General Mills, Inc. Form 11-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2005


 
 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 11-K

(Mark One):

x   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

OR

o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the transition period from __________ to __________.

Commission file number: 1-1185

        A.    Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

General Mills 401(k) Savings Plan

        B.    Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

General Mills, Inc.
Number One General Mills Boulevard
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55426
(Mail: P.O. Box 1113, Zip: 55440-1113)


 
 











GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Financial Statements and Supplementary Schedules

December 31, 2005 and 2004

(With Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Thereon)
















Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


The Benefit Finance Committee of General Mills, Inc.
General Mills 401(k) Savings Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the General Mills 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the period from June 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the period from June 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of assets (held at end of year) and of reportable transactions as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005 are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements, but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 28, 2006






GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits

December 31, 2005


Allocated
Unallocated
Total
Assets:                
     Participant-directed investments:  
        Interest-bearing cash and short-term  
           investments   $ 10,985,659        10,985,659  
        Master Trust Investment Accounts (MTIA)    1,514,236,058        1,514,236,058  
        All other investments:  
           Common stock    359,096,729        359,096,729  
           Unallocated insurance contracts    12,500,021        12,500,021  
           Participant loan fund    26,123,433        26,123,433  
           Directed brokerage fund    50,708,076        50,708,076  



                 Total participant-directed  
                    investments    1,973,649,976        1,973,649,976  



     Nonparticipant-directed investments:  
        Interest-bearing cash and short-term  
           investments        61,750    61,750  
        Investments, at fair value:  
           Common stock        10,658,615    10,658,615  



                 Total nonparticipant-directed  
                    investments        10,720,365    10,720,365  



                 Total investments    1,973,649,976    10,720,365    1,984,370,341  
 
     Receivables:  
        Employer contributions        1,675,582    1,675,582  
        Employee contributions    1,929,773        1,929,773  
        Interest and dividends    34,931    2,166    37,097  
        Miscellaneous    13,353        13,353  



                 Total assets    1,975,628,033    12,398,113    1,988,026,146  



Liabilities:  
     Accounts payable expenses    1,508,658        1,508,658  
     Loans        4,014,000    4,014,000  



                 Total liabilities    1,508,658    4,014,000    5,522,658  



                 Net assets available for benefits   $ 1,974,119,375    8,384,113    1,982,503,488  




See accompanying notes to financial statements.



2




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits

December 31, 2004


Allocated
Unallocated
Total
Assets:                
     Participant-directed investments:  
        Interest-bearing cash and short-term  
           investments   $ 9,098,137        9,098,137  
        Master Trust Investment Accounts (MTIA)    1,398,154,411        1,398,154,411  
        All other investments:  
           Common stock    106,363,834        106,363,834  
           Unallocated insurance contracts    12,120,362        12,120,362  
           Participant loan fund    24,346,959        24,346,959  
           Directed brokerage fund    45,924,253        45,924,253  



                 Total participant-directed  
                    investments    1,596,007,956        1,596,007,956  



     Nonparticipant-directed investments:  
        Interest-bearing cash and short-term  
           investments    87,024    574,636    661,660  
        Investments, at fair value:  
           Common stock    269,992,629    20,185,376    290,178,005  



                 Total nonparticipant-directed  
                    investments    270,079,653    20,760,012    290,839,665  



                 Total investments    1,866,087,609    20,760,012    1,886,847,621  
 
     Receivables:  
        Employer contributions        1,262,035    1,262,035  
        Employee contributions    1,971,314        1,971,314  
        Interest and dividends    16,039    3,575    19,614  
        Miscellaneous    13,356        13,356  



                 Total assets    1,868,088,318    22,025,622    1,890,113,940  



Liabilities:  
     Accounts payable expenses    891,669        891,669  
     Loans        7,176,000    7,176,000  



                 Total liabilities    891,669    7,176,000    8,067,669  



                 Net assets available for benefits   $ 1,867,196,649    14,849,622    1,882,046,271  




See accompanying notes to financial statements.



3




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Year ended December 31, 2005


Allocated
Unallocated
Total
Net assets available for benefits                
     at beginning of period   $ 1,867,196,649    14,849,622    1,882,046,271  



Investment income:  
     Income from MTIA    124,991,690        124,991,690  
     Income from all other investments:  
        Dividends and interest    11,249,568    430,762    11,680,330  
        Net realized/unrealized depreciation in  
           fair market value of investments    (640,188 )  (123,399 )  (763,587 )



                 Total net investment income    135,601,070    307,363    135,908,433  



Contributions:  
     Employees    78,796,801        78,796,801  
     Employer        16,412,965    16,412,965  



                 Total contributions    78,796,801    16,412,965    95,209,766  
 
Miscellaneous    (579,652 )  579,652      
 
Allocation of 465,421 shares of common stock  
     of General Mills, Inc. at market    22,685,559        22,685,559  



                 Total additions    236,503,778    17,299,980    253,803,758  



Distributions and expenses:  
     Interest expense        (466,590 )  (466,590 )
     Administrative expenses    (2,437,215 )  (613,340 )  (3,050,555 )
     Distributions to participants/beneficiaries    (127,143,837 )      (127,143,837 )
     Allocation of 465,421 shares of common stock  
        of General Mills, Inc. at market        (22,685,559 )  (22,685,559 )



                 Total deductions    (129,581,052 )  (23,765,489 )  (153,346,541 )



Net assets available for benefits at end of period   $ 1,974,119,375    8,384,113    1,982,503,488  




See accompanying notes to financial statements.









