Board, any vested Option may be exercised by the person(s) designated under the terms of Section
11(e) of this Plan, and for Options granted on or after June 1, 2002, any unvested Options shall
fully vest and become exercisable upon death. For Options granted prior to June 1, 2002, any
unvested Options shall vest and become exercisable upon death 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.

     e) Method of Exercise and Tax Obligations. A participant exercising an 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. 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. 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.

     f) 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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7. DEFERRAL OF STOCK OPTION GAINS

     Under the Plan, 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.

     a) 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.

     b) 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 award of Stock Units, as
provided in Section 8(a), 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 Section 8(a) but the distribution must be made or commenced by the later of (i) the date the
participant attains age 70 and (ii) five years 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 Section 8(a) shall have the same distribution date and form of
distribution. Notwithstanding the above, the following provisions shall apply:

	 	(i)	 	If an Option as to which a participant has made an Option gain deferral
election terminates prior to the exercise date selected by the 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.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	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 Section 7(c)(i) below) be accelerated and distributed as of
the first business day of the calendar year next following the date of termination.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	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.

     c) Deferred Stock Unit Accounts and Dividend Equivalents.

	 	(i)	 	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 Section 7(a) above and, for each Net Share deferred,
a Stock Unit will be credited to the Deferred Stock Unit

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	 	 	 	Account as of the date of
the Option exercise. A Deferred Stock Unit Account will also be established each
time a participant receives Stock Units pursuant to Section 8(a) 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 mean of the high and
low price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the dividend date.
The Committee may, in its sole discretion, direct either that all dividend
equivalent amounts be paid currently or all such amounts be reinvested 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).
	 
	 	(ii)	 	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
Section 8(a) 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 Section 7(c)(i) above. Stock Units
may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or
disposed.

8. STOCK UNITS

     a) Awards. 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 first attends a
Board meeting) and at the close of business on each successive annual stockholders’ meeting date,
each non-employee director shall be awarded the right to receive one thousand (1,000) shares of
Common Stock on a deferred basis (“Stock Units”), subject to vesting as provided in Section 8(b).
The maximum aggregate number of shares authorized to be issued under the Plan upon vesting of Stock
Unit awards shall be 80,000. Only non-employee directors re-elected to the Board shall be entitled
to a grant under this Section 8(a) of Stock Units awarded at the close of business on an annual
meeting date after the date of the original grant to the non-employee directors.

     b) Vesting of and Restrictions on Stock Units. A participant’s interest in the Stock
Units shall vest on the date of the annual stockholders’ meeting next following the date of the
award of the 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
Stock Units vests, such Stock Units shall be forfeited and all further rights of the non-employee
director to or with respect to such Stock Units shall terminate. A participant who dies prior to
the vesting of Stock Units granted on or after June 1, 2002 shall fully vest in such Stock Units,
effective as of the date of death. A participant who dies prior to the vesting of Stock Units
granted prior to June 1, 2002 shall vest in a proportionate number of shares of Stock Units, based
on the full months of service completed during the vesting period of the Stock Units from the date
of grant to the date of death. 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.

     c) Distribution of Stock Units. Each participant receiving an award of Stock Units
under Section 8(a) above must select a date of distribution and form of distribution as provided
under Section 7(b) above. The participant may also elect to have dividend equivalents payable on
Stock Units paid currently or reinvested in Stock Units as provided under Section 7(c)(i).

     d) Other Terms and Conditions. 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.

	9.	 	GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR DEFERRED CASH, OPTION GAINS AND STOCK UNITS

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     The following provisions shall apply to the deferral of cash compensation described in Section
5(c) hereof, the deferral of receipt of Common Stock issued upon exercise of Options described in
Section 7 hereof and the treatment of Stock Units granted under Section 8 hereof.

     a) 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 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 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.

     b) 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.

     c) 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 under the terms of Section 11(e) of this Plan 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.

     d) As to all previous and future Plan years, and subject to the last sentence of the first
paragraph of Section 7(b) hereof, a participant who 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 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.

     e) 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.

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10. CHANGE OF CONTROL

     Options granted under the Plan will become immediately exercisable, 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 Section 11.

