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Universal Corporation

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Employees 10800
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FY2006 Annual Report · Universal Corporation
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Universal Corporation

ANNUAL REPORT 2006

Financial Highlights

in thousands, except per share data

Operations

Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2006

Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2005

Nine-Month
Transition Year Ended
March 31, 2004

Sales and other operating revenues

$ 

3,511,332

$ 

3,276,057

$ 

2,271,152

Operating income

Net income

Per Common Share

Net income — basic

Net income — diluted

Dividends declared

Indicated 12-month dividend rate

  Market price at year-end

At Year End

  Working capital

Shareholders’ equity

104,353

7,940

208,556

96,013

191,626

99, 636

$ 

$ 

0.31

0.31

1.70

1.72

36.77

864,792

964,871

$ 

$ 

3.76

3.73

1.62

1.68

45.77

819,047

822,388

$ 

$ 

3.97

3.94

1.14

1.56

50.82

789,530

759,833

Earnings Per Share—Diluted

Return on Beginning Equity

Stock Price

in dollars

percent

in dollars at end of fi scal year

*
4
9
.
3

3
7
.
3

4
3
.
4

0
0
.
4

8
.
8
1

3
.
9
1

*
1
.
6
1

6
.
2
1

2
8
.
0
5

7
7
.
5
4

7
7
.
6
3

0
3
.
2
4

0
7
.
6
3

1
3
.
0

0
.
1

06

05

04

03

02

06

05

04

03

02

06

05

04

03

02

* Nine-month transition year

About the Company
Universal Corporation, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, was founded 
in 1918. The Company, through its subsidiaries and affi liates, is one of 
the world’s leading tobacco merchants and processors, as well as a leading 
lumber and building products distributor in the Netherlands. In addition, the 
Company is engaged in a number of value-added agri-products enterprises.
Universal conducts business in more than 35 countries and employs 
approximately 30,000 permanent and seasonal workers. Effective in 2004, 
the Company changed its fi scal year end from June 30 to March 31. Financial 
results for 2004 are for the nine-month transition year ended March 31, 2004.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To Our Shareholders

Fiscal year 2006 was extremely diffi cult, with challenges in virtually all of the Company’s business 

arenas. While we expected the year to be a challenging one due to the impact on sales and margins of 

a poor quality Brazilian crop and the strength of the Brazilian currency, there were a number of other 

factors that also contributed to the decline in earnings from last year.

•  Weather-related low yields in the Company’s fl ue-cured growing projects in Malawi and 

Zambia increased our unit costs for that tobacco and eroded margins;

• 

Provisions for uncollectible farmer advances, primarily in Brazil and Africa, were $26 million 

higher than last year;

•  A signifi cant drop in almond and sunfl ower market prices resulted in losses of approximately 

$17 million in our agri-products segment;

•  The closing of our Danville, Virginia, processing plant due to declining tobacco production 

in the United States resulted in a restructuring charge of $24 million; and 

•  An impairment charge of $29 million was recorded to adjust our investment in Zimbabwe 

to estimated fair value following the deconsolidation of that investment under U.S. 

accounting requirements.

Net income for fi scal year 2006 was $7.9 million or $.31 per diluted share, compared to $96 

million, or $3.73 per diluted share in the previous year. Results for the previous year also included 

some unusual items, primarily a charge of $14.9 million for fi nes related to the European Union’s 

investigation of tobacco buying practices in Spain, which are now under appeal. For detailed 

information on the Company’s fi scal year 2006 performance, please see “Management’s Discussions 

and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the following 2006 Annual Report 

on Form 10-K.

On a positive note, the results for the Company’s U.S. tobacco operations were signifi cantly 

improved due to operating effi ciencies, higher sales volumes and, in the fourth quarter, cost savings 

from the closing of the Danville facility. In addition, our new processing facility in Mozambique 

came on line and is performing well. In our non-tobacco businesses, lumber and building products 

were down $8.1 million for the year, but results were improved in the fourth quarter, and there are 

signs that the Dutch economy may be improving. Absent the losses associated with market declines 

in almonds and sunfl ower seeds, our agri-products business showed signifi cant improvement on the 

strength of improved markets in rubber, cashews, and seeds. In addition to the rationalization of our 

U.S. operations, we also undertook a program to signifi cantly reduce overhead. As a result of these 

actions and the effect of deconsolidating our investment in Zimbabwe under accounting guidelines, 

which together gave rise to $57.5 million in restructuring and impairment costs, we expect to reduce 

operating costs by $25 million. 

1 | 2006 Annual Report

While our initiatives in fi scal year 2006 will benefi t fi scal year 2007 results, and we believe that 

our business is fundamentally sound, in the coming months we will take several additional steps 

to improve the Company’s future performance. We must improve the profi tability of the tobacco 

business and reduce our debt, and we have a plan to do so. The Company must work to restore the 

balance between leaf supply and demand, particularly in fl ue-cured tobacco. We will begin the process 

by reducing our 2007 crop production in Brazil and managing our production and purchases of other 

tobaccos to ensure that they are consistent with our loyal customers’ requirements. We will focus on 

generating more cash in the tobacco business by reducing working capital investments and capital 

expenditures. We will also focus on increasing economic profi t in the tobacco business by reducing 

funds employed and by improving the profi tability of our marginal operations or shutting them down. 

Of course, we also will focus on controlling costs and maintaining our commitment to quality.

As disclosed on March 13, 2006, the Company is cooperating with the appropriate U.S. 

authorities in investigating potential violations of law reported on the Company’s ethics complaint 

hotline, and we are taking steps to ensure that no such problems occur in the future. I want to assure 

you that the Company is committed to operating at all times within the bounds of the law and the 

Company’s own ethics policies. We will continue to emphasize adherence to the highest moral and 

ethical standards. Any deviation from our standards will not be tolerated. 

In March 2006, we reminded you that as part of our strategy for enhancing shareholder value, 

the Company routinely evaluates strategic alternatives for our various business units. We are still in 

discussions regarding an offer for a substantial portion of our non-tobacco business. However, we 

cannot be certain that these discussions will result in a transaction.

We know that we have a lot of work to do in fi scal year 2007, but we are confi dent that with the 

help of committed employees and the support of our loyal customers all over the world that we will 

achieve our goals. I would like to thank all of our employees for their hard work and dedication during 

this diffi cult year. I would also like to thank our valued long-term customers for their support, and 

you, our shareholders, for your continued support and patience during this diffi cult year.

Allen B. King
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Offi cer

Universal Corporation | 2

Universal Corporation

Universal Leaf 
Tobacco Company, Inc.

DIRECTORS

CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

DIRECTORS

John B. Adams, Jr. 3 4
President and Chief Executive Offi cer
Bowman Companies

Chester A. Crocker 2 3
Professor of Strategic Studies
Walsh School of Foreign Service
Georgetown University

Joseph C. Farrell 1 2 5
Retired Chairman, President,
and Chief Executive Offi cer
The Pittston Company,
now known as The Brink’s Company

Charles H. Foster, Jr. 1 3 5
Chairman
LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc.

Thomas H. Johnson 2 4
Vice Chairman
Chesapeake Corporation

Allen B. King 1 3
Chairman, President, and
Chief Executive Offi cer
Universal Corporation

Eddie N. Moore, Jr. 2 4
President
Virginia State University

Jeremiah J. Sheehan 1 4 5
Retired Chairman and
Chief Executive Offi cer
Reynolds Metals Company

➊   Retired March 31, 2006
➋  Elected April 1, 2006
➌   Elected May 11, 2006

1   Executive Committee
2   Pension Investment 
  Committee
3   Finance Committee
4   Audit Committee
5   Executive Compensation,
  Nominating and Corporate
  Governance Committee

Hubert R. Stallard 1 2 5
Retired President and
Chief Executive Offi cer
Bell Atlantic-Virginia, Inc.,
now known as Verizon Virginia, Inc.

Walter A. Stosch 3 4
Principal
Stosch, Dacey & George, P.C.

Dr. Eugene P. Trani 2 4
President
Virginia Commonwealth University

Henry H. Harrell

DIRECTOR EMERITUS

Thomas R. Towers

OFFICERS

Allen B. King
Chairman, President, and
Chief Executive Offi cer

Hartwell H. Roper
Vice President and
Chief Financial Offi cer

➊

William L. Taylor 
Vice President and
Chief Administrative Offi cer

➌

David C. Moore 
Vice President and
Chief Administrative Offi cer

Karen M. L. Whelan
Vice President and Treasurer

William J. Coronado
Vice President

George C. Freeman, III
Vice President

James H. Starkey, III 
Vice President

➊

Preston D. Wigner
General Counsel and Secretary

Robert M. Peebles
Controller

Allen B. King
Chairman

Orlando Astuti

Theodore G. Broome

W. Keith Brewer
➊

J. S. Coetzee 

George C. Freeman, III

Robert E. Jones

Claude G. Martin, Jr.

David C. Moore

C. Mark Neves

Ray M. Paul, Jr.

Hartwell H. Roper

Edward M. Schaaf, III

William L. Taylor 

➊

Jonathan R. Wertheimer

Deli Universal, Inc.

DIRECTORS

Jack M. M. van de Winkel
Chairman

Ron H. J. Bosch

William J. Coronado 

George C. Freeman, III 

➋

➋

Allen B. King

David C. Moore 

Hartwell H. Roper

James H. Starkey, III 

➊

William L. Taylor 

➋

➊

CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

Joseph W. Hearington, Jr.
Corporate Director, Internal Auditing

Dirk G. Cohen Tervaert

Karol O. Wilson
Corporate Director, Taxes

Catherine H. Claiborne
Assistant Secretary

3 | 2006 Annual Report

[This page intentionally left blank.]

Universal Corporation | 4

Universal Corporation

2006 REPORT ON FORM 10-K

[This page intentionally left blank.]

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 FORM 10-K 
 [ X ]    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF  
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934  
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006. 
OR
[    ]    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)  
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
For the transition period from             to             . 

Commission file number 1-652  

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

Virginia
(State or other jurisdiction of 
incorporation or organization) 

1501 North Hamilton Street, 
Richmond, Virginia 
(Address of principal executive offices) 

54-0414210
(I.R.S. Employer 
Identification Number) 

23230
(Zip Code) 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  804-359-9311 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 

Title of each class
Common Stock, no par value 
Preferred Share Purchase Rights 

Name of each exchange on 
which registered
New York Stock Exchange 
New York Stock Exchange 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:    None 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Security Act.   
Yes [x]  No [  ] 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 (d) of the Act.  
Yes [x]  No [  ] 

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  (1)  has  filed  all  reports  required  to  be  filed  by  Section  13  or  15(d)  of  the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required 
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes [x]  No [  ] 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and 
will  not  be  contained,  to  the  best  of  registrant’s  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information  statements  incorporated  by 
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [x]  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See
definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one): 

Large accelerated filer [x]   

Accelerated filer [  ] 

Non-accelerated filer [  ] 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes [  ]   No [x]  

The  aggregate  market  value  of  the  registrant’s  common  stock  held  by  non-affiliates  was  approximately  $758  million  at 
September 30, 2005.   

As of June 1, 2006, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding was 25,748,306. 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 

Certain  information  contained  in  the  2006  Proxy  Statement  for  the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of  the  registrant  is 
incorporated by reference into Part III hereof. 

 
 
 
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item No.

Page

PART I
   Business…………………………………………………………………………………………
3
   Risk Factors……………………………………………………………………………………
8
   Unresolved Staff Comments……………………………………………………………………
12
   Properties………………………………………………………………………………………
13
   Legal Proceedings……………………………………………………………………………… 14
   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders…………………………………………
15

PART II

   Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters
        and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities…………………………………………………… 16
Selected Financial Data………………………………………………………………………… 17
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
     Results of Operations………………………………………………………………………
19
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk…………………………………… 32
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data…………………………………………………
34
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting
     and Financial Disclosure……………………………………………………………………
Controls and Procedures………………………………………………………………………
Other Information………………………………………………………………………………

71
71
71

PART III
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant……………………………………………
Executive Compensation………………………………………………………………………
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
     Related Stockholder Matters…………………….............…………………………………… 73
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions………………………………………………… 73
Principal Accounting Fees and Services………………………………………………………… 73

72
72

1.
1A.
1B.
2.
3.
4.

5.

6.
7.

7A.
8.
9.

9A.
9B.

10.
11.
12.

13.
14.

15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules…………………………..…………..............………… 74

PART IV

Signatures…………………………………………….………………………………………...

75

2

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements 

PART I 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the 
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Among other things, these statements relate 
to Universal Corporation’s financial condition, results of operation and future business plans, operations, opportunities and 
prospects.  In  addition, Universal  Corporation  and  its  representatives  may  from  time  to  time  make  written  or oral  forward-
looking  statements,  including  statements  contained  in  other  filings  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and  in 
reports to shareholders. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of words such as we “expect,” 
“believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “predict,” “estimate” and similar expressions or words of 
similar import. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current knowledge and assumptions about 
future  events  and  involve  risks  and  uncertainties  that  could  cause  actual  results,  performance,  or  achievements  to  be 
materially  different  from  any  anticipated  results,  prospects,  performance  or  achievements  expressed  or  implied  by  such 
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include:  anticipated levels of demand for and supply of its products 
and services; costs incurred in providing these products and services; timing of shipments to customers; changes in market 
structure; and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions.  Lumber and building products earnings are also 
affected by changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the euro.  For a description of factors that may cause actual
results  to  differ  materially  from  such  forward-looking  statements,  see  Item  1A,  “Risk  Factors.”    Universal  Corporation 
cautions  investors not  to  place  undue  reliance  on  any  forward-looking  statements  as  these  statements  speak only  as  of  the 
date when made and  undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this report. 