4




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Period from June 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004


Allocated
Unallocated
Total
Net assets available for benefits                
     at beginning of period   $ 1,734,821,375    20,152,769    1,754,974,144  



Investment income:  
     Income from MTIA    98,052,122        98,052,122  
     Income from all other investments:  
        Dividends and interest    5,737,621    340,990    6,078,611  
        Net realized/unrealized appreciation in  
           fair market value of investments    31,669,459    1,397,362    33,066,821  



                 Total net investment income    135,459,202    1,738,352    137,197,554  



Contributions:  
     Employees    47,582,593        47,582,593  
     Employer        8,048,448    8,048,448  



                 Total contributions    47,582,593    8,048,448    55,631,041  
 
Miscellaneous    (605,232 )  596,555    (8,677 )
 
Allocation of 315,399 shares of common stock  
     of General Mills, Inc. at market    14,535,339        14,535,339  



                 Total additions    196,971,902    10,383,355    207,355,257  



Distributions and expenses:  
     Interest expense        (586,029 )  (586,029 )
     Administrative expenses    (1,039,028 )  (565,134 )  (1,604,162 )
     Distributions to participants/beneficiaries    (63,557,600 )      (63,557,600 )
     Allocation of 315,399 shares of common stock  
        of General Mills, Inc. at market        (14,535,339 )  (14,535,339 )



                 Total deductions    (64,596,628 )  (15,686,502 )  (80,283,130 )



Net assets available for benefits at end of period   $ 1,867,196,649    14,849,622    1,882,046,271  



See accompanying notes to financial statements.








5




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

(1)   Description of the Plan

  The following brief description of the General Mills 401(k) Savings Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the plan document for more complete information.

  The Plan is sponsored by General Mills, Inc. (the Company or General Mills) and administered by various committees. The Plan is a defined contribution employee pension benefit plan designed to offer employees of General Mills the opportunity to participate in a savings and investment program and to provide a source of additional income for retirement. The Plan allows for the withdrawal of certain vested funds during a participant’s active career, subject to significant restrictions.

  The Plan was amended and restated effective January 1, 2005. Under the Plan, nonhighly compensated employees of General Mills may elect to contribute up to 30% of his or her compensation and highly compensated individuals may elect to contribute up to 15% of his or her compensation (as defined by the Plan) on a before-tax basis to certain combinations of 16 investment funds, as described in note 5. Certain classifications of employees are also permitted to make contributions on an after-tax basis. The total of before-tax and after-tax contributions in no event can be more than 30% of compensation for nonhighly compensated employees and 15% of compensation for highly compensated employees. Additionally, the Plan was amended on September 1, 2002 to allow eligible participants to make catch-up contributions. Company matching contributions are made by allocations of shares of General Mills common stock, which are credited to each employee’s account in the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP Fund). The percentage of compensation contributed to the Plan by employees which is eligible for Company matching and the level of Company matching contributions vary among employee classifications.

(2)   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

  (a)   Basis of Presentation

  The accompanying financial statements have been prepared under the accrual-basis method of accounting in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

  (b)   Use of Estimates

  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for participants and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of changes in net assets available for benefits during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

  (c)   Risks and Uncertainties

  The Plan provides for investment in a variety of investment funds. Investments in general are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of the investments will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.



(Continued)

6




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

  (d)   Concentration of Market Risk

  At December 31, 2005 and 2004, approximately 19% and 21%, respectively, of the Plan’s net assets were invested in the common stock of General Mills. The underlying value of General Mills is entirely dependent upon the performance of General Mills and the market’s evaluation of such performance. It is at least reasonably possible that changes in the fair value of General Mills common stock in the near term could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits.

  (e)   Investments

  The investments of the Plan in the GMI Investment Trust (the Investment Trust) are valued at fair value. Pooled funds consist of master trust investment accounts (MTIA) and funds pooled for the purpose of forming participant investment options. Fair value of the Plan’s investments in the pooled funds and in common stock of the Company is based on market values of the underlying securities, as discussed in notes 4 and 5. Short-term investments are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. The Pooled Savings Fixed Fund and U.S. Treasury Fund consist of fixed income securities and investment contracts issued by banks or insurance companies, which are valued at cost plus accumulated interest (contract value), as this is the basis upon which amounts may be withdrawn from the contracts. Contract value approximates fair value.