11. 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, including amending the Plan to increase or decrease the size of annual Option or Stock
Unit grants made to non-employee directors, provided that after a “Change of 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 of Control.” Any decision or
interpretation adopted by the Committee shall be final and conclusive. A “Change of Control”
means:

     a) 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 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

     b) 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

     c) 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 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

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     d) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the
Company.

     e) Designation of Beneficiary. Each Participant who has deferred cash amounts,
Options or Common Stock in respect of Stock Units under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or
beneficiaries to exercise any Option or to receive any payment which under the terms of the Plan
may become exercisable or payable on or after the Participant’s death. At any time, and from time
to time, any such designation may be changed or cancelled by the Participant without the consent of
any such beneficiary. Any such designation, change or cancellation must be on a form provided for
that purpose by the Committee and shall not be effective until received by the Committee. Such
form may establish other rules as the Committee deems appropriate. If no beneficiary has been
properly designated by a deceased Participant, or if all the designated beneficiaries have
predeceased the Participant, the beneficiary shall be the Participant’s estate. If the Participant
designates more than one beneficiary, any Options shall be divided among beneficiaries equally, and
any payments under the Plan to such beneficiaries shall be made in equal shares, unless the
Participant has expressly designated otherwise, in which case such Options shall be divided, and
the payments shall be made, in the portions designated by the Participant.

12. 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.

13. 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.

409A Appendix

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the following terms and provisions
apply to the Plan, its operations and Participants, effective as of January 1, 2005 with respect to
amounts subject to Code §409A. Capitalized terms have the meaning given to them either in the main
body of the Plan document or as defined in this Appendix. Provisions of the Plan not otherwise
dealt with in this Appendix continue to apply and be in effect, to the extent not inconsistent with
Code §409A.

Paragraph 1. Purpose. The purpose and intent of this 409A Appendix is to amend the terms
of the Plan to comply with §409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the rules and regulations issued
pursuant thereto with respect to amounts subject to §409A. To the extent that such requirements
are applicable, this Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of §409A and shall be
interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent. If any provision of the Plan or this
Appendix 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 §409A, each payment under this Plan shall be treated as a
separate payment of compensation for purposes of applying the §409A deferral election rules and the
exclusion from §409A for certain “short-term deferral” amounts. Certain awards made under this
Plan which were earned and vested (within the meaning of §409A) before January 1, 2005 are intended
to be grandfathered from §409A and remain governed by federal tax law applicable to deferred
compensation as it existed in effect prior to §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 §409A,
whether by this amendment or otherwise.

Paragraph 2. Retainers. Participants may elect the method in which retainers are paid
(lump sum vs. installments), whether such retainers are paid in the form of cash or shares of
Common Stock, and the timing of such payment (i.e., immediate upon vesting or deferred) by filing
an irrevocable Election Form with the Company before the calendar year in which a Plan Year begins.
Such election shall be made in conformance with Paragraph 5, below and will apply to amounts
earned during a Plan Year. Retainers become vested, and are paid at the end of each of the
Company’s fiscal quarters. In the absence of an affirmative election to the contrary, retainers
(or the portion not subject to such election) shall be paid 10 business days following the last day
of each fiscal quarter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the first year in which a non-employee
director becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, an election may be made with respect

- 8 -

 

to compensation for services to be performed subsequent to the election, to the extent permitted under
§409A. Such an election must be made on an Election Form within 30 days after the date the
non-employee director first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.

For each Participant who affirmatively elects to defer receipt of his or her retainers, the Company
shall establish a separate account (a “Deferred Retainer Account”) and credit such deferred
compensation into that Account as of the date the amounts would otherwise be paid. A separate
Deferred Retainer Account shall be established for each Plan Year a Participant makes such a
deferral election.

Each Participant may affirmatively elect to receive all or a specified percentage of his or her
retainers for a Plan Year in shares of Common Stock, which, if elected, will be issued 10 business
days following the last day for each quarterly period during the Plan Year, or the distribution
date chosen on the Election Form, as applicable. Only whole numbers of shares will be issued, with
any fractional share amounts paid in cash. For purposes of computing the number of shares earned
each quarter during the Plan Year, the value of each share shall be equal to the Fair Market Value
on the third Business Day preceding the last day of each quarterly period during the Plan Year.
For the purposes of this Plan, “Business Day” shall mean a day on which the New York Stock Exchange
is open for trading.

Paragraph 3. No Further Option Gain Deferrals. Stock option gains may not be deferred
after December 31, 2004. Accounts credited with such gains prior to January 1, 2005 are
“grandfathered” and subject to the same rules and terms in effect under the Plan at that time.