Item 1.    Business  

The Company changed its fiscal year end to March 31, effective March 31, 2004.  With that change, the fiscal year 
better matches the crop and operating cycles of the Company’s largest operations.  The change also allowed the Company to 
eliminate a three-month reporting lag previously used for most of its foreign subsidiaries.  Fiscal year 2006 and 2005 results 
each cover a twelve-month period ended March 31.  Fiscal year 2004 results cover the nine-month transition year from July 
1, 2003, through March 31, 2004, and all references to fiscal year 2004 in this document refer to that period.  Results for prior 
fiscal years cover twelve-month periods from July 1 to June 30 and reflect foreign operations with the prior reporting lag. 

A.     

The Company  

Universal Corporation (which together with its subsidiaries is referred to herein as “Universal” or the “Company”) is 
one of the world’s leading leaf tobacco merchants and processors, based on volumes handled by its subsidiaries and affiliates, 
and  has  operations  in  agri-products  and  in  the  distribution  of  lumber  and  building  products.  The  Company’s  consolidated 
revenues and total segment operating income were approximately $3.5 billion and $201 million, respectively, in fiscal year 
2006.  Universal’s tobacco operations have been the principal focus of the Company since its founding in 1918, and for the 
fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, tobacco operations accounted for 51% of revenues and 78% of segment operating income. 
In  fiscal  year  2006,  Universal’s  agri-products  operations  accounted  for  24%  of  revenues  and  2%  of  segment  operating 
income. Lumber and building products operations accounted for 25% of revenues and 20% of segment operating income in 
the same period. Universal conducts its operations in numerous foreign countries.  In fiscal year 2006, approximately 23% 
and 24% of the Company’s revenue arose from products delivered to customer locations in the Netherlands and the United 
States,  respectively.    At  March  31,  2006,  approximately  30%  of  Universal’s  long-lived  assets  were  in  the  United  States, 
approximately 24% were in the Netherlands, and approximately 12% were in Brazil. See Note 13 of “Notes to Consolidated 
Financial Statements” for additional business segment and geographical information.  

Universal  Corporation  is  a  holding  company  that  operates  through  numerous  directly  and  indirectly  owned 
subsidiaries.    The  Company’s  two  primary  subsidiaries  are  Universal  Leaf  Tobacco  Company,  Incorporated  (“Universal 
Leaf”) and Deli Universal, Inc. (“Deli”).  The Company’s tobacco business is generally conducted through Universal Leaf, 
and the Company’s non-tobacco business is generally conducted through Deli, although Deli also owns some minor tobacco 
business  interests  and  approximately  10%  of  Universal  Leaf’s  major  tobacco  operations  in  Brazil.    See  Exhibit  21 
“Subsidiaries of the Registrant” for additional subsidiary information. 

•

•

The Company’s business strategy is to enhance shareholder value by achieving several key objectives:  

The Company operates as one entity worldwide with strong local management in major leaf tobacco markets. 

The Company continues to foster strategic alliances with its customers to the benefit of all parties. These alliances 
with major manufacturers are, in management’s opinion, especially appropriate to the leaf tobacco industry where 

3

•

•

volume at an appropriate price is a key factor in long-term profitability.  Alliances also permit the optimization of 
the  Company’s  inventory  levels  to  reduce  risk of  loss  during  market  downturns by  enabling  the  Company  to  buy 
only the tobacco that a customer has indicated it wants. 

The Company strives to maintain diversified sources of leaf tobacco supply to minimize reliance on any one area. 
Historically, North America, South America, and Africa each have provided between 20% and 30% of the aggregate 
volume  of  flue-cured  and  burley  tobacco  that  Universal  handles.  However,  because  of  the  decline  in  Zimbabwe 
crops in Africa, the South American share increased to about 33% of the aggregate volume that Universal handled 
from the 2005 crop.  Because of recent excess supply in world markets, the Company is reducing leaf production of 
certain growths in South America and in Africa.  

The Company strives to maintain a large presence in the major exporting markets for flue-cured and burley tobaccos 
in  order  to  properly  supply  its  customers,  many  of  whom  are  large  manufacturers  of  tobacco  products.  Universal 
estimates that it has usually purchased between 25% and 30% of such Brazilian tobaccos and between 35% and 45% 
of such African tobaccos. These percentages can change from year to year based on the size, price, and quality of the 
crops. The Company also has a major processing  facility in the United States, which normally processes between 
35% and 45% of U.S. flue-cured and burley tobacco production. 

• Management believes that the Company’s financial strength is important and is working to maintain or improve its 

credit ratings. 

•

The Company seeks to develop its non-tobacco businesses in niche markets where it can add value and be a market 
leader.

For a discussion of the impact of current trends on the Company, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of 

Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Other Information Regarding Trends and Management’s Actions.”  

The Company’s website address is www.universalcorp.com. On its website, the Company posts the following filings 
as  soon  as  reasonably  practicable  after  they  are  electronically  filed  with  or  furnished  to  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission:  annual  reports on Form 10-K, quarterly  reports  on  Form  10-Q,  current  reports  on  Form  8-K,  and  Section 16 
reports on Forms 3, 4, and 5, and any amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange 
Commission.    All  such  filings  on  the  Company’s  website  are  available  free  of  charge.    Information  on  the  Company’s 
website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K. 

In  addition,  the  Company’s  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines,  Business  Ethics  Policy,  and  charters  for  the  Audit 
Committee, the Executive Committee, the Executive Compensation, Nominating, and Corporate Governance Committee, the 
Pension  Investment  Committee,  and  the  Finance  Committee  are  available  free  of  charge  to  shareholders  and  the  public 
through  the  “Investors/Corporate  Governance”  section  of  the  Company’s  website.    Printed  copies  of  the  foregoing  are 
available to any shareholder upon written request to the Treasurer of the Company at the address set forth on the first page of
this Form 10-K. 

B.      Description of Tobacco Business  

General  

Universal’s tobacco business includes selecting, buying, shipping, processing, packing, storing, and financing of leaf 
tobacco  in  tobacco  growing  countries  for  sale  to,  or  for  the  account  of,  manufacturers  of  tobacco  products  throughout  the 
world.  Universal  does  not  manufacture  cigarettes  or  other  consumer  tobacco  products.  Most  of  the  Company’s  tobacco 
revenues are derived from sales of processed tobacco and from fees and commissions for specific services.  

The  Company’s  tobacco  sales  consist  primarily  of  flue-cured  and  burley  tobaccos,  which,  along  with  oriental 
tobaccos, are the major ingredients in American-blend cigarettes. The Company participates in the sale of oriental tobacco 
through ownership of a 49% equity interest in what management believes to be the largest oriental leaf tobacco merchant in 
the world, Socotab, L.L.C.  

According to industry sources, worldwide cigarette consumption increased, on average, about 0.3% per year during 
the ten years that ended in 2005.  Historically, American-blend consumption has increased at a faster growth rate than total 
world  consumption.    Management  believes  that  over  time  American-blend  consumption  may  increase  as  a  percent  of  the 
world  total,  which  could  increase  demand  for  flavorful  flue-cured  and  burley  leaf  from  areas  where  the  Company  sources 
tobacco.  However, management believes that future increases in American-blend and worldwide cigarette consumption will 
have  little  or  no  effect  on  demand  for  the  tobacco  the  Company  processes  because  of  increasing  efficiencies  in  the 
4

manufacturers’ use of leaf.  Those increasing efficiencies as well as the possible move to smokeless products may also mean 
that demand for leaf tobacco has peaked and will not grow with any growth in consumption.  For a discussion of the impact 
of  current  trends  on  the  Company,  see  “Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of 
Operations – Other Information Regarding Trends and Management’s Actions.”  

Processing of leaf tobacco is an essential service to the Company’s customers because unprocessed or green tobacco 
is  a  perishable  product.  The  Company’s  processing  of  leaf  tobacco  includes  grading  in  the  factories,  blending,  quality 
picking,  separation  of  leaf  lamina  from  the  stems,  drying,  and  packing  to  precise  moisture  targets  for  proper  aging.  
Accomplishing  these  tasks  generally  requires  investment  in  plants  and  machinery  in  areas  where  the  tobacco  is  grown. 
Processed  tobacco  that  has  been  properly  aged  can  be  stored  by  customers  for  a  number  of  years  prior  to  use,  but  most 
processed tobacco is used within two to three years.   

Universal believes it has a leading presence as a purchaser and processor in the major exporting regions for flue-
cured and burley tobacco. The Company is also a major flue-cured and burley tobacco processor in the United States, where 
it sells processed U.S. tobacco to several cigarette manufacturers, and processes U.S. flue-cured and burley tobacco for Philip
Morris USA  Inc. pursuant  to  a non-exclusive  ten-year  contract  executed  in  May  2001.    In  addition,  Universal  maintains  a 
presence,  and  in  certain  cases,  a  leading  presence,  in  virtually  all  other  major  tobacco  growing  regions  in  the  world. 
Management believes that its leading position in the leaf tobacco industry is based on its operations in all of the major source
areas, its development of processing equipment and technologies, its financial position, its ability to meet customer demand, 
and its long-standing relationships with customers. Universal also has a leading position in worldwide dark tobacco markets. 
Its  dark  tobacco  operations  are  located  in  most  of  the  major  producing  countries  (i.e.,  the  United  States,  the  Dominican 
Republic, Indonesia, Paraguay, and Brazil) as well as other markets. Dark tobaccos are typically used in the manufacture of 
cigars, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco products, and components of certain “roll-your-own” products.  

Sales  are  made  by  Universal’s  sales  force  and,  to  a  lesser  degree,  through  the  use  of  commissioned  agents.  Most 

customers are long-established tobacco product manufacturers.  

 Universal conducts its tobacco business in varying degrees in a number of countries, including Argentina, Belgium, 
Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala,  Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malawi, Mexico, 
Mozambique, the Netherlands, Paraguay, the People’s Republic of China, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South 
Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In addition, 
Socotab, L.L.C. has oriental tobacco operations in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, and Turkey.  

In  the  majority  of  countries  where  Universal  operates,  including  Argentina,  Brazil,  Guatemala,  Hungary,  Italy, 
Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Philippines, Tanzania, the United States, and Zambia, the Company contracts directly with 
tobacco farmers or tobacco farmer cooperatives, in most cases before harvest, and thereby takes the risk that the delivered 
quality and quantity may not meet market requirements. Universal also provides agronomy services and crop advances of, or 
for,  seed,  fertilizer,  and other  supplies.   Tobacco  in  Canada, and  to  a  certain  extent, India,  Malawi, the  United States,  and 
Zimbabwe, is purchased under an auction system.  

The  Company  has  substantial  capital  investments  in  Brazil,  and  in  southern  Africa,  and  the  performance  of  its 
operations in these regions can materially affect the Company’s earnings from tobacco operations. For example, in fiscal year 
2006,  poor  crops  due  to  adverse  weather  conditions  and  high  costs  caused  by  the  strong  currency  in  Brazil  caused  a 
significant decline in tobacco earnings.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations – Factors that May Affect Future Results.”  

Universal’s  foreign  operations  are  subject  to  international  business  risks,  including  unsettled  political  conditions, 
expropriation,  import  and  export  restrictions,  exchange  controls,  and  currency  fluctuations.  During  the  tobacco  season  in 
many of the countries listed above, Universal advances funds and guarantees local loans, each in substantial amounts, for the 
purchase of tobacco. Most tobacco sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, thereby reducing the Company’s foreign currency 
exchange risk.  See “Risk Factors.”  

For a discussion of recent developments and trends in, and factors that may affect, the Company’s tobacco business, 

see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and  “Risk Factors.” 

Seasonality  

Universal’s tobacco operations are seasonal in nature. Tobacco in Brazil is usually purchased from January through 
May, while the markets in Malawi generally open around April and continue into the fall.  Farmers begin to sell U.S. flue-
cured tobacco in late July and the marketing season lasts for approximately four months. U.S. burley tobacco farmers deliver 

5

their crop from mid-November through mid-February. These different marketing periods reduce the overall seasonality of the 
Company’s tobacco business.  

Universal  normally  operates 

its  processing  plants  for  approximately  seven 

the  
year. During this period, inventories of green tobacco, inventories of redried tobacco, and trade accounts receivable normally 
reach peak levels in succession. Current liabilities, particularly short-term notes payable to banks, and customer advances, are
means  of  financing  this  expansion  of  current  assets  and  normally  reach  their  peak  during  this  processing  period.  The 
Company’s balance sheet at its fiscal year end normally reflects seasonal expansions in working capital in South America, 
Central America, and Western Europe.  

to  nine  months  of 

Customers

A material part of the Company’s tobacco business is dependent upon a few customers. For the year ended March 
31,  2006,  Altria  Group,  Inc.  and  its  affiliates  accounted  for  more  than  10%  of  the  Company’s  revenues.  The  loss  of,  or 
substantial reduction in business from, Altria or any other significant customer would have a material adverse effect on the 
Company. The Company has long-standing relationships with these customers.  