  Security transactions are recognized on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. The cost of investment securities sold is determined on the weighted average basis.

  The Plan accounts for certain changes in net assets as follows:

      Dividends and interest, net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), and administrative expenses of the investment funds are recognized by the Plan only as they are reflected in the Plan’s proportionate share of net increases (decreases) in the market value of the underlying pooled funds.

      Net realized appreciation (depreciation) is recognized by the Plan upon the sale of investment securities or portions thereof on the basis of average cost to each investment manager’s portfolio.

(3)   Forfeitures and Vesting

  Participants who terminate their employment with the Company forfeit the nonvested portion of the Company’s contributions to their accounts. However, if terminated participants are re-employed by the Company within 60 months of termination, such forfeited nonvested portion of the Company’s contributions is restored to their Plan accounts if the participants repay the amount previously withdrawn from their Company contribution accounts, if any, within 60 months from the date of re-employment. Forfeitures to the Plan can be used to offset future Company contributions, reinstate previously forfeited amounts to reemployed participants, and cover administrative expenses incurred by the leveraged accounts. For the periods ending December 31, 2005 and 2004, $579,653 and $594,941, respectively, were forfeited by participants.



(Continued)

7




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

  The Company’s contributions vest in accordance with the following schedule:

Employee’s eligibility service
Vested
percentage

1 year but less than 2 years      20 %
2 years but less than 3 years    40 %
3 years but less than 4 years    60 %
4 years but less than 5 years    80 %
5 years or more    100 %

  If a participant retires, dies while an active employee, becomes totally and permanently disabled, or if a participant’s employment with the Company is involuntarily terminated due to any reason other than illegal activities, gross misconduct, or violation of the Company’s Code of Conduct, or if the Plan is terminated by the Company, the participant will become 100% vested regardless of the length of Company service.

(4)   Investments

  Participants, at their discretion, may direct their contributions to any of the 16 investment funds listed below.

US Equity Funds:     International Equity Funds:     Balanced Funds:    
     Diversified US Equity        Diversified International        Moderate Balanced  
     Aggressive Equity        Int’l Developed Markets        Aggressive Balanced  
     Growth Equity        Int’l Emerging Markets        Conservative Balanced  
     Value Equity  
     Small and Mid Cap Equity   Fixed Income Funds:   Self-directed brokerage:  
     S&P 500 Enhanced Index        Fixed Income        Fidelity BrokerageLink  
     Company Stock        US Treasury  

  The Company’s contributions to the Plan are invested in the ESOP Fund.

  The following table presents the fair value of investments in the pooled funds and common stock that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets:

December 31,
2005
2004
General Mills, Inc common stock – participant directed     $ 359,096,729    106,363,834  
General Mills, Inc common stock – nonparticipant directed    10,658,615    290,178,005  


(Continued)

8




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

  Net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of the Plan’s investment not held in MTIAs, including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year ended December 31, 2005 and the period from June 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004 are as follows:

December 31,
2005
2004
General Mills, Inc. common stock     $ (763,587 )  33,066,821  


                 Net (depreciation) appreciation in fair value of  
                    investments (not including MTIA)   $ (763,587 )  33,066,821  



  The fair values of the nonparticipant-directed portion of the ESOP Fund are $6,708,531 and $283,574,762 as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Prior to October 2005, all amounts credited to participants’ ESOP accounts were invested in the ESOP Fund and could not be transferred to any of the Plan’s other investment funds. However, beginning in October 2005 all participants are able to transfer amounts in their ESOP accounts to any of the Plan’s other investment funds. Therefore, only the unallocated General Mills common shares are considered to be nonparticipant-directed.

  Significant components of the changes in net assets relating to the nonparticipant-directed portion of the ESOP Fund for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the period from June 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004 are as follows:

December 31,
2005
2004
Changes in nonparticipant-directed funds:            
     Net appreciation (depreciation)   $ (123,399 )  21,662,170  
     Dividends and interest    430,762    5,101,069  


                 Total net investment income    307,363    26,763,239  
     Contributions        8,048,448  
     Distributions to participants        (6,752,214 )
     Interest expense    (466,590 )  (586,029 )
     Forfeitures    579,653    26,555  
     Administrative expenses    (613,340 )  (783,707 )
     Transfers to participant-directed investments    2,052,576    (10,207,806 )


                 Net change in nonparticipant-directed funds   $ 1,859,662    16,508,486  



(5)   Master Trust Investment Accounts (MTIA)

  The pension and savings plans of the Company are invested in the Investment Trust. Mellon Trust is the trustee and custodian of the Investment Trust. Investment managers each manage a portion of the MTIA in the Investment Trust and make investment decisions for the assets of such fund for which they are responsible within specific guidelines established by the General Mills Benefit Finance Committee.