Paragraph 4. Stock Units. Each Participant receiving an award of Stock Units may elect
the time and form (whether or not to defer receipt, and lump sum vs. installments) of distribution
of Common Stock attributable to such Stock Units, pursuant to the terms of Paragraph 5. A separate
Stock Unit Account shall be established for each Plan Year a Participant makes such a deferral
election. If no affirmative election is made, all Stock Units shall be paid in shares of Common
Stock 10 days following vesting.

The Participant may also elect to have dividend equivalents payable on Stock Units paid currently
in cash or reinvested in Stock Units. If the amounts are reinvested, on each dividend payment date
for the Common Stock, the Company will credit each Stock Unit Account with an amount equal to the
dividends that would have been paid had the Stock Units been actual shares of Common Stock, which
shall be used to “purchase” additional Stock Units at a price equal to the Fair Market Value on the
dividend date. Such additional Stock Units shall be distributed at the same time and in the same
form as the rest of the Stock Unit Account balance. If the Participant fails to make an election,
the dividend equivalent amounts shall be paid in cash currently.

In order to make an election under this Paragraph 4 with respect to Stock Units awarded for a Plan
Year, a Participant shall file an irrevocable Election Form with the Company before the calendar
year in which the Plan Year begins. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the first year in which a
non-employee director becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, an election may be made with
respect to compensation for services to be performed subsequent to the election, to the extent
permitted under §409A. Such an election must be made on an Election Form within 30 days after the
date the non-employee director first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.

Paragraph 5. Distributions. Section 9 of the main Plan document is nullified and
inoperative, as of January 1, 2005 with respect to amounts subject to §409A. The following
distribution provisions shall apply to Deferred Retainer Accounts and Stock Unit Accounts:

     (a) Timing. Distributions from Deferred Retainer Accounts shall normally commence at
Separation from Service, however, a Participant may affirmatively elect a specified date for
commencement, provided said date is not later than the Participant’s 70th birthday. The
same rule applies to Stock Units which have been deferred beyond their vesting period. An election
as to the timing of payment commencement shall be made in accordance with Paragraphs 2 and 4.

     Notwithstanding the above or any other provision of this Plan, distributions may not be made
to a Key Employee upon a Separation from Service before the date which is six months after the date
of the Key Employee’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the Key
Employee). Any payments that would otherwise be made during this period of delay shall be
accumulated and paid on the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s Separation
from Service (or, if earlier, the first day of the month after the Participant’s death).

- 9 -

 

     (b) Form of Distribution. Distributions shall normally be made in a lump sum.
However, a Participant may affirmatively elect to receive substantially equal annual installments
over a period of up to 10 years. Such elections shall be made in accordance with Paragraphs 2 and
4.

     (c) Manner of Distribution. Amounts credited to Deferred Retainer Accounts shall be
paid in cash or in Common Stock, as elected by a Participant on an Election Form. Amounts credited
to Stock Unit Accounts shall be paid in Common Stock based on the number of Stock Units credited to
the Stock Unit Account and paid in cash equal to any dividend equivalent amounts which had not been
used to “purchase” additional Stock Units.

     (d) Distribution Upon Death. Notwithstanding any elections by a Participant or
provisions of the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant dies before full distribution of a
Deferred Retainer Account or Stock Unit Account, such accounts shall be distributed to the
Participant’s estate in a lump sum 60 days following the date of death.

     (e) Permitted Payment Delay To Avoid Violations of Law. Notwithstanding any provision
of this Plan to the contrary, any distribution to a Participant under the Plan shall be delayed
upon the Committee’s reasonable anticipation that the making of the payment would violate Federal
securities laws or other applicable law; provided, that any payment delayed pursuant to this
Paragraph 5(e) shall ultimately be paid in accordance with §409A.

     (f) Payment Acceleration. Generally, payments may not be accelerated. However, if
amounts deferred under the Plan must be included in a Participant’s income under §409A prior to the
scheduled distribution of such amounts, distribution of such amount shall be made immediately to
the Participant.

Paragraph 6. Change of Control. Notwithstanding any elections by a Participant or
provisions of the Plan to the contrary (e.g., Section 10 of the main Plan document), upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control, all Options and Stock Units shall fully and immediately vest,
and shall be exercisable or paid pursuant to the terms of the Plan that are otherwise applicable.
If the Change of Control is also a “change in control” as defined under Code §409A(a)(2)(A)(v) and
official guidance thereunder, all Stock Unit Accounts shall be distributed in a single payment 30
days following such Change of Control.