Universal had orders from customers for approximately $555 million of its tobacco inventories at March 31, 2006.  

Based upon historical experience, it is expected that at least 90% of such orders will be delivered during the following twelve
months. Typically, delays in the delivery of orders result from changing customer requirements for shipment.  

The Company recognizes sales and revenue from tobacco operations at the time that title to the tobacco and risk of 
loss passes to the customer.  Individual shipments may be large, and since the customer typically specifies shipping dates, the
Company’s financial results may vary significantly between reporting periods. 

Competition  

The leaf tobacco industry is highly competitive. Competition among leaf tobacco merchants is based on the firm’s 
ability to satisfy customer specifications in the buying, processing, and financing of tobacco as well as the price charged for
products  and  services.  Competition  varies  depending  on  the  market  or  country  involved.  The  number  of  competitors  in 
foreign  markets  varies  from  country  to  country,  but  there  is  competition  in  most  areas  to  buy  the  available  tobacco.  The 
Company’s principal competitor is Alliance One International, Inc. (“Alliance One”), formed in May 2005 by the merger of 
DIMON  Incorporated  and  Standard  Commercial  Corporation.    Alliance  One  operates  in  most  of  the  countries  where 
Universal operates.  Management believes that Universal holds the larger worldwide market share based on volume handled 
by its subsidiaries and affiliates.  However, the market shares do not differ substantially between the two companies.  British
American Tobacco p.l.c., a multinational tobacco product manufacturer, has subsidiaries that also compete with the Company 
in some markets.    

C.      Description of Agri-Products Business  

The  Company’s  agri-products  business  involves  selecting,  buying,  processing,  storing,  shipping,  financing,  and 
distributing,  as  well  as  importing  and  exporting,  a  number  of  products,  including  tea,  rubber,  sunflower  seeds,  nuts,  dried 
fruit, and canned and frozen foods.  The Company sources products from numerous countries, including Argentina, China, 
Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, and Vietnam. 

The emphasis of the Company’s agri-products business is on value-adding activities and trading of physical products 
in markets where a service can be performed in the supply system from the countries of origin to the consuming industries. In 
a number of countries, long-standing sourcing arrangements for certain products or value-adding activities through modern 
processing facilities for tea, sunflower seeds, and nuts contribute to the stability and profitability of the business. Seasonal
effects on trading are limited.  

The  Company  provides  various  products  to  numerous  large  and  small  customers  in  the  retail  food  and  food 
packaging  industry  and  in  the  rubber  industry.  Generally,  there  are  no  formal,  continuing  contracts  with  these  customers, 
although  business  relationships  may  be  long  standing.  No  single  customer  accounted  for  10%  or  more  of  the  Company’s 
consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2006.  

Competition  among  suppliers 

is  based  on  
the  agricultural  products 
price,  as well as  the  ability  to  meet  customer requirements  in product quality,  buying,  processing,  financing,  and delivery. 
The  number  of  competitors  in  each  market  varies  from  country  to  country,  but  there  is  competition  for  all  products  and 
markets in which the Company operates. Some of the main competitors are: Akbar Brothers, American Eagle Food Products 

in  which  Universal  deals 

in 

6

Inc., Bond Commodities Ltd., Centrotrade, CHS, Dahlgren, Ennar, J. F. Braun & Sons, James Finlay, John B. Sanfilippo & 
Sons, Inc., Global, Kaytee, LAB, Lipton, Olam International Ltd., Pennington, Safic Alcan & Cie, Scotts Miracle-Gro, SLD 
Commodities Ltd., Stassens, STT/Wurfbain/RCA, Sunshine, and Universal Tea.  

In  March  2006,  the  Company  announced  that  as  part  of  its  strategy  for  enhancing  shareholder  value,  it  routinely 
evaluates alternatives, including acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic alliances, in each of its business units.  Universal is in 
discussions regarding an offer for a substantial portion of its non-tobacco business.  However, there can be no assurance that 
these discussions will result in a transaction.  

For  a  discussion  of  recent  developments  and  trends  in,  and  factors  that  may  affect,  the  Company’s  agri-products 
business, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors.”  

D.      Description of Lumber and Building Products Business  

The  Company  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  building  products  distribution  and  processing  business  in  the 
Netherlands  and  other  countries  in  Europe.  The  majority  of  lumber  products  are  purchased  outside  the  Netherlands, 
principally in Central Europe, the Far East, North America, Russia, Scandinavia, and South America.  

The Company’s lumber and building products business is seasonal to the extent that winter weather may temporarily 
interrupt  the  operations  of  its  customers  in  the  building  industry.  In  addition,  some  lumber  and  building  products,  such  as 
garden  timbers,  are  seasonal  in  nature.  The  business  is  also  subject  to  exchange  risks  and  other  normal  market  and 
operational risks associated with lumber and building materials operations centered in Europe.  Those risks include general 
economic  conditions  in  the  countries  where  the  Company  is  located,  and  related  trends  in  the  building  and  construction 
industries and home improvement / DIY and garden center markets.  In addition to materials, labor is a significant portion of 
the  total  costs  for  this  segment,  and  most  of  the  employees  in  the  segment  are  subject  to  industry-wide  collective  labor 
agreements that determine wage increases.   

The Company's activities in this segment are conducted through two business units: construction supply and retail 
supply.  The construction supply unit, with its customer base in the Dutch building construction sector, sells a broad range of
lumber and related building products through a nationwide network of regional outlets. In addition to the regional outlets, the
construction supply unit also includes specialized units that manufacture window frames, prefabricated elements, and doors.  
The  construction  supply  unit  also  processes  and  distributes  value-added  softwood  products  and  distributes  ceiling  and 
partition products.  

The  retail  supply  unit  has  a  strong  customer  base  in  the  Benelux  and  is  expanding  in  Europe.    It  supplies  DIY 
retailers, home improvement stores, and garden center outlets with a broad range of lumber and related products, including 
softwood,  moldings,  panel  products,  doors,  decorative  materials,  floors,  and  garden  furniture,  as  well  as  Company-
manufactured garden timbers and garden houses.  During fiscal year 2005, the Company acquired Bergenco, a garden timber 
and  products  manufacturer  and  distributor.    The  acquisition  also  included  DiManches,  Bergenco’s  largest  distributor  in 
France.   

The Company carries inventories to meet customer demands for prompt delivery.  Inventory levels are based on a 
balance between providing service and continuity of supply to customers and achieving the highest possible inventory turns. 
It  is  traditional  business  practice  in  the  construction  supply  industry  in  the  Netherlands  to  insure  most  accounts  and  notes 
receivable against uncollectibility for the majority of the amount owed. The Company generally does not provide extended 
payment terms to its customers. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated revenues for 
fiscal year 2006.  

The  Company’s  construction  supply  sales  in  fiscal  year  2006  accounted  for  about  12%  of  the  market  volume  for 
similar  products  in  the  Netherlands.  This  is  similar  to  the  market  share  of  its  largest  competitor  in  this  sector,  PontMeyer 
N.V.    Five  additional  competitors  in  this  sector  accounted  for  approximately  20%  of  the  market  in  this  period,  and  the 
balance  was  held  by  approximately  200  smaller  competitors.  However,  traditional  market  boundaries  are  fading,  and  the 
Company increasingly competes in the wider building and construction supplies market, which is approximately four times 
larger  than  the  market  for  lumber  and  building  products.  The  primary  factors  of  competition  are  quality,  price,  customer 
relationship, product range, and speed and reliability of logistics systems. The Company believes that its full geographical 
market coverage, its automated inventory control and billing system, and its efficient logistics give it a competitive advantage
in the Netherlands.  

Management  believes  that  the  Company's  retail  supply  business  unit  is  one  of  the  largest  suppliers  to  European 
home improvement and DIY retailers and garden centers with a clear market leadership in the Benelux, but has a low single 

7

digit  market  share  in  the  fragmented  European  market.  The  primary  factors  of  competition  are  concept  and  product 
development,  quality  and  price,  customer  relationships,  product  range,  and  speed  and  reliability  of  logistics  systems.  The 
Company believes that its strong market position in the Benelux, growing pan-European presence, and its strength in concept 
development and logistics give it a solid base to expand this business. 

In  March  2006,  the  Company  announced  that  as  part  of  its  strategy  for  enhancing  shareholder  value,  it  routinely 
evaluates alternatives, including acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic alliances, in each of its business units.  Universal is in 
discussions regarding an offer for a substantial portion of its non-tobacco business.  However, there can be no assurance that 
these discussions will result in a transaction.  

For  a  discussion  of  recent  developments  and  trends  in,  and  factors  that  may  affect,  the  Company’s  lumber  and 
building products business, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” 
and “Risk Factors.”  

E.     

Employees  

The Company employed about 30,000 employees throughout the world during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006.  

This figure is estimated because the majority of the Company’s personnel are seasonal employees.  

F.     

Research and Development  

No material amounts were expended for research and development during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2006 or 

2005, or the nine-month transition year ended March 31, 2004.  

G.     

Patents, etc.  

The Company holds no material patents, licenses, franchises, or concessions.  

H.      Government Regulation, Environmental Matters and Other Matters  

The  Company’s  business  is  subject  to  general  governmental  regulation  in  the  United  States  and  in  foreign 
jurisdictions  where  the  Company  conducts  business.  Such  regulation  includes,  but  is  not  limited  to,  matters  relating  to 
environmental protection. To date, governmental provisions regulating the discharge of material into the environment have 
not had a material effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position of the Company. See ”Risk Factors”  
for a discussion of government regulation and other factors that may affect the Company’s business.  

Item 1A.   Risk Factors 

This Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements.  The following important factors, among other things, 
in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, our actual results and could cause our actual results for a fiscal
year and any interim period to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by 
us or on our behalf. 

This  section  uses  the  terms  “we,”  “our,”  and  “us”  when  it  is  not  necessary  to  distinguish  among  Universal 

Corporation and its various operating subsidiaries or when any distinction is clear from the context. 

Operating Factors 

The leaf tobacco industry is highly competitive, and we are heavily reliant on a few large customers. 

We are one of two major independent global competitors in the highly competitive leaf tobacco industry, both of 
whom  are  reliant  upon  a  few  large  customers.  The  loss  of  one  of  those  large  customers  or  a  significant  decrease  in  their 
respective  demand  for  our  products  or  services  could  further  increase  competition  and  significantly  decrease  our  sales  of 
products or services, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. The competition among leaf 
tobacco merchants is based on the ability to meet customer specifications in the buying, processing, and financing of tobacco, 
as well as the price charged for products and services. However, because we, like our competition, rely upon a few significant 
customers, the consolidation or failure of any of these large or significant customers could contribute to a significant decrease 
in our sales of products and services. 

8

Our financial results can be significantly affected by the changes in the balance of supply and demand for leaf tobacco or 
other agricultural products. 

Because we are a leaf tobacco merchant, our financial results can be significantly affected by changes in the overall 
balance  of  worldwide  supply  and  demand  for  leaf  tobacco.  The  demand  for  tobacco,  which  is  based  upon  customers’ 
expectations of their future tobacco requirements, can change from time to time depending upon internal and external factors 
affecting the demand for their products. Our customers’ expectations, and thus their demand for leaf tobacco, are influenced 
by a number of factors, including:  

•

•

•

trends in the global consumption of cigarettes, 

trends in sales of cigars and other tobacco products, and 

levels of competition. 

The  total  supply  of  tobacco  at  any  given  time  is  a  function  of  current  tobacco  production,  inventories  held  by 
manufacturers,  and  the  volumes  of  uncommitted  stocks  of  processed  tobacco  from  prior  years’  production.  Production  of 
tobacco in a given year may be significantly affected by such factors as: 

•

•

•

the amount of tobacco planted by farmers throughout the world, 

weather and natural disasters, and 

crop disease. 

Any  significant  change  in  these  factors  could  cause  a  material  imbalance  in  the  supply  and  demand  for  tobacco, 

which would affect our results of operations. Similar factors can affect results for our agri-products businesses as well. 

Our financial results will vary according to growing conditions, customer requirements and other factors.  These factors also 
reduce the ability to gauge our performance and increase the risk of an investment in Universal. 

Our  financial  results,  particularly  the  quarterly  financial  results,  may  be  significantly  affected  by  fluctuations  in 
tobacco  growing  seasons  and  crop  sizes.    The  cultivation  of  tobacco  is  dependent  upon  a  number  of  factors,  including 
weather and other natural events, and our processing schedule and results of operations can be significantly altered by these 
factors.

Further, the timing and unpredictability of customer orders and shipments require us to keep tobacco in inventory, 
increase our risk, and result in variations in quarterly and annual financial results.  Sales recognition by  our subsidiaries and
us  is  based  on  the  passage  of  ownership,  usually  with  shipment  of  product.    Since  individual  shipments  may  represent 
significant amounts of revenue, our quarterly and annual financial results may vary significantly depending on the needs and 
shipping instructions of our customers.  These fluctuations result in varying volumes and sales in given periods, which also 
reduce the comparability of financial results in different periods or in the same periods in different years. 

Major shifts in customer requirements for tobacco supply may significantly affect our operating results. 