(Continued)

9




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

  Transactions and assets of each of the MTIA are accounted for utilizing the following accounting policies:

    Fund investments are valued as follows:

      Fixed-income securities and common and preferred stocks traded on national exchanges are valued by the trustee at closing prices on the valuation date.

      Unlisted investments are valued at prices quoted by various national markets and publications and/or independent financial analysts.

      Short-term investments are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

      Investment contracts are valued at contract value, which represents net deposits made with banks or insurance companies under the contracts, plus interest at the contract rates. Contract value approximates fair value.

      Positions in the stock index and bond futures contracts are marked-to-market daily and reflect gains and losses on a daily basis.

      Option contracts are valued monthly and unrealized appreciation or depreciation is recorded.

    Dividends, interest income, and administrative expenses are recorded on the accrual basis.

    Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis.

    Deposits to and withdrawals from each fund by participating plans are made at fair value determined as of the end of the business day of the transaction.












(Continued)

10




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

  Net Assets, net investment income and gains and losses of the MTIA are allocated to the pension and savings plans based on each plans’ interest in the investment funds of the MTIA.  The Plan’s interest in all of the investment funds of the MTIA in the Investment Trust as of December 31 are as follows:

Investment
funds in MTIA

Fair value of
MTIA
investment
funds at
December 31,
2005

Plan
participation

MTIA
investment
funds at
December 31,
2004

Plan
participation

Pooled Equity Fund     $ 1,702,012,565    18.8 % $ 1,457,138,689    21.2 %
Pooled International Fund    773,340,184    13.6    680,976,568    11.8  
Pooled Savings Fixed Fund    564,086,028    98.3    545,268,555    98.4  
Alliance Equity    329,203,906    18.4    263,094,919    22.0  
Reich & Tang    198,256,370    6.7    214,639,707    8.3  
Numeric Investors    153,262,201    5.1    154,914,583    4.9  
Mellon Capital    115,562,123    26.6    94,525,425    22.3  
Pooled International  
     Developed Markets    580,360,552    5.3    520,969,446    4.6  
Pooled International  
     Emerging Markets    291,928,974    24.3    211,608,875    13.4  
RCM Mid & Small Cap    658,622    35.0    58,176,725    19.5  
RCM Large Cap            213,651,962    20.3  
Southeastern Asset  
     Management    89,331,215    31.0    76,298,816    33.9  
Sanford Bernstein    137,362,345    29.9    125,374,717    30.5  
General Mills Internal  
     Equity    178,179,894    21.5    172,783,783    30.5  
Arbor Capital    149,527,059    32.3    69,369,799    27.1  
SIT    50,202,588    31.7    69,546,981    27.1  
Boston Partners    185,067,460    21.5    156,208,811    23.8  
Southeastern Small Cap    79,540,396    44.9    71,820,499    53.2  
Numeric Small Cap    44,270,685        33,523,843      
WAMCO    126,556,026    24.6    95,423,579    33.9  
Delaware Investments    147,518,017    15.1          
Sands Capital    146,266,390    15.4          








(Continued)

11




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

Disclosures on all investments funds of the MTIA in the Investment Trust and the net investment gain (loss) for the investment funds of the MTIA in the Investment Trust for the year ended December 31, 2005 are as follows:

Fair value as of December 31, 2005
Pooled
Equity Fund

Pooled
International
Fund

Pooled
Savings
Fixed Fund

Alliance
Equity

Reich &
Tang

Numeric
Investors

Mellon
Capital

Pooled
International
Developed
Markets

Pooled
International
Emerging
Markets

RCM Mid &
Small Cap

Short-term investments     $ 24,331,397    3,763,066    10,864,057    2,393,393    1,840,787    153,757,211            949,616    51,065  
Interest-bearing cash    10,483,354    67,543,695        759                71,069,148          
U.S. government securities    36,973,509                                      
Corporate debt    156,881,629                960                      
Corporate stock – preferred    2,983,956    2,196,543                        2,043,606          
Corporate stock – common    1,330,732,508    205,376,762        326,809,754    196,414,623    148,236,821        216,890,683        607,557  
Common/collective trust    84,779,310    166,723,575    33,863,433                115,562,123    104,698,528    89,477,747      
Registered investment companies    44,852,362    191,099,233                        201,911,658          
Investment contracts            519,358,538                              
Limited partnership        118,999,531                        46,101,668    99,785,566      
Other investments    11,303,276    76,944,437                            101,716,045      
Written options    (1,308,736 )                                    
Foreign currency contracts        1,098,271                        1,308,069          
Short sales        (60,404,930 )              (148,731,832 )      (63,662,807 )        










                 Fair value as of  
                    December 31, 2005   $ 1,702,012,565    773,340,184    564,086,028    329,203,906    198,256,370    153,262,201    115,562,123    580,360,552    291,928,974    658,622  










