ready willing - Darden Restaurants

Independent Auditors’ Reportreadyandwillingto serveBoard of TrusteesDarden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation:We have audited the accompanying statements of financial position of DardenRestaurants, Inc. Foundation (the Foundation) as of May 31, 2010 and 2009, andthe related statements of activities and cash flows for the years then ended.These financial statements are the responsibility of the Foundation’s management.Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based onour audits.We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generallyaccepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we planand perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financialstatements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes consideration ofinternal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit proceduresthat are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressingan opinion on the effectiveness of the Foundation’s internal control over financialreporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includesexamining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures inthe financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significantestimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financialstatement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis forour opinion.In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in allmaterial respects, the financial position of the Foundation as of May 31, 2010 and2009, and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the years then endedin conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.August 23, 2010Certified Public Accountants1 8 / I N D E P E N D E N T A U D I T O R S ’ R E P O R T