If our customers significantly alter their requirements for tobacco volumes from certain regions, then we may have 
to  change  our  production  facilities  and  alter  our  fixed  asset  base  in  certain  origins.    Permanent  or  long-term  reduction  in 
demand for tobacco from origins where we have operations may trigger restructuring charges.  We may also need to make 
significant capital investments in other regions to develop the needed infrastructure to meet customer supply requirements. 

In areas where we purchase leaf tobacco directly from farmers, we bear the risk that the tobacco we receive will not meet 
quality and quantity requirements. 

When  we  contract  directly  with  tobacco  farmers  or  tobacco  farmer  cooperatives,  which  is  the  method  we  use  to 
purchase tobacco in most countries, we bear the risk that the tobacco delivered may not meet customer quality and quantity 
requirements.  If  the  tobacco  does  not  meet  such  market  requirements,  we  may  not  be  able  to  meet  all  of  our  customers’ 
orders, which would have an adverse effect on profitability and results of operations.  In addition, in many foreign countries,
when we purchase tobacco directly from farmers, we provide them with financing. Unless we receive marketable tobacco that 
meets the quality and quantity specifications of our customers, we bear the risk that we will not be able to fully recover our 

9

crop advances or recover them in a reasonable period of time.  Although we purchase a portion of our leaf tobacco through 
public  auction,  as  well  as  privately-negotiated  contract  purchases,  several  countries  where  auction  markets  are  used  today 
may be moving toward direct purchasing, thus increasing the areas subject to this risk. 

Weather and other conditions can affect the marketability of our products. 

Tobacco and many other agricultural crops that we buy, such as sunflower seeds and tea, are subject to vagaries of 
the  weather  and  the  environment  that  can,  in  some  cases,  change  the  quality  or  size  of  the  crops.  If  a  weather  event  is 
particularly severe, such as a major drought or hurricane, the affected crop could be destroyed or damaged to an extent that it
would be less desirable to manufacturers, which would result in a reduction in revenues. If such an event is also widespread, 
it could affect our ability to acquire the quantity of products required by our customers. In addition, other items can affect the 
marketability of tobacco and other agricultural products, including, among other things, the presence of: 

•

•

•

foreign matter, 

genetically modified organisms, and 

excess residues of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. 

A significant event impacting the condition or quality of a large amount of any of the crops that we buy could make 

it difficult for us to sell these products or to fill customers’ orders. 

A significant slowdown in home improvement or construction markets in the Netherlands could have an adverse effect on our 
results of operations. 

The majority of the customers who purchase lumber and building products from us are located in the Netherlands. 
Therefore, a significant slowdown in the home improvement or construction market in the Netherlands could reduce demand 
for these products, which would have an adverse effect on our results of operations. 

Regulatory and Governmental Factors 

Government efforts to reduce tobacco consumption could have a significant impact on the businesses of our customers, which 
would, in turn, affect our results of operations. 

The U.S. federal government and certain state and local governments have taken or proposed actions that may have 
the effect of reducing U.S. consumption of tobacco products and indirectly reducing demand for our products and services. 
These activities have included: 

•

•

•

•

•

the  U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency’s  decision  to  classify  environmental  tobacco  smoke  as  a  “Group  A” 
(known human) carcinogen, 

restrictions on the use of tobacco products in public places and places of employment, 

proposals to have the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulate nicotine as a drug and sharply restrict tobacco 
product advertising and promotion, 

proposals to increase the federal, state, and local excise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products, and 

the policy of the U.S. government to link certain federal grants to the enforcement of state laws restricting the sale of 
tobacco products. 

Numerous other legislative and regulatory anti-smoking measures have been proposed at the federal, state, and local 
levels. Excluding the effect of tobacco contained in cigarettes imported into the United States, we estimate that between 12% 
and 15% of the flue-cured and burley tobaccos that we handle worldwide are ultimately consumed in the United States. Our 
tobacco  sales  consist  primarily  of  flue-cured  and  burley  tobaccos,  which,  along  with  oriental  tobaccos,  are  the  major 
ingredients in American-blend cigarettes.  

A  number  of  foreign  governments  have  also  taken  or  proposed  steps  to  restrict  or  prohibit  tobacco  product 
advertising and promotion, to increase taxes on tobacco products, and to discourage tobacco product consumption. A number 

10

of  such  measures  are  included  in  the  Framework  Convention  on  Tobacco  Control  (“FCTC”),  which  was  negotiated  and 
promoted globally under the auspices of the World Health Organization.  We cannot predict the extent to which the efforts of 
governments  or  non-governmental  agencies  to  reduce  tobacco  consumption  might  affect  the  business  of  our  primary 
customers.  However,  a  significant  decrease  in  worldwide  tobacco  consumption  brought  about  by  existing  or  future 
governmental laws and regulations would reduce demand for our products and services and could have a material  adverse 
effect on our results of operations. 

Government efforts can have a significant effect on the sourcing of tobacco. If those efforts are successful, we could have 
difficulty obtaining sufficient tobacco to provide for our customers requirements, which could have an adverse effect on our 
performance and results of operations. 

Various proposals to reform U.S. immigration laws could restrict the number of legal temporary agricultural workers 
entering the United States to work on tobacco producing farms.  In addition, among the regulatory options that are available 
to  the  FCTC  are  the  promotion  of  crop  diversification  and  reduction  of  tobacco  production  in  countries  whose  economies 
depend  upon  tobacco  production.    If  either  of  these  actions  were  taken  in  any  significant  manner,  we  could  encounter 
difficulty  in  sourcing  leaf  tobacco  to  fill  customer  requirements,  which  could  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  results  of 
operations. 

Because we conduct a significant portion of our operations internationally, political uncertainties in certain countries could 
have an adverse effect on our performance and results of operations. 

Our international operations are subject to uncertainties and risks relating to the political stability of certain foreign 
governments, principally in developing countries and emerging markets, and to the effects of changes in the trade policies 
and  economic  regulations  of  foreign  governments.  These  uncertainties  and  risks,  which  include,  among  other  factors, 
undeveloped  or  antiquated  commercial  law  and  the  expropriation  or  nationalization  of  assets,  may  adversely  impact  our 
ability  to  effectively  manage  our  operations  in  those  countries.  For  example,  in  the  past,  we  have  experienced  significant 
year-to-year  fluctuations  in  earnings  due  to  changes  in  the  Brazilian  government’s  economic  policies,  and  government 
actions in Zimbabwe have reduced the tobacco crop there, causing us to shift sourcing of tobacco to other countries. We have 
substantial  capital  investments  in  South  America  and  Africa,  and  the  performance  of  our  operations  in  those  regions  can 
materially affect our earnings from tobacco operations.  If the political situation in any of the countries where we conduct 
business were to deteriorate significantly, our ability to recover assets located there could be impaired. To the extent that we
do  not  replace  any  lost  volumes  of  tobacco  with  tobacco  from  other  sources,  or  incur  increased  costs  related  to  such 
replacement, our results of operations would suffer. 

Changes in tax laws in the countries where we do business may adversely affect our results of operations. 

Through  our  subsidiaries,  we  are  subject  to  the  tax  laws  of  many  jurisdictions.    Changes  in  tax  laws  or  the 
interpretation  of  tax  laws  can  affect  our  earnings  as  can  the  resolution  of  various  pending  and  contested  tax  issues.    For 
example, changes in tax law in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, which limit the amount of tax credits generated on 
interstate sales of tobacco in Brazil increased our cost of doing business in that country in fiscal year 2005.  See Note 12 of
“Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information on this tax.  

Financial Factors 

Failure of our customers or farmers to repay extensions of credit could materially impact our results of operations. 

We extend credit to both farmers and customers. A significant delay in payment or a significant bad debt provision 
related to amounts due could adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, crop advances to farmers are generally 
secured  by  the  farmers’  agreement  to  deliver  green  tobacco.  In  the  event  of  crop  failure,  recovery  of  advances  could  be 
delayed until future crops are delivered. 

Failure of foreign banks in which our subsidiaries deposit funds or the failure to transfer funds or honor withdrawals may 
affect our results of operations. 

Funds held by our foreign subsidiaries are often deposited in their local banks.  Banks in certain foreign jurisdictions 
may be subject to a higher rate of failure or may not honor withdrawals of deposited funds. In addition, the countries in which
these local banks operate may lack sufficient regulatory oversight or suffer from structural weaknesses in the local banking 
system. Due to uncertainties and risks relating to the political stability of certain foreign governments, these local banks also
may be subject to exchange controls and therefore unable to perform  transfers of certain currencies.  If our ability to gain 
access to these funds were impaired, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. 

11

We have substantial debt outstanding which may limit our ability to secure future sources of financing.

If we do not reduce debt levels or increase earnings, then our credit ratings could be lowered, which would cause 
access to debt markets to become more difficult and increase interest rates on new debt.  We may find it difficult to secure 
additional financing on satisfactory terms.    

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates may affect our results of operations. 

Although the international tobacco trade generally is conducted in U.S. dollars, thereby limiting foreign exchange 
risk to that which is related to production costs, overhead, and income taxes in the source country, our purchases of tobacco 
are often made in local currency.   We also provide farmer advances that are denominated in the local currency.  Currency 
gains or losses on those advances are usually offset by decreases or increases in the cost of tobacco, which is priced in the 
local currency.  However, the timing of the effect of the offset may not occur until a subsequent quarter or fiscal year.  As a
result, changes in exchange rates can make a particular crop more or less attractive in U.S. dollar terms in the world market, 
thereby affecting the profitability of such crop and our results of operations.  Most of the tobacco operations are accounted 
for using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency.  Because there is no forward foreign exchange market in many of the 
major countries where we source tobacco, we manage our foreign exchange risk by matching funding for inventory purchases 
with  the  currency  of  sale  and  by  minimizing  its  net  investment  in  these  countries.    To  the  extent  that  we  are  not  able  to 
continue  match  funding,  or  otherwise  hedge  its  exposure,  we  could  have  a  disproportionate  exposure  to  local  currency  in 
which the tobacco was purchased.  

Certain of our operations use their local currency as the functional currency. For example, the lumber and building 
products operations, which are based in the Netherlands, use the euro as their functional currency.  In certain tobacco markets
that are primarily domestic, we use the local currency as the functional currency.  Examples of these domestic markets are 
Hungary and Poland.  In each case, reported earnings are affected by the translation of the local currency into the U.S. dollar.
See also “Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosure About Market Risk.” 

In  our  tobacco  business,  customers  usually  pre-finance  purchases  or  pay  market  rates  of  interest  for  inventory 
purchased  on  order.    We  borrow  long-term  debt  to  reduce  liquidity  issues.    Through  hedging  agreements,  we  swap  the 
interest rates on our existing fixed-rate debt to floating market interest rates to better match the interest rates that we charge 
our customers.  To the extent we are unable to match these interest rates, a decrease in short-term interest rates could increase 
our net financing costs. 

Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments 

None  

12

Item 2.   Properties 

The following table lists the Company’s significant properties (greater than 500,000 square feet), all of which are 

owned by the Company unless noted: 

Location 

Principal Use

Tobacco segment:
Brazil
Santa Cruz…………………………..........……………………… Factory and storages
Joinville*…………………………..........………………………… Factory and storages
Venancio Aires………………….....................……..…………… Storages

Canada
Simcoe………………………………….............……….………… Factory and storages

Malawi
Lilongwe…………………………………................……….…… Factory and storages

Mozambique
Tete…………………………………................……….………… Factory and storages

Tanzania
Morogoro…………………………………............……….……… Factory and storages

United States
Nash County, North Carolina……………………………………… Factory and storages
Factory and storages
Lancaster, Pennsylvania………………………………………….

Zimbabwe
Harare……………………………………...............…….………… Factory and storages
   *Leased from a third party. 

Area
(Square Feet)

2,770,000
1,075,000
860,000

569,000

673,000

762,000

779,000

1,244,000
636,000

1,065,000

Universal  owns  the  land  and  building  located  at  1501  North  Hamilton  Street  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  where  it  is 
headquartered.  The building contains approximately 83,000 square feet of floor space, which is adequate for the Company’s 
needs.

Tobacco segment  

Universal’s tobacco business involves, among other things, storing green tobacco, processing the green tobacco, and 
storing  processed  tobacco.    The  Company  operates  processing  facilities  in  major  tobacco  growing  areas.  In  addition, 
Universal  requires  tobacco  storage  facilities  that  are  in  close  proximity  to  the  processing  facilities.  Most  of  the  tobacco 
storage facilities are owned by the Company, but it leases additional space, as the need arises, and expenses related to such 
leases are not material. The Company believes that the properties currently utilized in its tobacco operations are maintained in
good operating condition and are suitable and adequate for their purposes at the Company’s current volumes.  The Company 
closed its Danville, Virginia, processing facility in fiscal year 2006, and it is now being marketed for sale. 

In addition  to the  Company’s  significant properties  listed  above, Universal  owns  other  processing  facilities  in  the 
following  countries:  Hungary,  Italy,  the  Netherlands,  the  Philippines,  Poland,  and  the  United  States.  In  addition,  the 
Company  has ownership  interests  in  processing plants  in Guatemala  and  Mexico  and has  access  to  processing facilities  in 
other areas, such as Argentina, India, the People’s Republic of China, Spain, Uganda, and Zambia.  Socotab L.L.C., a joint 
venture  in  which  Universal  owns  a  minority  interest,  owns  two  oriental  tobacco-processing  plants  in  both  Turkey  and 
Macedonia and one each in Greece and Bulgaria.   