 
Net investment gain (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2005
Pooled
Equity Fund

Pooled
International
Fund

Pooled
Savings
Fixed Fund

Alliance
Equity

Reich &
Tang

Numeric
Investors

Mellon
Capital

Pooled
International
Developed
Markets

Pooled
International
Emerging
Markets

RCM Mid &
Small Cap

Net appreciation (depreciation) in                                            
     fair value of investments:  
        Interest-bearing cash   $    3,092,496                        3,519,299           
        U.S. government securities    3,304,607                                         
        Corporate debt    16,545,408                                         
        Corporate stock – preferred    1,885,623    (37,069 )                      (42,185 )         
        Corporate stock – common    145,443,313    1,210,599        44,687,539    1,267,402    6,522,422        1,377,677         2,885,017  
        Common/collective trust    (65,729,210 )  72,935,843    1,350,427                5,036,699    58,964,144    24,037,755      
        Registered investment companies    90,690,433    10,044,563                        11,430,839           
        Investment contracts                               
        Limited partnership        20,317,413                        (4,493,368 )  27,614,837      
        Other investments    1,708,607    25,407,941                            28,914,555      
        Written options    22,294,597                                         
        Foreign currency contracts                                             
        Short sales        (1,986,265 )              (13,501,400 )      (2,260,394 )         
        Futures    (92,853,244 )  8,381,719                2,051,281        9,538,501           
        Interest    111,576    48,806    27,749,667    126,948    190,700    4,411,520        24,767    30,158    24,089  
        Dividends                 1,464,128    2,055,526                      186,881  










                 Net investment gain (loss)  
                    for the year ended  
                    December 31, 2005   $ 123,401,709    139,416,046    29,100,094    46,278,615    3,513,629    (516,178 )  5,036,699    78,059,280    80,597,305    3,095,986  













(Continued)

12




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

Fair value as of December 31, 2005
RCM
Large Cap

Southeastern
Asset
Management

Sanford
Bernstein

General
Mills
Internal
Equity

Arbor
Capital

SIT
Boston
Partners

Southeastern
Small Cap

Numeric
Small Cap

WAMCO
Delaware
Investments

Sands
Capital

Short-term investments     $    447,861    2,832,533    12,500,048    7,689,282    1,227,740    7,273,559        44,241,936    8,063,588    302,148    15,465  
Interest-bearing cash                13,299,012                                  
U.S. government securities                32,247,646                        16,243,756          
Corporate debt        3,692,000        105,749,612            221,680            97,707,985          
Corporate stock – preferred                            2,068,894            1,866,625          
Corporate stock – common        85,191,354    134,529,812    1,416,034    141,837,777    48,974,848    177,056,654        42,378,469        147,215,869    146,250,925  
Common/collective trust                                                  
Registered investment companies                1,015,560            133,558    79,540,396                  
Investment contracts                                                  
Limited partnership                                                  
Other investments                11,951,982                        2,674,072          
Written options                            (1,686,885 )                    
Foreign currency contracts                                                  
Short sales                                    (42,349,719 )            












          Fair value as of  
             December 31, 2005   $    89,331,215    137,362,345    178,179,894    149,527,059    50,202,588    185,067,460    79,540,396    44,270,685    126,556,026    147,518,017    146,266,390  












 
Net investment gain (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2005
RCM
Large Cap

Southeastern
Asset
Management

Sanford
Bernstein

General
Mills
Internal
Equity

Arbor
Capital

SIT
Boston
Partners

Southeastern
Small Cap

Numeric
Small Cap

WAMCO
Delaware
Investments

Sands
Capital

Net appreciation (depreciation) in  
    fair value of investments:  
       Interest-bearing cash   $            (97,500 )                                
       U.S. government securities                (444,850 )                      (457,872 )        
       Corporate debt                (281,937 )          275,822            (775,903 )        
       Corporate stock – preferred                            208,309            (20,052 )        
       Corporate stock – common    (4,726,384 )  1,857,329    10,109,937    (643,358 )  3,099,960    10,758,042    14,979,865                17,473,700    16,466,745  
       Common/collective trust                                    4,818,861              
       Registered investment companies                (100,060 )          52,130    6,076,432                  
       Investment contracts                                                  
       Limited partnership                                                  
       Other investments                68,544                        4,709          
       Written options                            657,947                      
       Foreign currency contracts                (1,049,400 )                                
       Short sales                                    (1,788,744 )            
       Futures                5,129,427                        1,855,066          
       Interest    75,838    1,092,097    99,675    7,063,533    120,790    139,545    622,727        1,027,494    5,076,913    29,198    53,766  
       Dividends    1,133,882    448,373    2,432,991    764,893    36,508    394,225    3,226,158    1,643,465        101,892    395,372    118,434  












