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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i4cdcecddf59f466ba3cbdaf1fe6ebd71_1"></div><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2021</font></div><div style="text-align:right"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Registration No. 333- </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">UNITED STATES</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">FORM S-8</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">UNDER</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:24pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:5pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:46.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:46.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="9" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Florida</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">59-3305930</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(State or other jurisdiction of</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">incorporation or organization)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(I.R.S. employer</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">identification no.)</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1000 Darden Center Drive</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Orlando, Florida 32837</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(Full title of the plan)</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Matthew R. Broad, Esq.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Darden Restaurants, Inc.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1000 Darden Center Drive</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Orlando, Florida 32837</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(407) 245-5000</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">(Name, address and telephone number,</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">including area code, of agent for service)</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:24.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definition of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;smaller reporting company,&#8221; and &#8220;emerging growth company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)&#58;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div style="margin-top:5pt;padding-left:2.25pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.839%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:20.729%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.602%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.110%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:43.201%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.602%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:25.224%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:2.532%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Large accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">x</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#168;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-accelerated filer</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#168;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Smaller reporting company</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#168;</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Emerging growth company</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#168;</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Wingdings',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">&#168;</font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:132%"> </font></div></div></div><div id="i4cdcecddf59f466ba3cbdaf1fe6ebd71_4"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:144%">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div><div style="margin-top:5pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.873%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:5.188%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:26.660%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.873%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:14.237%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.873%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.942%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.873%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:17.304%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.873%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.566%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.566%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:10.096%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.566%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.566%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.566%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.578%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="42" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="9" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Title of securities</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">to be registered</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Amount</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">to be</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">registered (1)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Proposed</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">maximum</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">offering price</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">per share </font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Proposed</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">maximum</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">aggregate</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">offering price</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="12" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Amount of</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:1.12pt;padding-right:1.12pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">registration fee</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Common Stock, without par value</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,000,000 shares</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$157.83(2)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$157,830,000(2)</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$14,630.84</font></td><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="6" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="39" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(1)</font></td><td colspan="39" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:justify;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (&#34;Securities Act&#34;), this registration statement shall be deemed to cover any additional shares of Common Stock which may be issuable under the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan as adjustments to reflect stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2)</font></td><td colspan="39" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:justify;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low sales prices of the registrant's Common Stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange as reported in the consolidated reporting system on September 28, 2021.</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:132%"> </font></div></div></div><div id="i4cdcecddf59f466ba3cbdaf1fe6ebd71_7"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">EXPLANATORY NOTE</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the &#34;Company&#34;) previously filed a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-178876) registering the issuance of 1,500,000 shares of the Company&#8217;s common stock under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the &#34;Purchase Plan&#34;) as an addition to shares that were previously authorized and registered for purchase under the Purchase Plan.  As of September 21, 2021, a total of 5,241,899 shares of common stock had been authorized for issuance under the Purchase Plan, of which 682,249 shares remained available for purchase under the Purchase Plan as of September 21, 2021.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">On September 22, 2021, the Company&#8217;s shareholders approved an amendment and restatement of the  Purchase Plan (to be effective October 1, 2021) that, among other things, increased the number of shares of the Company&#8217;s common stock that may be issued under the Purchase Plan by 1,000,000 shares, for a total of 6,241,899 shares.  The amendments also permitted executive officers filing reports under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#34;Exchange Act&#34;) to participate in the Purchase Plan and made various non-material changes to the provisions regarding the administration of the Purchase Plan.  </font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed by the Company for the purpose of registering the issuance of an additional 1,000,000 shares of the Company&#8217;s common stock under the Purchase Plan. This Registration Statement will increase the number of shares registered under the Purchase Plan to 6,241,899 shares. The content contained in the Company&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-178876) is hereby incorporated by reference pursuant to General Instruction E.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:132%"> </font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">PART I</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being filed with or included in this Form S-8 (by incorporation by reference or otherwise) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">PART II</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">ITEM 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The following documents, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Darden Restaurants, Inc. (&#8220;we,&#8221; &#8220;us&#8221; or &#8220;Darden&#8221;), are incorporated by reference in this registration statement (excluding any documents or portions of documents not deemed to be filed)&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(a)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:6.91pt">our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2021, filed July 23, 2021&#59;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(b)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:6.34pt">our current reports on Form 8-K filed September 13, 2021 and the Item 5.07 report filed September 23, 2021&#59; and</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(c)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:6.91pt">the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.7 to the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2021,  including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In addition, all documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such information that are related to such items) subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold, or which deregisters all securities remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents. </font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">ITEM 4. Description of Securities.