Except for the Lancaster, Pennsylvania facility, the facilities described above are engaged primarily in processing 
tobacco used by manufacturers in the production of cigarettes.  The Lancaster facility and another facility in Virginia, as well
as overseas facilities in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Indonesia, and Paraguay, process tobacco used in making 
cigar, pipe, and smokeless products, as well as components of certain “roll-your-own” products.   

13

Agri-products segment  

The  Company’s  agri-products  business  involves  processing  and  storing  of  a  number  of  products,  including  tea, 
sunflower seeds, and nuts.  The Company owns processing facilities for sunflower seeds in the United States, as well as tea 
blending  facilities  in  the  Netherlands  and  Sri  Lanka.    The  Company  leases  agri-products  trading  or  processing  facilities 
around the world, including locations in Canada, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Russia, the United Kingdom, the 
United States, and Vietnam.  The lease expense on these facilities is not material to the Company.  None of the Company’s 
agri-products facilities exceeds 500,000 square feet in floor space.   

Lumber and building products segment   

The construction supply business unit owns or leases 46 sales outlets and distribution facilities in the Netherlands.  
Most of these locations are owned by the Company.  In the Netherlands, the Company also owns a facility for large-scale 
sawing, planing, and finger jointing of softwood products, and manufacturing facilities for building components.   

The  retail  supply  business  unit  owns  or  leases  13  larger  scale  warehousing  and  distribution  facilities  in  the 
Netherlands.  Most  of  these  locations  are  owned  by  the  Company.    In  the  Netherlands,  the  Company  also  owns  a  large 
production  facility  which  manufactures  and  distributes  a  wide  range  of  wood  products  for  the  DIY  retail  sector.    The 
Company  leases  or  owns  facilities  for  the  processing  and  production  of  garden  timbers  in  Hungary,  the  Netherlands,  and 
Poland. The Company owns or leases sales offices and distribution facilities in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, 
Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. 

The  lumber  and  building  products  business  has  production  plants,  warehouses,  and  distribution  centers  covering 

over 6 million square feet, with no one facility in excess of 500,000 square feet. 

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings  

European Commission Fines in Spain 

In October 2004, the European Commission (the “Commission”) imposed fines on “five companies active in the raw 
Spanish tobacco processing market” totaling €20 million (approximately $25 million) for “colluding on the prices paid to, 
and the quantities bought from, the tobacco growers in Spain.”  Two of the Company’s subsidiaries, Tabacos Espanoles S.A. 
(“TAES”), a purchaser and processor of raw tobacco in Spain, and Deltafina, S.p.A. (“Deltafina”), an Italian subsidiary, were 
among  the  five  companies  assessed  fines.  In  its  decision,  the  Commission  imposed  a  fine  of  €108,000  (approximately 
$135,000) on TAES, and a fine of €11.88 million (approximately $14.8 million) on Deltafina.  Deltafina did not and does not 
purchase  or  process  raw  tobacco  in  the  Spanish  market,  but  was  and  is  a  significant  buyer  of  tobacco  from  some  of  the 
Spanish processors.   The Company recorded a charge of approximately  $14.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 
2005 to accrue the full amount of the fines assessed against the Company’s subsidiaries. 

In January 2005, Deltafina filed an appeal in the Court of First Instance of the European Communities.  The main 
ground of appeal is that the Commission erred in imposing liability on Deltafina as a cartel participant, particularly as the 
cartel leader, when Deltafina was not an actual party to the agreement and was incapable of acting in the relevant market.  In 
addition, Deltafina argues that (i) the Commission failed to allege that Deltafina was a member of the cartel and cartel leader
prior to issuing its decision, thereby impairing Deltafina’s right to defend itself, and (ii) that the Commission failed to try to 
prove that the practices affected trade between Member States of the European Community.  The appeal also argues that the 
Commission  incorrectly  calculated  the  amount of  the  Deltafina  fine.    The  appeal  process  is  likely  to  take  several  years  to 
complete, and the ultimate outcome is uncertain.   

European Commission Fines in Italy 

In 2002, Universal reported that it was aware that the Commission was investigating certain aspects of the tobacco 
leaf markets in Italy.  Deltafina buys and processes tobacco in Italy.  The Company reported that it did not believe that the 
Commission investigation in Italy would result in penalties being assessed against the Company or its subsidiaries that would 
be  material  to  its  earnings.    The  reason  Universal  held  this  belief  was  that  it  had  received  conditional  immunity  from  the 
Commission  because  Deltafina  had  voluntarily  informed  the  Commission  of  the  activities  that  were  the  basis  of  the 
investigation. 

  On December 28, 2004, the Company received a preliminary indication that the Commission intended to revoke 
Deltafina’s  immunity  for  disclosing  in  April  2002  that  it  had  applied  for  immunity.    Neither  the  Commission’s  Leniency 
Notice of February 19, 2002, nor Deltafina’s letter of provisional immunity contains a specific requirement of confidentiality.

14

The  potential  for  such  disclosure  was  discussed  with  the  Commission  in  March  2002,  and  the  Commission  never  told 
Deltafina that the disclosure would affect Deltafina’s immunity.  On November 15, 2005, the Company received notification 
that the Commission had imposed fines totaling €30 million (about $36 million) on Deltafina and the Company jointly for 
infringing European Union antitrust law in connection with the purchase and processing of tobacco in the Italian raw tobacco 
market. 

The Company does not believe that the decision can be reconciled with the Commission’s Statement of Objections 
and  facts.    The  Company  and  Deltafina  each  have  appealed  the  decision  to  the  Court  of  First  Instance  of  the  European 
Communities.    Based  on  consultation  with  outside  counsel,  the  Company  believes  it  is  probable  that  it  will  prevail  in  the 
appeals process and has not accrued a charge for the fine.  Deltafina has provided a bank guarantee to the Commission in the 
amount of the fine in order to stay execution during the appeals process.  The appeals process is likely to take several years to
complete. 

U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 

As  a  result  of  a  posting  to  the  Company's  Ethics  Complaint  hotline  alleging  improper  activities  that  involved  or 
related to certain of the Company's tobacco subsidiaries, the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors engaged 
an  outside  law  firm  to  conduct  an  investigation  of  the  alleged  activities.    That  investigation  revealed  that  there  have  been 
payments that may have violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  At this time, the payments involved appear to have 
approximated $1 million over a five-year period.  In addition, the investigation revealed activities in foreign jurisdictions that 
may have violated the competition laws of such jurisdictions, but the Company believes those activities did not violate U.S. 
antitrust laws.  The Company voluntarily reported these activities to the appropriate U.S. authorities.  On June 6, 2006, the 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  notified  the  Company  that  a  formal  order  of  investigation  has  been  issued.    The 
Company has initiated corrective actions, and such actions are continuing. 

If the U.S. authorities determine that there have been violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or if the U.S. 
authorities  or  the  authorities  in  foreign  jurisdictions  determine  there  have  been  violations  of  other  laws,  they  may  seek  to 
impose sanctions on the Company or its subsidiaries that may include injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties, and 
modifications  to  business  practices.    It  is  not  possible  to  predict  at  this  time  whether  the  authorities  will  determine  that 
violations have occurred, and if they do, what sanctions they might seek to impose.  It is also not possible to predict how the
government's  investigation  or  any  resulting  sanctions  may  impact  the  Company's  business,  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations, or financial performance, although such sanctions, if imposed, could be material to its results of operations in any
quarter.  The Company will continue to cooperate with the authorities in these matters.  

Other Legal Matters 

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  matters,  various  subsidiaries  of  the  Company  are  involved  in  other  litigation 
incidental to their business activities.  While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management is 
vigorously  defending  the  claims  and  does  not  currently  expect  that  any of  them  will  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the 
Company’s  financial  position.   However,  should  one  or  more  of  these  matters  be  resolved  in  a  manner  adverse  to 
management’s current expectation, the effect on the Company’s results of operations for a particular fiscal reporting period 
could be material.  

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders  

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended March 31, 2006. 

15

PART II 

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity 
Securities

Common Equity  

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “UVV.” 
The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices per share of the common stock on the NYSE Composite Tape, 
based upon published financial sources, and the dividends declared on each share of common stock for the quarter indicated.  

2006

Cash dividends declared……………………………… 
Market price range…………………..………………… 

2005

Cash dividends declared……………………………… 
Market price range………………..…………………… 

High   

Low   

High   

Low   

2004

First 
Quarter

Second 
Quarter

Third 
Quarter

Fourth 
Quarter

 $           0.42 

 $           0.42 

 $           0.43 

$           0.43 

48.03

43.08

47.70

38.83

43.99

36.31

48.21

36.17

 $           0.39   

 $           0.39   

 $           0.42   

$           0.42 

53.01

46.20

50.14

42.25

49.80

43.31

50.57

45.77

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

Cash dividends declared……………………………… 

 $           0.36   

 $           0.39   

 $           0.39   

Market price range…………………..………………… 

High   

Low   

43.85   

41.20   

44.28   

40.78   

52.32   

44.41   

The Company’s current dividend policy anticipates the payment of quarterly dividends in the future.  However, the 
declaration and payment of dividends to holders of common stock is at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will be 
dependent upon the future earnings, financial condition, and capital requirements of the Company.  Under the terms of the 
Series  B  6.75%  Convertible  Perpetual  Preferred  Stock  (the  “Preferred  Stock”),  the  Company  may  not  declare  or  pay 
dividends on its common stock unless dividends on the Preferred Stock for the four most recent consecutive dividend periods 
have been declared and paid.  The Preferred Stock contains provisions that prohibit the payment of cash dividends if certain 
income and shareholders’ equity levels are not met.  Under certain of its credit facilities, the Company must meet financial 
covenants  relating  to  minimum  tangible  net  worth  and  maximum  levels  of  long-term  debt.  If  the  Company  were  not  in 
compliance with them, these financial covenants could restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends.  The Company was in 
compliance  with  all  such  covenants  at  March  31,  2006.    At  June  1,  2006,  there  were  1,927  holders  of  record  of  the 
Company’s common stock.  See Notes 7 and 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on debt 
covenants and equity securities.   

Purchases of Equity Securities 

There were no purchases of the Company’s equity securities by the Company or any affiliated purchaser during the 

three months ended March 31, 2006. 

16

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data 

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004
(in thousands except per share data, ratios and number of shareholders)

2005

2003

2002

Fiscal Years Ended March 31,

Fiscal Years Ended June 30,

2006

Summary of Operations
Sales and other operating revenues…….............   $
Net income…………………………..............…   $
Return on beginning common

shareholders’ equity…………………………   

Net income per common share:

Basic……    $
Diluted……   $

Financial Position at Year End
Current ratio…..........………………...…………  
Total assets…………............……………………  $
Long-term obligations……………………………   $
Working capital…………………………………  $
Shareholders’ equity……...……………………   $

General
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges……………… 
Number of common shareholders……………… 
Weighted average common

shares outstanding:

Basic……  
Diluted…… 

Dividends per common share……...……………  $
Book value per common share…………...……   $

* Based on nine-month net income.

3,511,332
7,940

   $
$

3,276,057
96,013

   $
$

2,271,152
99,636

   $
$

2,636,776
110,594

   $
$

2,500,078
106,662

1.0 %
0.31
0.31

   $
   $

12.6 %
3.76
3.73

   $
   $

16.1 %*
3.97
3.94

   $
   $

18.8 %   
4.35
4.34

   $
   $

19.3 %
4.01
4.00

1.92
2,901,341
762,201
864,792
964,871

$
   $
$
$

1.84
2,885,324
838,687
819,047
822,388

$
   $
$
$

2.05
2,498,408
770,296
789,530
759,833

$
   $
$
$

1.67
2,243,074
614,994
550,716
620,278

$
   $
$
$

1.64
1,844,415
435,592
431,606
587,995

1.53
1,951

25,707
25,957
1.70
29.96

$
$

3.58
2,042

25,553
25,717
1.62
32.04

$
$

5.38
2,126

25,072
25,277
1.14
29.86

$
$

4.39
2,267

25,420
25,499
1.42
24.89

$
$

3.99
2,381

26,579
26,680
1.34
22.42

The calculation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges is shown in Exhibit 12.  Fixed charges primarily represent 

interest expense incurred by the Company during the designated reporting period.   

The Company changed its fiscal year end from June 30 to March 31, effective for fiscal year 2004.  Concurrent with 
the year-end change, the Company eliminated a three-month reporting lag for foreign subsidiaries.  Selected financial data for 
fiscal year 2004 is presented for the nine-month transition year ended March 31, 2004.  See “Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for more information. 

Significant items included in the operating results in the above table are as follows: 

•

•

Fiscal  Year  2006  –  $57.5  million  in  restructuring  and  impairment  charges  related  to  tobacco  operations,  which 
reduced  net  income  by  $46.3  million,  or  $1.78  per  diluted  share.    Results  also  included  significantly  higher 
provisions for losses in the tobacco segment on uncollectible farmer advances in several African countries, Brazil, 
and the Philippines that reduced pretax earnings compared to fiscal year 2005 by $26.2  million, and net income by 
$14.0 million, or $0.54 per diluted share.  In addition, significant market price declines in two commodities handled 
by  the  Company’s  agri-products  segment  (almonds  and  sunflower  seeds)  resulted  in  $17.2  million  in  inventory 
valuation  and  purchase  commitment  losses  that  reduced  net  income  by  $10.9  million,  or  $0.42  per  diluted  share.  
Collectively,  these  three  items  reduced  pre-tax  earnings  compared  to  fiscal  year  2005  by  $100.9  million  and  net 
income by $71.2 million, or $2.74 per diluted share. 