          Net investment gain (loss)  
             for the year ended  
             December 31, 2005   $ (3,516,664 )  3,397,800    12,642,603    10,409,290    3,257,258    11,291,813    20,022,957    7,719,897    4,057,610    5,784,752    17,898,270    16,638,944  















(Continued)

13




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

Disclosures on all investments funds of the MTIA in the Investment Trust and the net investment gain (loss) for the investment funds of the MTIA in the Investment Trust for the period from June 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004 are as follows:

Fair value as of December 31, 2004
Pooled
Equity Fund

Pooled
International
Fund

Pooled
Savings
Fixed Fund

Alliance
Equity

Reich &
Tang

Numeric
Investors

Mellon
Capital

Pooled
International
Developed
Markets

Pooled
International
Emerging
Markets

RCM Mid &
Small Cap

Short-term investments     $ 1,461,683    1,053,377    17,553,087    4,068,189    4,605,832    152,434,218        975,422    1,196,665    398,831  
Interest-bearing cash    12,036,047    59,597,161                        64,987,027          
U.S. government securities    34,570,085                                      
Corporate debt    126,761,274                980                      
Corporate stock – preferred    2,380,580    496,643                        511,317          
Corporate stock – common    1,164,022,063    54,630,731        259,026,230    210,032,895    149,389,088        57,866,443        57,777,894  
Common/collective trust    73,437,586    334,440,299    32,612,201                94,525,425    290,768,342    65,439,992      
Registered investment companies    33,634,095    119,194,322                        123,879,557          
Investment contracts            495,103,267                              
Limited partnership        97,080,272                        33,872,317    72,170,728      
Other investments    10,747,729    64,148,064                            72,801,490      
Written options    (1,912,453 )                                    
Foreign currency contracts        4,966,430                        6,136,433          
Short sales        (54,630,731 )              (146,908,723 )      (58,027,412 )        










                 Fair value as of  
                    December 31, 2004   $ 1,457,138,689    680,976,568    545,268,555    263,094,419    214,639,707    154,914,583    94,525,425    520,969,446    211,608,875    58,176,725  










 
Net investment gain (loss) for the period from June 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004
Pooled
Equity Fund

Pooled
International
Fund

Pooled
Savings
Fixed Fund

Alliance
Equity

Reich &
Tang

Numeric
Investors

Mellon
Capital

Pooled
International
Developed
Markets

Pooled
International
Emerging
Markets

RCM Mid &
Small Cap

Net appreciation (depreciation) in                                            
     fair value of investments:  
        Interest-bearing cash   $    5,462,541                        5,879,380          
        U.S. government securities    500,450                                      
        Corporate debt    54,656                                      
        Corporate stock – preferred    (122,644 )  105,687                        113,752          
        Corporate stock – common    117,453,525    690,368        16,718,463    19,077,247    21,353,470        743,049        3,677,804  
        Common/collective trust    11,578,941    68,237,192    701,231                8,215,618    61,495,279    11,949,000      
        Registered investment companies    2,017,559    7,346,371                        7,906,962          
        Investment contracts            7,082                              
        Limited partnership    (2,675 )  16,875,024                        3,938,376    14,224,359      
        Other investments    215,534    16,669,500                        2,868,775    15,072,752      
        Written options    3,406,794                                      
        Foreign currency contracts                                          
        Short sales        (5,913,168 )              (18,027,774 )      (6,364,394 )        
        Futures    (10,980,423 )  (1,560,182 )              12,265,890        (1,679,237 )        
        Interest    18,627    11,412    15,045,672    26,035    52,148    1,098,481        5,531    6,866    9,349  
        Dividends                1,053,362    3,048,813                    148,825  










                 Net investment gain (loss)  
                    for the period from  
                    June 1, 2004 to  
                    December 31, 2004   $ 124,140,344    107,924,745    15,753,985    17,797,860    22,178,208    16,690,067    8,215,618    74,907,473    41,252,977    3,835,978  














(Continued)

14




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

Fair value as of December 31, 2005
RCM
Large Cap

Southeastern
Asset
Management

Sanford
Bernstein

General
Mills
Internal
Equity

Arbor
Capital

SIT
Boston
Partners

Southeastern
Small Cap

Numeric
Small Cap

WAMCO
Short-term investments     $ 4,083,832    9,172,737    4,759,138    22,850,942    3,100,087    3,563,160    5,576,887        33,237,234    10,053,690  
Interest-bearing cash                15,679,630            1,889            129,597  
U.S. government securities                31,993,728                        12,544,717  
Corporate debt                91,224,491            2,118,108            70,329,727  
Corporate stock – preferred                            2,261,317            185,000  
Corporate stock – common    209,568,130    67,126,079    120,615,579    149,386    66,269,712    65,983,821    147,598,895        31,101,037      
Common/collective trust                                          
Registered investment companies                                71,820,499          
Investment contracts                                          
Limited partnership                                          
Other investments                11,848,106                        2,180,848  
Written options                (962,500 )          (1,348,285 )            
Foreign currency contracts                                          
Short sales                                    (30,814,428 )    