Paragraph 7. Plan Termination. Upon termination of the Plan, distribution of Deferred
Retainer Accounts and Stock Unit Accounts shall be made as described in Paragraph 5, unless the
Committee determines in its sole discretion that all such amounts shall be distributed upon plan
termination in accordance with the requirements under Code §409A. Upon termination of the Plan, no
further deferrals of retainers, Stock Units or dividend equivalent amounts shall be permitted;
however, earnings, gains and losses shall continue to be credited to the Deferred Retainer Account
balances until the Deferred Retainer Account balances are fully distributed.

Paragraph 8. Definitions. As used in this Appendix the following terms have the meanings
set forth below:

     “Election Form” means a written form provided by the Committee pursuant to which a
Participant may elect the form and timing of distributions with respect to his or her retainer,
Stock Units and dividend equivalents under the Plan.

     “Fair Market Value” means the average of the intraday high and low price of the
national market composite price of the Common Stock on the applicable date. Notwithstanding this
definition, effective January 1, 2007, “Fair Market Value” means the closing price on the
New York Stock Exchange of the Common Stock on the applicable date.

     “Key Employee” means a Participant treated as a “specified employee” as of his
Separation from Service under Code §409A(a)(2)(B)(i), i.e., a key employee (as defined in Code
§416(i) without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) of the Company or its affiliates if the Company’s
or its affiliate’s stock is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise. Key
Employees shall be determined in accordance with Code §409A using a December 31 identification
date. A listing of Key Employees as of an identification date shall be effective for the 12-month
period beginning on the April 1 following the identification date.

     “Plan Years” means the one-year Board terms, beginning the day of each annual
stockholders’ meeting and ending the day before the succeeding annual stockholders’ meeting.

     “Separation from Service” or “Separate from Service” means a “separation from
service” within the meaning of Code §409A.

- 10 -exv10w3

Exhibit 10.3

GENERAL MILLS, INC.

2003 STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN

	1.	 	PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
	 
	 	 	The purpose of the General Mills, Inc. 2003 Stock Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to
attract and retain able individuals 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.
	 
	2.	 	EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN
	 
	 	 	This Plan shall become effective as of October 1, 2003, subject to the approval of the
stockholders of the Company at the Annual Meeting on September 22, 2003. Awards may
be made under the Plan until December 31, 2005.
	 
	3.	 	ELIGIBLE PERSONS
	 
	 	 	Only persons who are employees of the Company shall be eligible to receive grants of
Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Recognition Awards (each
defined below) and become “Participants” under the Plan. The Compensation Committee of
the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) shall exercise the discretionary power
to determine from time to time the employees of the Company who are eligible to
participate in this Plan.
	 
	4.	 	AWARD TYPES

	 	(a)	 	Stock Option Awards. Under this Plan, 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.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Stock Option Exercise Price. 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, and may exceed the Fair
Market Value on the grant date, at the Committee’s discretion. “Fair Market Value”
shall equal the closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on
the date of grant.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Restricted Stock Awards. 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”).
	 
	 	(d)	 	Recognition Awards. The Committee hereby authorizes the
Corporate Secretary to approve and distribute Common Stock to Participants as a
bonus or reward, subject to Section 13(d) and Committee ratification of such Awards
in accordance with Section 20. No Participant may receive as Recognition Award(s)
more than 20 shares in the aggregate, in any calendar year.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Awards. Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units
and Recognition Awards, as defined above, 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.	 	COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

	 	(a)	 	Maximum Shares Available for Delivery. Subject to Section 5(c),
the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance to Participants
under the Plan shall be 15,000,000.
	 
	 	 	 	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, or if the tax withholding requirements are
satisfied through such tender, 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)	 	Individual Share Limits. The number of shares of Common Stock
subject to Stock Options or available for Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or
Recognition Awards granted under the Plan to any single Participant over the
duration of the Plan shall not exceed 10 percent of the total number of shares
available under the Plan.
	 
	 	(c)	 	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 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.
	 
	 	(d)	 	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,
Restricted Stock Unit and Recognition Awards under the Plan shall be limited to 25% 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.

	 	(e)	 	Stock Deposit Requirements and other Restrictions. 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

- 2 -

 

	 	 	 	restricted period. The
Committee may also determine whether any shares issued upon exercise of a Stock
Option shall be restricted in any manner.

	6.	 	STOCK OPTION TERM AND TYPE

	 	(a)	 	General. 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.
	 