Fiscal Year 2005 – a $14.9 million charge to recognize fines assessed by the European Commission against two of 
the Company’s subsidiaries related to tobacco buying practices in Spain.  The charge reduced net income by $14.9 
million, or $0.58 per diluted share. 

17

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
•

•

•

Fiscal  Year  2004  –  a  $7.6  million  charge  related  to  a  customer’s  rejection  of  certain  shipments  of  tobacco  by  a 
foreign subsidiary.  This charge reduced net income by $4.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share.  An additional $3.2 
million charge was recorded for the rejection of additional shipments that occurred in the following quarter.  Results 
for that quarter were reported as a direct addition to retained earnings due to the year-end change and elimination of 
the foreign reporting lag.  The total charge related to the customer’s rejection of these shipments was $10.8 million 
before taxes, or $7.0 million after taxes. 

Fiscal  Year  2003  –  restructuring  charges  of  $33  million,  a  charge  of  $12  million  related  to  the  settlement  of  a 
lawsuit, a currency remeasurement gain of $20 million, and asset sale gains of $9 million.  These items reduced net 
income by $10 million, or $0.41 per diluted share. 

Fiscal Year 2002 – a charge of $10 million related to devaluation of the Argentine currency and costs of $8 million 
related to the consolidation of U.S. tobacco operations.  These items reduced net income by $12 million, or $0.43 
per diluted share. 

18

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  

The  following discussion  and  analysis  of  financial  condition and  results  of  operations is  provided  to enhance  the 
understanding of, and should be read in conjunction with, Part I, Item 1, “Business” and Consolidated Financial Statements 
and  the  related  Notes.  For  information  on  risks  and  uncertainties  related  to  Universal’s  business  that  may  make  past 
performance not indicative of future results, or cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements,
see “Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements,” and Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” 

OVERVIEW

Universal Corporation, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading independent leaf tobacco 
merchants  and  processors  and  has  operations  in  agri-products  and  the  distribution  of  lumber  and  building  products.    The 
Company  derives  most  of  its  tobacco  revenues  from  sales  of  processed  tobacco  to  manufacturers  of  tobacco  products 
throughout the world and from fees and commissions for specific services.   

In the last three years, Universal made significant investments in crop expansion in a number of African countries, 
including Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, to maintain a diverse supply base as flue-cured tobacco volumes continued to 
decline in Zimbabwe.   Currently, there is an oversupply of certain grades of flue-cured tobacco, as supply began to outpace 
demand  after an  18%  increase  in  worldwide  flue-cured  production  by exporting  countries  (excluding  China)  in  fiscal  year 
2005.  That increase was primarily caused by a very large, lower quality flue-cured crop in Brazil.  In fiscal year 2006, Brazil
again produced a very large crop that was of poor quality due to adverse weather conditions. Thus, the oversupply of flue-
cured tobacco is primarily lower quality leaf.  Burley tobacco is also in an oversupply situation due to large crops in Malawi 
and  Brazil  in  the  last  two  years.    During  this  time,  U.S.  crop  sizes  declined  as  customers  continued  to  shift  to  more  price 
competitive growths in other countries.  Although worldwide production of flue-cured and burley tobaccos declined slightly 
in fiscal year 2006, markets remained in an oversupply.  In fiscal year 2006, the Company successfully started up its new 
factory  in  Mozambique,  reduced  excess  capacity  in  the  United  States  by  closing  a  factory,  undertook  programs  to 
significantly reduce overhead and to improve cash flow, and began the process of reevaluating the viability of the Company’s 
growing projects in Africa. 

Universal’s  tobacco  segment  performance  suffered  in  fiscal  year  2006  as  a  result  of  weather  problems  in  several 
countries, which either reduced crop quality or yield; the  weakness of the U.S. dollar against several foreign currencies in 
which it purchases tobacco, which increased costs;  unusually high provisions for losses on farmer advances that arose in part 
because of crop quality;  start-up costs related to the new Mozambique factory; and a decline in sales volumes for blended 
strips,  which  were  no  longer  required  by  its  customers.    In  addition,  the  Company  recorded  restructuring  and  impairment 
charges  related  to  the  closure  of  its  Danville,  Virginia,  tobacco processing  facility and  an  impairment  charge  to  reduce  its 
investment in its tobacco operations in Zimbabwe to estimated fair value following the deconsolidation of that investment for 
accounting purposes.    

The  lumber  and  building  products  segment  has  been  weathering  a  long-term  recession  in  Europe,  which  showed 
some signs of improvement during the last quarter of fiscal year 2006.  Despite the effects of the recession, the strength of the
euro has helped buoy U.S. dollar-translated income.  In addition, careful attention to cost control and customer service has 
helped the overall earnings performance of the lumber and building products group.  During the past three fiscal years, the 
agri-products  segment  experienced  difficult  markets  for  many  of  its  products,  especially  sunflower  seeds,  cashews,  and 
almonds.    In  fiscal  year  2006,  results  were  negatively  affected  by  losses  on  inventory  write-downs  and  purchase 
commitments in both sunflower seeds and almonds; however, market conditions improved in synthetic rubber, dried fruits, 
cashews,  and other  nuts. Absent  the  losses  from  market  declines  in  almonds  and  sunflower  seeds,  results  for  this  segment 
would have been much improved from fiscal year 2005. 

Heavy demands for capital to diversify and expand tobacco sources, improve U.S. processing capabilities, expand 
the lumber and building products business, and provide working capital for the agri-products businesses over the last three 
years have been funded with a combination of revolving credit borrowings, public debt, and preferred stock.  The Company 
has been working to reduce its debt levels and improve cash flow, to reduce capital spending to a level below depreciation, 
and  to  reduce  working  capital  investment  by  reducing  crop  sizes  in  some  areas.    The  Company  began  to  see  some 
improvement in fiscal year 2006, as cash provided by operating activities increased by about $150 million and cash used by 
investing activities decreased by $65 million.  

Management will continue its efforts to improve operating results in fiscal year 2007.   The Company is working to 
reduce excess leaf production in Brazil and Africa, and to reduce capital spending and working capital investment.  Universal 

19

is also reviewing marginal operations, including growing projects, for possible rationalization, and will continue its efforts to 
control costs.  These actions are expected to reduce capital employed and improve cash flow and earnings performance. 

CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR END 

In August 2003, Universal’s Board of Directors approved a change in Universal’s fiscal year end from June 30 to 
March 31.  With the change, the fiscal year better matches the crop and operating cycles of the Company’s largest operations.  
The  change  also  allowed  the  Company  to  eliminate  a  three-month  reporting  lag  previously  used  for  most  of  its  foreign 
subsidiaries.  Fiscal years 2006 and 2005 each cover a twelve-month period ended March 31.  Fiscal year 2004 results cover 
the nine-month transition year from July 1, 2003, through March 31, 2004.  However, wherever practicable, the forthcoming 
discussion  will  compare  the  consolidated  financial  statements  for  fiscal  year  2005  with  the  recast  pro  forma  financial 
statements  for  the  twelve  months  ended  March  31,  2004.    For  purposes  of  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of 
Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations,  the  Company  believes  that  this  comparison  provides  a  more  meaningful 
analysis.

Net  income  for  the  foreign  subsidiaries  for  the  three-month  period  ended  March  31,  2004,  representing  the 
elimination of the reporting lag, is reflected as an addition to retained earnings in the consolidated statement of shareholders’ 
equity in the consolidated financial statements for the nine-month transition year ended March 31, 2004.  In addition, the net 
change in cash and cash equivalents for foreign subsidiaries for this three-month period is reported as a separate line item in
the consolidated statement of cash flows.   

Throughout this discussion, data for all periods except as of and for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004, are 
derived from the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which appear in this report.  Summary financial information 
for  the  twelve  months  ended  March  31,  2004,  recast  to  show  historical  results  without  the  reporting  lag  for  foreign 
subsidiaries, is found in Note 15 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements,” which also includes more information on 
the derivation of the recast financial information.  

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2006, Compared to the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2005 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

Net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, was $7.9 million, or $.31 per diluted share, compared to $96 
million, or $3.73 per diluted share last year. Restructuring and impairment charges and lower operating income in each of the 
Company’s business segments negatively impacted results for the fiscal year. The Company recorded $57.5 million ($46.3 
million after taxes or $1.78 per diluted share) in restructuring and impairment charges  related to the closure of its tobacco 
processing plant in Danville, Virginia, its overhead reduction program, and its investment in Zimbabwe.   

The Company deconsolidated its operations in Zimbabwe as of January 1, 2006, under U.S. accounting requirements 
that apply under certain conditions to foreign subsidiaries that are subject to foreign exchange controls and other government 
restrictions.    After  deconsolidation,  the  Company  recorded  a  non-cash  charge  of  $29.2  million  to  adjust  the  investment  in 
those  operations  to  estimated  fair  value.    There  was  no  tax  benefit  associated  with  this  charge.    The  investment  is  now 
accounted  for  using  the  cost  method  and  is  reported  on  the  balance  sheet  in  investments  in  unconsolidated  affiliates.  
Business  operations  in  Zimbabwe  were  not  impacted  by  the  financial  reporting  change  or  the  non-cash  charge,  and  the 
Company  intends  to  continue  its  operations  there.    In  fiscal  year  2006,  Universal  closed  its  Danville,  Virginia,  processing 
plant  and  incurred  a  restructuring  charge  of  $26.0  million.  Additional  charges  of  $2.3  million  were  related  to  other  cost 
reduction initiatives.  Revenues were $3.5 billion for the year, compared to $3.3 billion in the prior year. 

Tobacco segment results for the year were down by $39.6 million, or about 20%, compared to the prior year due 
primarily to poor results in South America and Africa.  Higher costs due to the relative strength of the Brazilian currency and
the poor quality of the crop, caused by adverse weather conditions, combined to reduce operating margins in South America.  
In  Africa,  results  were  impacted  by  incremental  currency  remeasurement  and  exchange  losses  totaling  about  $17  million, 
expenses associated with the factory start-up in Mozambique of approximately $4.2 million, higher overhead costs, and lower 
margins on burley tobacco sales due to pricing pressures associated with the overhang from the large Malawi burley crop in 
2004.  In addition, the Company’s flue-cured growing projects in Malawi and Zambia were negatively impacted by low crop 
yields caused by inadequate rainfall.  The Zambian projects also suffered higher labor and operating costs generated by the 
substantial appreciation of the Zambian currency.  However, African results were also impacted by increased volume from 
Tanzania and from carryover shipments of the Malawi crop from fiscal year 2005.  Tobacco segment results for fiscal year 
2006  also  included  incremental  provisions  of  about  $26.2  million  for  uncollectible  farmer  advances,  in  several  African 
countries,  Brazil,  and  the  Philippines.  In  addition,  sales  volumes  of  blended  strips  were  lower  for  the  year  due  to  a  sharp 
decline in demand for that product. 

20

Although overall tobacco segment operating income was down, results for the U.S. operations were improved.  U.S. 
operations benefited from operating efficiencies, higher sales volumes, and savings from the closing of the Danville plant.  
Prior year results reflected a charge of $14.9 million for European Commission fines on subsidiaries of the Company related 
to  tobacco  buying  practices  in  Spain,  which  reduced  results  for  that  period  by  $.58  per  diluted  share.    Tobacco  revenues 
increased for the year by about 7% primarily because of carryover shipments of the Malawi crop from fiscal year 2005 and an 
increase in prices for Brazilian tobacco related to the stronger Brazilian currency. 

The Company did not record a charge for the European Commission fine of €30 million (about $36 million) related 
to green tobacco buying practices in Italy, which was announced in October 2005.  The Company and its Italian subsidiary, 
Deltafina,  were  jointly  assessed  the  fine  after  the  European  Commission  revoked  Deltafina’s  conditional  immunity,  which 
had been granted in 2002.  Based on consultation with outside counsel, management believes that the terms of the immunity 
agreement  were  not  breached  and  that  immunity  will  be  restored  through  the  appeal  of  the  decision  in  the  courts.    The 
Company and Deltafina each have appealed the decision to the Court of First Instance of the European Communities. 

Lumber  and  building  products  operations  rebounded  late  in  the  fiscal  year  as  margins  improved,  but  the  annual 
results  for  this  segment  were  $6  million  lower  than  last  year.  The  lower  results  for  the  year  were  due  to  ongoing  price 
pressure  from  DIY  retailers  negatively  affecting  margins  in  retail  supply.  The  decline  in  retail  supply  margins  was  partly 
offset  by  improved  results  in  the  construction  supply  market,  which  benefited  from  increased  sales  volume  and  higher 
margins due to good cost control for the year. Revenues in the lumber and building products segment increased by 4% in 
fiscal year 2006, primarily, because of acquisitions and improved conditions in construction supply markets. 