               Fair value as of  
                  December 31, 2004   $ 213,651,962    76,298,816    125,374,717    172,783,783    69,369,799    69,546,981    156,208,811    71,820,499    33,523,843    95,423,579  










 
Net investment gain (loss) for the period from June 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004
RCM
Large Cap

Southeastern
Asset
Management

Sanford
Bernstein

General
Mills
Internal
Equity

Arbor
Capital

SIT
Boston
Partners

Southeastern
Small Cap

Numeric
Small Cap

WAMCO
Net appreciation (depreciation) in  
   fair value of investments:  
      Interest-bearing cash   $                                      
      U.S. government securities                205,402                        (107,758 )
      Corporate debt                (400,307 )          441,007            (369,193 )
      Corporate stock – preferred                            171,378              
      Corporate stock – common    9,205,208    5,761,001    11,906,329    (145,422 )  2,134,242    6,251,418    19,737,570              
      Common/collective trust                                    8,410,287      
      Registered investment companies                                6,960,531          
      Investment contracts                                          
      Limited partnership                                          
      Other investments                41,560                        116,199  
      Written options                            (376,320 )            
      Foreign currency contracts                1,049,400                          
      Short sales                                    (5,055,202 )    
      Futures                11,122,605                        7,079,403  
      Interest    68,931    65,936    20,981    3,039,353    29,428    22,895    73,592        187,805    1,976,964  
      Dividends    1,684,284    377,179    1,493,144    249,035    22,964    142,226    1,720,939    1,008,229          










               Net investment gain (loss)  
                  for the period from  
                  June 1, 2004 to  
                  December 31, 2004   $ 10,958,423    6,204,116    13,420,454    15,161,626    2,186,634    6,416,539    21,768,166    7,968,760    3,542,890    8,695,615  













(Continued)

15




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

  (a)   Futures Transactions and Foreign Exchange Contracts

  In order to gain exposure to or attempt to protect itself from changes in the market, the Investment Trust may buy and sell stock index futures contracts. Risks of entering into futures contracts, in general, include the possibility there may be an illiquid market and that a change in the value of the contract may not correlate with changes in the value of the underlying securities. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Investment Trust is required to deposit as collateral either cash or securities in an amount (initial margin) equal to a certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received by the Investment Trust each day. The variation margin payments are equal to the daily changes in the contract value and are recorded as gains and losses.

  Certain assets managed by General Mills’ internal management have a variation margin payable at December 31, 2005 and 2004 totaling $(721,127) and $(163,087), respectively. Investments managed by General Mills’ internal management, that are held by brokers as collateral on contracts, totaled $10,899,012 and $15,756,630 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The assets are fair valued on a daily basis and gains and losses are recorded daily.

  Certain assets managed by Numeric Investors have a variation margin receivable (payable) at December 31, 2005 and 2004 totaling $(985,417) and $188,020, respectively. Investments managed by Numeric Investors that are held by brokers as collateral on contracts totaled $13,371,346 and $13,173,431 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The assets are fair valued on a daily basis and gains and losses are recorded daily.

  Certain assets managed by Western Asset Management Company have a variation margin payable at December 31, 2005 and 2004 totaling $(510,768) and $(78,256), respectively. Investments managed by Western Asset Management Company that are held by brokers as collateral on contracts totaled $6,751,000 and $10,183,287 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The assets are fair valued on a daily basis and gains and losses are recorded daily.

  The Bank of New York Fund, which is contained in the Pooled International Developed Markets Fund, consists of numerous foreign exchange contracts. The net valuation, in U.S. dollars, of the contracts totaled $(1,138,965) and $439,108 on December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The position of the contracts is valued daily and gains and losses are recorded daily.

  (b)   Options Transactions

  In order to produce incremental earnings, attempt to protect gains, and facilitate buying and selling of securities for investment purposes, the Trust may buy and sell put and call options, write covered call options on portfolio securities, and write cash-secured puts. The risk in writing a call option is that the fund gives up the opportunity for profit if the market price of the security increases. In writing a put option, the fund may incur a loss if the market price of the security decreases and the option is exercised. In buying an option, the fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. The Investment Trust also has the additional risk of not being able to enter into a closing transaction if a liquid secondary market does not exist. The Trust also may write over-the-counter options where the completion of the obligations is dependent upon the credit standing of the other party.



(Continued)

16




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

  Boston Partners Fund had 2,491 and 4,941 option contracts outstanding with market values of $(1,686,885) and $(1,348,285) and proceeds of $944,488 and $936,806 on December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

  General Mills’ Internal Management had 75 option contracts outstanding with a market value of $25,313 and proceeds of $131,588 on December 31, 2005.