	 	(b)	 	No Reload Rights. Stock Options granted under this Plan shall
not contain any provision entitling the optionee to the automatic grant of
additional options in connection with any exercise of the original option.
	 
	 	(c)	 	No Repricing. Subject to Section 5(c), outstanding Stock Options
granted under this Plan shall under no circumstances be repriced.

	7.	 	GRANT, EXERCISE AND VESTING OF STOCK OPTIONS

	 	(a)	 	Grant. Subject to the limits otherwise imposed by the terms of
this Plan, the Committee has discretionary authority to determine the size of a
Stock Option grant, which may be tied to meeting performance-based requirements.
	 
	 	(b)	 	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. 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.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Vesting. Stock Options shall not be exercisable unless vested.
Subject to Sections 11 and 12 Stock Options shall be fully vested only after four
years of the Participant’s continued employment with the Company following the date
of the Stock Option grant.
	 
	 	(d)	 	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.
	 
	 	(e)	 	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
	 
	 	 	Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be awarded on either a
discretionary or performance-based method.

	 	(a)	 	Discretionary Awards. With respect to discretionary Awards of
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, the Committee shall:

	 	(i)	 	Select Participants to whom Awards will be made;

- 3 -

 

	 	(ii)	 	Determine the number of shares of Restricted Stock or the number of
Restricted Stock Units to be awarded to a Participant;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Determine the length of the restricted period, which shall be no
less than four years;
	 
	 	(iv)	 	Determine the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the Participant
for Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units; and
	 
	 	(v)	 	Determine any restrictions other than those set forth in this
Section 8.

	 	(b)	 	Performance-Based Awards. With respect to Awards of
performance-based Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, the intent is to
grant such Awards so as to satisfy the requirements for “qualified performance-based
compensation” under Internal Revenue Code section 162(m). Performance-based Awards
are subject to the following:

	 	(i)	 	The Committee has exclusive authority to determine which
Participants may be awarded performance-based Restricted Stock and Restricted
Stock Units.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	In order for any Participant to be awarded Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units for a Performance Period (defined below), the net earnings
from continuing operations excluding items identified and disclosed by the
Company as non-recurring or special costs and after taxes (“Net Earnings”) of the
Company for such Performance Period must be greater than zero.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	At the end of the Performance Period, if the Committee determines
that the requirement of Section 8(b)(ii) has been met, each Participant eligible
for a performance-based Award shall be deemed to have earned an Award equal in
value to the Maximum Amount, or such lesser amount as the Committee shall
determine in its discretion to be appropriate. The Committee may base this
determination of grant size on performance-based criteria and in no case shall
this have the effect of increasing an Award payable to any other Participant.
For purposes of computing the value of Awards, each Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Unit shall be deemed to have a value equivalent to the Fair
Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date the Award is granted.
	 
	 	(iv)	 	In addition to the limitation on the number of shares of Common
Stock available for Awards under section 5(b) hereof, in no event shall the total
value of the performance-based Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award
granted to any Participant for any one Performance Period exceed 0.5 percent of
the Company’s Net Earnings for that Performance Period (such amount is the
“Maximum Amount”).
	 
	 	(v)	 	The Committee shall determine the length of the restricted period
which, subject to Sections 11 and 12, shall be no less than four years.
	 
	 	(vi)	 	“Performance Period” means a fiscal year of the Company, or such
other period as the Committee may from time to time establish.

	 	 	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.
	 
	 	 	The Committee may permit Participants to defer receipt of any Common Stock issuable upon
the lapse of any restriction of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, subject to
such rules and procedures as it may establish. In particular, the

- 4 -

 

	 	 	Committee shall
establish rules relating to such deferrals intended to comply with the requirements of
Code section 409A, including without limitation, the time when a deferral election can be
made, the period of the deferral, and the events that would result in payment of the
deferred amount.
	 
	9.	 	TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS
	 
	 	 	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 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

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	 	 	 	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 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 6,
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.
	 
	 	 	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. 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 Code of Conduct,
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 termination, and all shares of Restricted
Stock and Restricted Stock Units which are subject to restriction and not vested 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 Participant’s outstanding Stock Options shall continue to become
exercisable according to the schedule established at the time of grant
unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award agreement, and all
shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall fully vest and
be paid (or deferred, as appropriate) immediately. Stock Options shall
remain exercisable for the remaining full term of such Stock Options.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	In the event that, at the time of such termination, the sum
of the 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

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	 	 	 	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 as of the date of termination and be paid (or
deferred, as appropriate) immediately.
	 