Agri-product results were down $8.1 million for the year due to losses from market price declines in both sunflower 
seeds and almonds.  These charges totaled $17.2 million.  The charges in nuts were primarily due to a market price decline in 
almonds, created by an oversupply from the 2005 California crop.  U.S. sunflower seed crop yields were substantially higher 
than the prior year, which generated a market oversupply and significant price declines.  These charges were partially offset 
by the favorable resolution of a lawsuit related to sunflower seeds during fiscal year 2006. Excluding the losses from market 
price  declines,  agri-products  results  for  the  year  were  much  higher  than  last  year  due  to  improved  market  conditions  in 
rubber, cashews, and seeds.  Agri-products revenues increased for the year due to higher synthetic rubber sales and increased 
volumes in dried fruits and nuts.  

Selling, general,  and  administrative  expenses  increased  at a  faster  rate  than  revenues because  currency  losses  and 
charges  for  uncollectible  supplier  advances  are  included  in  that  line  item.    Lower  incentive  compensation  accruals,  lower 
executive benefit costs, and a currency gain on a foreign withholding tax refund generated a reduction in corporate costs of 
$6.4 million.  Interest expense was substantially higher for the year due to increased borrowing levels and higher short-term 
interest rates.   

21

The following table summarizes some of the major factors for fiscal year 2006 compared to fiscal year 2005. 

(In millions,  except per share amounts)

Tobacco segment

    Higher provisions for losses on farmer advances…………………………………...….……………………………………………… 

$                      

26.2

    Incremental African currency remeasurement and exchange losses…………………………………………………………………...  

    Mozambique factory start-up costs………………………………………………………………...…………………………………… 

    European Commission fines in the prior year……………………………………………...…………………….……………………… 

          Net decrease in tobacco segment earnings……………………………………...……………………………….…………………  

Agri-products segment

   Losses from market declines in almonds and sunflower seeds…………………………………………...……………………………… 

   Favorable resolution of lawsuit…………………………………………………...………………………….…………………………  

          Net decrease in agri-products earnings…………………………………..………………………………………………………… 

Other

   Restructuring and impairment charges……………………………………...…………………………………………………………… 

   Reduction in corporate overhead……………………………………………………………...……...………………………………… 

Decrease in operating income………………………..………………………..………………………………………………………… 

Increase in interest expense………………………………………………………...………………...…………………………………… 

Decrease in income before income taxes and other items…………………..………………………………………………….……… 

Decrease in net income…………………………………………………………..……….…………………………….………………… 

17.0

4.2

(14.9)

32.5

17.2

(4.0)

13.2

57.5

(6.4)

96.8

23.0

119.8

79.3

Decrease in diluted earnings per share………………….………………..……………………………………………………………  

$                      

3.05

The consolidated effective income tax rate for the current fiscal year was 90% compared to 41% for the prior year. 
There was no tax benefit associated with the impairment charge to reduce the Company’s investment in Zimbabwe, which 
significantly increased the effective income tax rate for the year.  In addition, the Company’s effective tax rate remains above
the statutory U.S. rate due to excess foreign taxes recorded in countries where the tax rate exceeds the U.S. rate, and local tax
expense recorded by a foreign subsidiary with a U.S. dollar loss for the current fiscal year.   

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2005, Compared to Recast Twelve Months Ended March 31, 2004 

Sales and Other Operating Revenues
Twelve Months

Fiscal

Operating Income

Fiscal

Twelve Months

Year Ended

March 31,

2005

Ended

March 31,

2004

Recast

Year Ended

March 31,

2005

Ended

March 31,

2004

Recast

Tobacco…………………………………………………… $
Lumber and building products………………………………
Agri-products………………………………………………
Total segments………………………………………………
Corporate expenses…………………………………………
Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates………
Restructuring costs…………………………………………
Consolidated total…………………………………………… $

$

1,672,938
845,922
757,197
3,276,057

      $

1,642,766
729,573
515,306
2,887,645

   $

195,517
45,744
12,789
254,050
(29,845)
(15,649)

3,276,057

$

2,887,645

      $

208,556

   $

190,395
29,577
10,783
230,755
(24,005)
(11,006)
(5,724)
190,020

Net income for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2005, was $96 million, or $3.73 per diluted share, compared 
to $95.8 million, or $3.80 per diluted share, for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004, which was recast for the effect of 
the year-end change and elimination of the foreign reporting lag in fiscal year 2004.  The results for fiscal year 2005 reflected 
a second-quarter charge of $14.9 million for announced EU fines on the Company’s subsidiaries due to their tobacco buying 
practices in Spain.  As the fines are not tax deductible, the charge reduced net income for fiscal year 2005 by $14.9 million, 
22

                         
                        
                        
                        
          
  
          
             
             
             
  
             
     
               
  
               
             
  
             
     
               
               
          
  
          
     
             
  
             
  
     
             
  
             
             
             
  
     
  
               
          
  
          
             
             
 
  
     
  
or  $0.58  per  diluted  share.    Results  for  the  recast  twelve  months  ended  March  31,  2004,  included  $12  million  for  the 
settlement of the DeLoach lawsuit in May 2003, $5.7 million in charges for rationalizing U.S. operations, and $10.8 million 
in charges for rejected tobacco. Those charges totaled $18.4 million after taxes, or $0.73 per diluted share.  Revenues were 
$3.3 billion for fiscal year 2005 compared to $2.9 billion for the recast prior year.  Recast amounts for the twelve months 
ended March 31, 2004, are presented in the table above and in Note 15 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, 
and the following discussion addresses recast figures for fiscal year 2004 unless otherwise noted. 

Tobacco segment results improved by about 3% for fiscal year 2005 to $195.5 million.  The results for fiscal year 
2005 include a charge of $14.9 million for the EU fines, and the prior year’s recast results included the $12 million DeLoach 
lawsuit  settlement.  The  positive  comparisons  caused  by  the  prior  year’s  $10.8  million  charge  associated  with  customer-
rejected tobacco, coupled with higher tobacco shipments in fiscal year 2005 from Africa and Brazil and earlier shipments of 
current crop oriental tobaccos, were partially offset by the effects of the changing monetary system in Zimbabwe and lower 
volumes from Europe. Changes in the monetary system in Zimbabwe in January 2004 created volatility in the Company’s 
results  due  to  remeasurement  of  local  currency  earnings.    As  a  result,  the  Company  was  unable  to  offset  inflationary  cost 
increases  with  interest  on  local  deposits  or  gains  on  conversion  of  U.S.  dollars  into  local  currency,  despite  net  benefits  of 
about $7 million in fiscal year 2005, and this negatively impacted fiscal year 2005 comparisons.  These currency- and fiscal 
policy-related items reduced fiscal year 2005 earnings by about $11 million.  In addition, in fiscal year 2005, the Company 
recognized a $10.1 million allowance for the estimated loss on realization of certain value-added tax credits in Brazil due to 
changes  in  local  laws.    See  Note  12  of  “Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements”  for  additional  information  on  tax 
changes.  That charge, however, was partially offset by net currency remeasurement gains of $4 million and a $3.5 million 
recovery  of  other  value-added  taxes  there.    The  improvement  in  tobacco  results  during  fiscal  2005  occurred  in  the  fourth 
quarter as the majority of the shipments that had been delayed from earlier quarters were completed, and tobacco provided 
most of the increase in earnings for the quarter.  Tobacco revenues increased by about $30 million for the year because of 
increases  from  shipments  of  larger  crops  in  Brazil  and  higher  shipments  from  Africa,  which  were  largely  offset  by  lower 
volumes from Europe.  

Results for the Company’s lumber and building products segment increased by $16 million, or 55%, in fiscal year 
2005.    Results  reflected  the  benefits  of  slightly  increased  volume  in  construction  supply  markets  and  cost  control  in  both 
construction  and  retail  supply  markets,  which  remained  extremely  competitive.    In  addition,  about  half  of  the  earnings 
increase  arose  from  a  6.4%  appreciation  of  the  euro,  results  from  small  acquisitions,  pension  adjustments,  and  gains  from 
sales of real estate along with the prior year’s divestiture of a small Belgian operation.  Revenues for this segment increased
by $116 million, nearly half of which was due to the strength of the euro. 

Higher  volumes  in  the  tea  and  rubber  businesses  were  largely  responsible  for  the  $2  million  improvement  in  the 
Company’s agri-products segment.  However, results for nuts and dried fruits were impacted by adverse conditions in cashew 
markets where suppliers defaulted on some contracted deliveries.  Results for seeds were affected by a claim of a sunflower 
seed  grower.    Nearly  36%  of  the  $242  million  increase  in  revenue  in  the  segment  for  fiscal  year  2005  arose  from  the 
acquisition of a controlling interest in  a small company that trades nuts and dried fruits.  Including this business, nuts and 
dried  fruits  represented  about  half  of  the  growth  in  agri-products  revenues;  however,  results  were  limited  by  market 
conditions.   

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased at a faster rate than revenues, in part because of additional 
costs of complying with the internal control requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (”Section 404”), which 
increased external consulting and audit costs by about $5 million during fiscal year 2005.  In addition, higher legal fees were
required  to  respond  to  the  European  Union’s  actions  regarding  the  Company’s  European  tobacco  buying  practices.    The 
$10.1  million provision  for value-added  tax  credits  in  Brazil  was  also  included  in  this  account,  as was  the $3.5  million  of 
Brazilian VAT refunds.  Interest expense increased compared to the prior year primarily due to higher debt balances and, to a 
lesser extent, increasing interest rates. 

The Company’s annual effective tax rate was approximately 41% for fiscal year 2005, primarily because of the non-
deductible EU fines.  Before the effect of the EU fines, the tax rate was in line with the prior year.  The Company’s effective
tax rate remains above the statutory U.S. rate due to excess foreign taxes recorded in countries where the tax rate exceeds the
U.S. rate, and local tax expense recorded by a foreign subsidiary with a U.S. dollar loss for fiscal year 2005.  

Accounting Pronouncements 

In November 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 151, “Inventory Costs, an 
amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4” (“Statement No. 151”).  Statement No. 151 amends Accounting Research Bulletin 
No. 43 (“ARB No. 43”) to clarify that abnormal amounts of production-related costs, such as idle facility expense, freight, 
handling costs, and wasted materials, should be recognized as current-period charges rather than being recorded as inventory 

23

cost.  Statement No. 151 also requires that allocation of fixed production overhead to inventory cost be based on the normal 
capacity of a company’s production facilities.  Statement No. 151 will be effective for Universal in fiscal year 2007.  The 
Company does not expect the impact of Statement No. 151 to be material to its financial statements. 

In  December  2004,  the  FASB  issued  a  revision  of  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  123,  titled 
“Share-Based Payment” (“Statement No. 123R”).  Statement No. 123R requires that share-based payments, such as grants of 
stock  options,  restricted  shares,  and  stock  appreciation  rights,  be  measured  at  fair  value  and  reported  as  expense  in  a 
company’s  financial  statements  over  the  requisite  service  period.    The  earlier  guidance  that  Statement  No.  123R  replaced 
allowed companies the alternative of recognizing expense for share-based payments in their financial statements or disclosing 
the  pro  forma  effect  of  those  payments  in  the  notes  to  the  financial  statements.    Universal  periodically  issues  share-based 
payments to employees under its compensation programs  and has elected to make pro forma disclosures under the current 
accounting guidance.  The Company is required to adopt Statement No. 123R as of April 1, 2006, which is the beginning of 
fiscal year 2007, and will recognize expense over the service period for the fair value of all grants issued after March 31, 
2006,  as well  as  expense  attributable  to  the  remaining  service  period for  all  prior  grants  that have  not  fully  vested  by  that 
date.  Since vesting of share-based payments is normally accelerated at the date a grantee retires, the requisite service period
under  Statement  No.  123R  does  not  extend  beyond  the  earliest  date  the  grantee  is  eligible  to  retire.    As  a  result,  after  the 
Statement is adopted, the fair value of the grants will be recognized as expense over the shorter of the stated vesting period or
the period to the date of retirement eligibility.  This will result in immediate recognition of the fair value of grants to any
employees who are already eligible for retirement and create less uniformity in expense from period to period.  The Company 
currently  attributes  service  for  expense  recognition  over  the  shorter  of  the  required  service  period  or  the  period  to  the 
employee’s  mandatory  retirement  date,  with  recognition  being  accelerated  if  an  employee  elects  to  retire  early.  At  the 
anticipated  level  of  future  share-based  grants,  the  Company  does  not  expect  the  effect  on  annual  net  income  from  the 
adoption  of  Statement  No.  123R  to  be  materially  different  from  the  stock-based  compensation  cost  under  the  fair  value 
method for fiscal year 2006 reported in the disclosures in Note 1 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” 

Overview  

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Universal’s liquidity and capital resource requirements are predominantly short term in nature and primarily relate to 
working capital required for tobacco crop purchases.  Working capital needs are seasonal within each geographic region.  The 
geographic  dispersion  and  the  timing  of  working  capital  needs  permit  Universal  to  predict  its  general  level  of  cash 
requirements.  The marketing of the crop in each geographic area is heavily influenced by weather conditions and follows the 
cycle of buying, processing, and shipping of the tobacco crop.  The timing of individual customer shipping requirements may 
change the level or the duration of crop financing.  Despite a predominance of short-term needs, the Company maintains a 
relatively large portion of its total debt as long-term to reduce liquidity risk.  During the year, Universal reduced the level of 
investment  in  working  capital  and  capital  spending  to  improve  cash  flow  and  also  issued  preferred  stock  to  improve  its 
balance sheet structure. 