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:144%">Not applicable.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:14pt;font-weight:400;line-height:144%"> </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">ITEM 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Anthony G. Morrow, who has given an opinion of counsel with respect to the securities to which the registration statement relates, is an employee and officer (Senior Vice President, Division General Counsel - Securities and Finance and Assistant Secretary) of Darden. Mr. Morrow is a participant in the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As of September 28, 2021, Mr. Morrow held 9,505 shares of Darden common stock, 1,075 unvested Darden restricted stock units, 2,552 unvested Darden performance stock units that may settle in shares of Darden common stock, options to purchase 26,347 shares of Darden common stock, of which 5,998 were unvested, and 43 shares of Darden common stock held through a partnership.</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:132%"> </font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">ITEM 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Florida law contains provisions permitting and, in some situations, requiring Florida corporations to provide indemnification to their officers and directors for losses and litigation expense incurred in connection with their service to the corporation in those capacities. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions requiring us to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. Among other things, these provisions provide indemnification for officers and directors against liabilities for judgments in and settlements of lawsuits and other proceedings and for the advancement and payment of fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the director or officer in defense of any such lawsuit or proceeding. </font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">In addition, our articles of incorporation and bylaws authorize us to purchase insurance for our directors and officers insuring them against certain risks as to which we may be unable lawfully to indemnify them. We maintain such insurance coverage for our officers and directors as well as insurance coverage to reimburse Darden for potential costs of our corporate indemnification of officers and directors.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">ITEM 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Not applicable.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">ITEM 8. Exhibits.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:5pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:98.717%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:7.503%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:90.297%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Exhibit No.</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Exhibit Description</font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094416000113/ex31dardenrestatedarticles.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation effective June 29, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit</a><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094416000113/ex31dardenrestatedarticles.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"> </a><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094416000113/ex31dardenrestatedarticles.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 5, 2016).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.2</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/940944/000094094420000040/ex31bylawsasamendedthrou.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%;text-decoration:underline">Bylaws as amended effective June 24, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 25, 2020).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex51opinionespps-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Opinion of </a><a href="ex51opinionespps-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Anthony G. Morrow, Esq.</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.1</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex51opinionespps-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consent of </a><a href="ex51opinionespps-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Anthony G. Morrow, Esq.</a><a href="ex51opinionespps-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"> (included in Exhibit 5.1).</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23.2</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex232kpmgconsentespps-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consent of KPMG LLP.</a></font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 3.25pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">24</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"><a href="ex24poaespps-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Power of Attorney</a><a href="ex24poaespps-8.htm" style="color:#0000ff;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">.</a></font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:144%">ITEM 9. Undertakings.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:67.5pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(1)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:6.34pt">To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:67.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:108pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(i)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:26.57pt">To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#34;Securities Act&#34;)&#59;</font></div><div style="padding-left:108pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:108pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(ii)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:23.8pt">To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more </font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:132%"> </font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div><div style="padding-left:108pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Registration Fee&#8221; table in the effective registration statement&#59; and</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:108pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(iii)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:21.03pt">To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement&#59;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">provided</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">however</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#34;Exchange Act&#34;) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:132%"> </font></div></div></div><div id="i4cdcecddf59f466ba3cbdaf1fe6ebd71_10"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:72pt;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SIGNATURES</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Orlando, State of Florida, on the 1</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">st</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> day of October 2021.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:5pt;padding-left:225pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:52.243%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:8.409%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.947%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:87.244%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.</font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">By&#58;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#47;s&#47; Eugene I. Lee, Jr.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Eugene I. Lee, Jr.</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chairman and Chief Executive Officer<br></font></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:24.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:24.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 1</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">st</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> day of October 2021.</font></div><div style="margin-top:5pt;padding-left:2.25pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:24.75pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:100.000%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:42.329%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.601%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.601%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.601%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:53.068%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Signature</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Title</font></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#47;s&#47; Eugene I. Lee, Jr.</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Eugene I. Lee, Jr. </font></div><div style="padding-left:4.5pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:4.5pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:4.5pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#47;s&#47; Rajesh Vennam</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(principal executive officer)<br></font><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"><br><br></font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Rajesh Vennam</font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#47;s&#47; John W. Madonna</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(principal financial officer) </font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">John W. Madonna</font></div><div style="margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">By&#58; &#47;s&#47; Anthony G. Morrow</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(principal accounting officer)</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Anthony G. Morrow<br>Attorney-in-fact for&#58;<br></font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Margaret Sh&#226;n Atkins</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">James P. Fogarty</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Cynthia T. Jamison</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Nana Mensah</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">William S. Simon</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Charles M. Sonsteby</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;margin-top:2pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Timothy J. Wilmott</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><div style="margin-bottom:2pt;padding-left:2.25pt;padding-right:2.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Director</font></div></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:72pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:132%"> </font></div></div></div></body></html>
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Document
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Florida
59-3305930
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. employer
identification no.)