(6)   Company Stock Fund

  The Company Stock Fund consists of common stock of General Mills and cash for dividends and fractional shares. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the market value of the shares held was $104,439,828 and $106,363,834, respectively, and the number of shares held was 2,117,596 and 2,139,686, respectively. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the value of the cash held was $1,421,052 and $29,147, respectively. Participants should refer to the consolidated financial statements of General Mills and subsidiaries included in the Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders, which is distributed to all participants in the Plan.

(7)   ESOP Fund

  The ESOP Fund consists of common stock of General Mills and cash for dividends and fractional shares. All amounts credited to participants’ ESOP accounts will be invested in the ESOP Fund. Participants may then elect to transfer balances from the ESOP Fund to any of the Plan’s other investment funds (see Footnote 4). However, no amounts may be transferred from any of the other investment funds into the ESOP Fund.

  The ESOP Fund is presented in the following table:

December 31, 2005
December 31, 2004
Allocated
Unallocated
Allocated
Unallocated
General Mills common shares:                    
     Number of shares    5,163,360    216,111    5,431,354    406,062  
     Cost   $ 103,726,105    2,662,074    100,365,407    4,986,409  
     Market    254,656,901    10,658,615    269,992,629    20,185,376  

  In June 1989, the Plan borrowed $92.4 million in a private loan transaction and purchased shares of the Company’s common stock. The 8.24% loan provides for quarterly payments through June 30, 2007 and is guaranteed by the Company. The remaining loan will be repaid using future Company contributions and dividends paid on Company stock owned by the Investment Trust.








(Continued)

17




GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005 and 2004

  The amount of debt that becomes due in the next two years is as follows:

Year ending December 31:
     2006     $ 2,213,000  
     2007    1,801,000  

    $ 4,014,000  

(8)   Tax Status

  The Plan obtained its latest determination letter on March 28, 2003 in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the plan administrator and the Plan’s tax counsel believe that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. Therefore, they believe that the Plan was qualified and the related trust was tax exempt as of the financial statement date.

(9)   Parties-in-Interest

  Mellon Trust is a party-in-interest under the Pension Reform Act with respect to the Plan. Investments held by Mellon Trust are exempt from being considered as prohibited transactions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) Section 408(b).

  Fidelity Investments is a party-in-interest with respect to the Plan. Fidelity is the Recordkeeper of the Plan and acts as the Broker on the Fidelity BrokerageLink account. In the opinion of the Plan’s management, transactions between the Plan and the Recordkeeper are exempt from being considered as prohibited transactions under ERISA Section 408(b). Subsequent to December 31, 2005, Fidelity was replaced by Hewitt Associates as the Recordkeeper of the Plan, and the Fidelity BrokerageLink account was replaced with the Schwab Personal Choice Retirement Account.

  The Company is a party-in-interest with respect to the Plan. The Company is the administrator of the Plan and the ESOP Fund. The Plan invests in common stock of the Company. In addition, the Plan reimburses the Company for services provided, such as wages and travel expenses, associated with the Plan. The cost of services provided for the year ended December 31, 2005 and for the period from June 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004 were $422,959 and $301,614, respectively. The Company believes these activities are exempt when considering prohibited transactions under ERISA Section 408(b).









18




Schedule 1

GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

December 31, 2005

Issuer
Face amount
or number
of units

Cost
Current
value

Common stock:                
     General Mills, Inc.*:  
        Participant-directed    7,280,956   $ 175,386,229    359,096,729  
        Nonparticipant-directed    216,111    2,662,074    10,658,615  
 
Unallocated insurance contracts:  
     Monumental Life Insurance    12,500,021    12,500,021    12,500,021  
 
Short-term investment fund:  
     TBC, Inc. Pooled Employee Funds  
        Daily Liquidity Fund*    11,047,409    11,047,409    11,047,409  
 
Participant loan fund*  
     (interest rates ranging from 6.25% to 8.0%)    26,123,433    26,123,433    26,123,433  
 
Directed Brokerage Fund        **             50,708,076  

  *

Party-in-interest.

**

Participant-directed investment.


See accompanying independent auditors’ report.













19




Schedule II

GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN

Schedule H, Line 4j – Schedule of Reportable Transactions

Year ended December 31, 2005

5% series of transactions by security issue (iii):

Issuer/description
Purchase
price

Selling
price

Cost of
asset

Current
value

Net
gain (loss)

Short-term investment fund:                        
     TBC, Inc. Pooled Employee Funds –  
        Daily Liquidity Fund   $ 172,652,587    171,364,975    171,364,975    171,364,975      

See accompanying independent auditors’ report.





















20




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Plan Committee of the General Mills 401(k) Savings Plan has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

  GENERAL MILLS 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
 
    By:    /s/   Jeanne Denz
    Jeanne Denz, Secretary
Plan Committee of the General Mills 401(k) Savings Plan
 

Date: June 29, 2006

















EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
  Description
23   Consent of KPMG LLP.