	 	 	 	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 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 shall fully vest and become
exercisable upon death and together with all other outstanding Stock Options may be
exercised by the person(s) authorized in accordance with Section 13(e) of this Plan.
Such Stock Options shall be exercisable for the remaining full term of such Awards.
	 
	 	 	 	A Participant who dies while employed by the Company during any applicable restricted
period shall fully vest in Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units,
effective as of the date of death, and such shares shall be paid to the person(s)
designated under the terms of Section 13(e) of this Plan.
	 
	 	(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 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 will be consistent with Code section 409A,
and in particular will take into account whether a separation from service has
occurred within the 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 the 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:

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	 	(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 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.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Designation of Beneficiary. Each Participant to whom an Award
has been made under the Plan may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to
exercise any Award or to receive any payment which under the terms of the Plan and
the relevant Award Agreement may become exercisable or payable on or after the
Participant’s death. At any time, and from time to time, any such designation may
be changed or cancelled by the Participant without the consent of any such
beneficiary. Any such designation, change or cancellation must be on a form
provided for that purpose by the Committee and shall not be effective until received
by the Committee. Such form may establish other rules as the Committee deems
appropriate. If no beneficiary has been properly designated by a deceased
Participant, or if all the designated beneficiaries have predeceased the
Participant, the beneficiary shall be the Participant’s estate. If the Participant
designates more than one beneficiary, any Stock Options shall be divided among
beneficiaries equally, and any payments under the Plan to such beneficiaries shall
be made in equal shares, unless the Participant has expressly designated otherwise,
in which case Stock Options shall be divided, and the payments shall be made, in the
portions designated by the Participant.

	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 Board of Directors or the Committee without
the approval of the stockholders which would:

	 	(a)	 	except as provided in Section 5(c) materially increase the number of
shares which may be issued under the 2003 Plan;
	 
	 	(b)	 	permit granting of Stock Options at less than Fair Market Value;
	 
	 	(c)	 	except as provided in Section 5(c), permit the repricing of outstanding
Stock Options; or
	 
	 	(d)	 	amend the maximum shares set forth in Section 5(b) which may be granted
to any single Participant.

	 	 	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.

- 8 -

 

	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.	 	NON-ALIENATION OF RIGHTS AND BENEFITS
	 
	 	 	Subject to Section 9, no right or benefit under the Plan shall be subject to
alienation, sale, assignment, pledge, or encumbrance and any attempt to do so shall be
void. No right or benefit under the Plan be subject to the debts, contacts,
liabilities or torts of the person entitled to such rights or benefits.
	 
	17.	 	LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OR OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY.
	 
	 	 	Nothing in the Plan shall be construed:

	 	(a)	 	to give any employee of the Company any right to be granted
any Award other than at the sole discretion of the Plan Committee;
	 
	 	(b)	 	to give any Participant any rights whatsoever with respect
to shares of Common Stock except as specifically provided in the Plan;
	 
	 	(c)	 	to limit in any way the right of the Company or any
Subsidiary to terminate, change or modify, with or without cause, the
employment of any Participant at any time; or
	 
	 	(d)	 	to be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or
implied, that the company or any Subsidiary will employ any Participant in
any particular position at any particular rate of compensation or for any
particular period of time.

	 	 	Payments and other benefits received by a Participant under an Award shall not be deemed
part of a Participant’s regular, recurring compensation for purposes of any termination,
indemnity or severance pay laws and shall not be included in, nor have any effect on, the
determination of benefits under any other employee benefit plan, contract or similar
arrangement provided by the Company or any Subsidiary, unless expressly so provided by
such other plan, contract or arrangement.
	 
	18.	 	NO LOANS
	 
	 	 	The Company shall not lend money to any Participant to finance a transaction under this
Plan.
	 
	19.	 	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

	20.	 	RECOGNITION AWARDS
	 
	 	 	The Committee hereby authorizes the distribution of up to 10,000 shares of Common Stock
as Recognition Awards in any calendar year during the duration of the Plan. A Company
officer may identify employees of the Company who have made special contributions to the
business and/or performance of the Company and request that the Corporate Secretary
deliver Recognition Awards to such Participants in recognition of such contributions.
Each year, the Committee shall review the grants of Recognition Awards made in the prior
year. Recognition Award shares may be fully vested upon grant or subject to such vesting
conditions as the Committee may authorize.

- 9 -

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