1000 Darden Center Drive
Orlando, Florida 32837
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)
Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Matthew R. Broad, Esq.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
1000 Darden Center Drive
Orlando, Florida 32837
(407) 245-5000
(Name, address and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definition of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
¨
Non-accelerated filer
¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
¨
Emerging growth company
¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities
to be registered
Amount
to be
registered (1)
Proposed
maximum
offering price
per share
Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price
Amount of
registration fee
Common Stock, without par value
1,000,000 shares
$157.83(2)
$157,830,000(2)
$14,630.84
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), this registration statement shall be deemed to cover any additional shares of Common Stock which may be issuable under the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan as adjustments to reflect stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low sales prices of the registrant's Common Stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange as reported in the consolidated reporting system on September 28, 2021.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the "Company") previously filed a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-178876) registering the issuance of 1,500,000 shares of the Company's common stock under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") as an addition to shares that were previously authorized and registered for purchase under the Purchase Plan.  As of September 21, 2021, a total of 5,241,899 shares of common stock had been authorized for issuance under the Purchase Plan, of which 682,249 shares remained available for purchase under the Purchase Plan as of September 21, 2021.
On September 22, 2021, the Company's shareholders approved an amendment and restatement of the  Purchase Plan (to be effective October 1, 2021) that, among other things, increased the number of shares of the Company's common stock that may be issued under the Purchase Plan by 1,000,000 shares, for a total of 6,241,899 shares.  The amendments also permitted executive officers filing reports under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") to participate in the Purchase Plan and made various non-material changes to the provisions regarding the administration of the Purchase Plan.
Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed by the Company for the purpose of registering the issuance of an additional 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock under the Purchase Plan. This Registration Statement will increase the number of shares registered under the Purchase Plan to 6,241,899 shares. The content contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-178876) is hereby incorporated by reference pursuant to General Instruction E.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being filed with or included in this Form S-8 (by incorporation by reference or otherwise) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Darden Restaurants, Inc. ("we," "us" or "Darden"), are incorporated by reference in this registration statement (excluding any documents or portions of documents not deemed to be filed):
(a)
our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2021, filed July 23, 2021;
(b)
our current reports on Form 8-K filed September 13, 2021 and the Item 5.07 report filed September 23, 2021; and
(c)
the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.7 to the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2021,  including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
In addition, all documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, including any exhibits included with such information that are related to such items) subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold, or which deregisters all securities remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
ITEM 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Anthony G. Morrow, who has given an opinion of counsel with respect to the securities to which the registration statement relates, is an employee and officer (Senior Vice President, Division General Counsel - Securities and Finance and Assistant Secretary) of Darden. Mr. Morrow is a participant in the Darden Restaurants, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As of September 28, 2021, Mr. Morrow held 9,505 shares of Darden common stock, 1,075 unvested Darden restricted stock units, 2,552 unvested Darden performance stock units that may settle in shares of Darden common stock, options to purchase 26,347 shares of Darden common stock, of which 5,998 were unvested, and 43 shares of Darden common stock held through a partnership.
ITEM 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Florida law contains provisions permitting and, in some situations, requiring Florida corporations to provide indemnification to their officers and directors for losses and litigation expense incurred in connection with their service to the corporation in those capacities. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions requiring us to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. Among other things, these provisions provide indemnification for officers and directors against liabilities for judgments in and settlements of lawsuits and other proceedings and for the advancement and payment of fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the director or officer in defense of any such lawsuit or proceeding.
In addition, our articles of incorporation and bylaws authorize us to purchase insurance for our directors and officers insuring them against certain risks as to which we may be unable lawfully to indemnify them. We maintain such insurance coverage for our officers and directors as well as insurance coverage to reimburse Darden for potential costs of our corporate indemnification of officers and directors.
ITEM 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
4.1
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation effective June 29, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 5, 2016).
4.2
Bylaws as amended effective June 24, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 25, 2020).
5.1
Opinion of
Anthony G. Morrow, Esq.
23.1
Consent of
Anthony G. Morrow, Esq.
(included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2
Consent of KPMG LLP.
24
Power of Attorney
.
ITEM 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided
,
however
, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Orlando, State of Florida, on the 1
st
day of October 2021.
DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
By:
/s/ Eugene I. Lee, Jr.
Eugene I. Lee, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 1
st
day of October 2021.
Signature
Title
/s/ Eugene I. Lee, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Director
Eugene I. Lee, Jr.
/s/ Rajesh Vennam
(principal executive officer)
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Rajesh Vennam
/s/ John W. Madonna
(principal financial officer)
Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller
John W. Madonna
By: /s/ Anthony G. Morrow
(principal accounting officer)
Anthony G. Morrow
Attorney-in-fact for:
Margaret Shân Atkins
Director
James P. Fogarty
Director
Cynthia T. Jamison
Director
Nana Mensah
Director
William S. Simon
Director
Charles M. Sonsteby
Director
Timothy J. Wilmott
Director