Working Capital 

Working  capital  at  March  31,  2006,  was  $865  million,  up  $46  million  from  March  31,  2005,  primarily  due  to  a 
decrease  in  current  liabilities.  Universal  reduced  “Notes  payable  and  overdrafts”  with  $193.5  million  in  proceeds  of 
convertible  preferred  stock  issued  in  March  2006.  Earlier,  the  Company  had  repaid  $123.4  million  in  maturing  long-term 
debt, which increased “Notes payable and overdrafts.”  Working capital also increased because of somewhat higher needs in 
Brazil due to crop timing and currency changes.  As of March 31, 2006, Brazilian farmers had delivered a higher portion of 
the tobacco crops to be sold in the next fiscal year than they had delivered in the previous fiscal year, and the local Brazilian
currency had strengthened against the U.S. dollar by 19%.  At March 31, 2006, tobacco inventories in Brazil were up $56 
million, partially offset by a $50 million decline in advances to suppliers, which primarily reflected a reduction of Brazilian
farmer  advances.    Increases  in  customer  advances  and  deposits  reduced  working  capital  by  $50  million.    The  level  of 
customer advances can vary from year to year as customers review their circumstances.  Accordingly, the Company considers 
such advances as borrowings when it reviews its balance sheet structure.  Africa also experienced a more normal shipping 
schedule  in  fiscal  year  2006,  which  was  the  primary  factor  in  the  $29  million  decrease  in  accounts  receivable.  The 
Company’s uncommitted tobacco inventories increased to approximately $112 million, or about 17% of tobacco inventory, 
compared to $92 million at March 31, 2005, which represented 15% of tobacco inventory.  Higher prices in Brazil along with 
purchases  from  the  burley  growers  stabilization  cooperative  at  the  end  of  the  U.S.  farm  program  in  the  United  States 
increased the level of uncommitted stocks held by the Company.  Management does not consider these levels excessive.   

24

Capital Spending 

The  Company’s  capital  expenditures  are  generally  limited  to  those  that  add  value  for  the  customer,  replace  or 
maintain equipment, increase efficiency, or position the Company for future growth.  Universal’s capital expenditures were 
approximately $74 million in fiscal year 2006, $106 million in fiscal year 2005, and $63.2 million in the nine months ended 
March 31, 2004, before considering the capital expenditures totaling $19.5 million by foreign subsidiaries in the three months 
ended March 31, 2004.  The latter capital expenditures do not appear on the face of the cash flow statement due to a reporting 
lag that was eliminated when the Company changed its year end reporting date.   In fiscal years 2006 and 2005, a significant 
portion  of  the  capital  spending  was  related  to  the  construction  of  a  new  factory  in  Mozambique,  which  cost  about  $48 
million.   That factory was  completed  in  fiscal  year  2006 and  started  operations  in  late  summer  2005.   Approximately  $14 
million of the capital expenditures in the nine months ended March 31, 2004, related to the completion of a major investment 
in  leaf  processing  in  the  United  States.  The  Company  plans  to  reduce  capital  spending  to  a  level  below  depreciation.  
Management does not foresee that major investments in tobacco processing facilities will be necessary in the near term. 

Outstanding Debt and Other Financing Arrangements 

Universal’s total debt decreased by about $172 million during fiscal year 2006, and its total debt as a percentage of 
total  capitalization  (including  total  debt,  deferred  taxes,  minority  interests,  and  shareholders’  equity)  decreased  to 
approximately 54% from 61% at March 31, 2005, and 56% at March 31, 2004.  The decrease in the percentage reflects the 
Company’s  issuance  of  Series  B  6.75%  Convertible  Perpetual  Preferred  Stock  (the  “Preferred  Stock”),  which  increased 
shareholders’ equity by $194 million.  Proceeds from the Preferred Stock offering were used to repay $169 million of debt 
outstanding  under  the  Company's  revolving  credit  facility  and  $25 million  of  other  short-term  notes  payable.    The  annual 
dividend  on  each  share  of  Preferred  Stock  will  be  6.75%  per  annum  of  the  liquidation  preference  and  will  be  payable 
quarterly, when, as and if declared by the Company's board of directors. Dividends on the Preferred Stock are not cumulative, 
and the Company may not declare or pay dividends on its common stock unless dividends on the Preferred Stock for the four 
most recent consecutive dividend periods have been declared and paid.  The Preferred Stock contains provisions that prohibit 
the payment of cash dividends in some cases.  Each share of Preferred Stock will be convertible at any time at the option of 
the holder at a conversion rate which is currently approximately 21.4 shares of Universal common stock. The conversion rate 
is  subject  to  customary  adjustments  in  certain  circumstances.  Subsequent  to  the  balance  sheet  date,  additional  shares  were 
issued under a 30-day option held by the underwriters.  That issuance increased shareholders’ equity by an additional $19.4 
million. The proceeds were used to repay short-term notes payable. Total long-term obligations, including current maturities, 
decreased  by  $191  million  to  $771  million  while  notes  payable  increased  by  $19  million  to  $449  million.    The  Company 
classified  $200  million  of  borrowings  supported  by  its  revolving  credit  facility  as  long-term  debt  on  its  March  31,  2005, 
balance  sheet  because  of  the  issuance,  subsequent  to  fiscal  year  end  2005,  of  a  $200  million  three-year  note  in  a  private 
placement transaction to refinance those borrowings.  The note, which was issued in fiscal year 2006, bears interest at LIBOR 
plus 1.25% and is callable by the Company, beginning in May 2006.   

In December  2005,  the  Company  filed  a  new, undenominated  shelf registration  with  the  Securities  and Exchange 
Commission.  The Company expects to use the proceeds from any sales of securities issued under this shelf registration for 
general  corporate  purposes,  which  may  include  the  repayment  of  indebtedness,  capital  expenditures,  acquisitions,  and 
funding of working capital needs.   

Bank Facilities 

As  of  March  31,  2006,  Universal  had  approximately  $1  billion  in  uncommitted  lines  of  credit,  of  which 
approximately $625 million were unused and available to support seasonal working capital needs.  The Company also has a 
five-year  committed  revolving  credit  facility  totaling  $500  million.    The  facility  will  mature  on  January  7,  2010.    As  of 
March 31, 2006, the Company had $80 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility.  The Company provides for 
short-term  needs  through  bilateral  bank  lines  and  its  revolving  credit  facility.  Under  the  terms  of  its  bank  agreements,  the 
Company must maintain certain levels of tangible net worth and observe restrictions on debt levels.  The Company was in 
compliance with all such covenants at March 31, 2006. 

In  February  2006,  the  Company  determined  that  the  restructuring  and  impairment  charges  for  the  closure  of  the 
Danville, Virginia facility, combined with lower than expected operating results for the quarter ended December 31, 2005, 
and a decrease in committed tobacco inventories caused by shipments during that quarter, caused a covenant breach under its 
revolving credit agreement and two secured term loans.   Waivers of the covenant violation were received from a sufficient 
number of the banks participating in the revolving credit facility, and no event of default occurred under the agreement.   The
Company decided to repay $69 million outstanding under the secured term loans on February 7, 2006, to avoid additional 
costs  to  amend  the  term  loans  and  to  release  the  liens  from  the  Danville,  Virginia,  facility,  which  had  been  pledged  as 
security on one of the loans.  No covenants were breached in any of the Company’s other debt obligations.  The Company 

25

completed  an  amendment  of  its  revolving  credit  facility  on  March  27,  2006.    The  amendment  revised  the  definition  of 
consolidated EBITDA, which in part allows the Company to exclude certain restructuring and impairment charges from the 
calculations  related  to  the  covenant  on  maximum  consolidated  average  total  indebtedness.    The  maximum  ratio  allowed 
under this financial covenant was also increased. The Company must also maintain a higher level of consolidated tangible net 
worth.  All other material terms of the revolving credit facility remained unchanged.   

Credit Ratings 

In March 2006, Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) downgraded the Company’s long-term credit ratings from 
Baa3  to  Ba1  and  short-term  credit  ratings  from  P-3  to  NR.    The  ratings  remained  under  review  for  possible  downgrade.  
Standard & Poor’s reduced the Company’s long-term credit rating from BBB+ to BBB- with a negative outlook in February 
2006.  The rating downgrades have increased the Company’s borrowing costs.  Management communicates regularly with 
the rating agencies.  Since the Company’s credit ratings were lowered below investment grade by Moody’s, the Company has 
experienced increased short-term interest costs and more restricted access to capital markets, as it left the commercial paper 
markets.    However,  the  increase  in  short-term  borrowing  costs  since  March  31,  2005,  is  related  to  the  200  basis-point 
increase  in  market  rates  for  U.S.  dollar  borrowings  of  30  days  or  less.    Universal  has  mitigated  the  rate  increase  where 
possible by substituting lower cost bank lines.   

Derivatives 

From time to time, the Company uses interest rate swap agreements to manage its exposure to changes in interest 
rates.  These agreements typically adjust interest rates on designated long-term obligations from fixed to variable.  The swaps
are accounted for as fair value hedges.  At March 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding interest rate swap agreements on 
$50 million notional amount of long-term debt.  These agreements effectively adjust interest rates from fixed to floating and 
are accounted for as fair value hedges.   

Near  the  end  of  fiscal  year  2004,  Universal  entered  a  foreign  currency  swap  with  a  third  party  to  mitigate  its 
exposure  to  changes  in  exchange  rates  related  to  a  foreign  currency-denominated  receivable  from  a  subsidiary.  The  swap 
converts a fixed-rate, foreign currency-denominated receivable to a fixed rate receivable denominated in U.S. dollars.  It is 
accounted for as a cash flow hedge, and its notional amount was approximately 97.5 million euros ($118 million) at March 
31, 2006.  

 Pension Funding 

Funds supporting the Company’s ERISA-regulated domestic defined benefit pension plans increased by $5 million 
to $143 million because of positive performance of the investment portfolio during the year ended December 31, 2005, the 
measurement date for the plan.  As of April 30, 2006, the market value of the fund was about $149 million, compared to the 
accumulated benefit obligation (“ABO”) of $163 million and the projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) of $188 million.  The 
ABO  and  PBO  are  calculated  on  the  basis  of  certain  assumptions  that  are  outlined  in  Note  9  of  “Notes  to  Consolidated 
Financial Statements.” The Company plans to contribute approximately $4.4 million to the domestic pension fund during the 
next year, which is more than the contribution required by ERISA.  It is the Company’s policy to monitor the performance of 
the funds and to review the adequacy of its funding and its contributions to those funds. The fund is managed for long-term 
returns,  and  in  May  2005,  the  Company  elected  to  change  its  asset  allocation  slightly  as  a  result  of  a  study  of  the  plan’s 
liabilities  and  the  returns  required  to  meet  them.    As  of  March  31,  2006,  the  target  fund  allocation  is  as  follows:  55%  to 
domestic equity securities, 15% to international equity securities, and 30% to fixed income securities. 

Cash Flow 

The Company recorded several charges during fiscal year 2006, most of which were non-cash.  Of the $57.5 million 
in  restructuring  and  impairment  charges,  about  $50  million  represented  non-cash  charges.    In  addition,  approximately  $43 
million of the provisions related to farmer advances and losses related to agri-product market price declines were non-cash.   
Thus,  despite  the  reduction  in  net  income  of  nearly  $90  million  for  the  year,  net  cash  provided  by  operating  activities 
increased  by  about  $150  million,  primarily  because  of  a  lower  investment  in  working  capital.    Net  cash  used  in  investing 
activities was about $65 million lower than in fiscal year 2005.  The reduction was caused by the decrease in capital spending 
as  well  as  the  sale  of  corporate-owned  life  insurance  policies  of  approximately  $20  million  during  the  year.    Net  cash 
provided by financing activities was about $15 million, which represented a decline of about $218 million from fiscal year 
2005, because substantially more of the Company’s cash requirements in fiscal year 2006 were provided by operating cash 
flow.   

26

Contractual Obligations 

The Company's contractual obligations as of March 31, 2006, were as follows: 

(in millions of dollars)

Total

2007

2008-2009

2010-2011

Thereafter

Notes payable and long-term debt1......................   $
Operating lease obligations..................................
Inventory purchase obligations:

Tobacco...........................................................  
Lumber............................................................  
Agri-products...................................................
Agricultural materials......................................  
Capital expenditure obligations...........................  
Other purchase obligations..................................  
Total

  $

$

1,415.8
65.3

$

522.2
18.9

$

428.9
23.9

$

130.3
13.6

683.8
95.1
158.4
7.8
4.1
4.5
2,434.8

$

517.0
95.1
154.8
7.8
4.1
4.5
1,324.4

$

96.3
      —   
3.6
      —   
      —   
      —   
552.7

$

55.1
      —   
      —   
      —   
      —   
      —   
199.0

$

334.5
8.9

15.3
      —   
      —   
      —   
      —   
      —   
358.7

1

Includes interest payments.  Interest payments on $698.6 million of variable rate debt are estimated on the basis of March 31, 2006 rates.

In  addition  to  principal  and  interest  payments  on  notes  payable  and  long-term  debt,  the  Company’s  contractual 
obligations  include  operating  lease  payments,  inventory  purchase  commitments,  and  capital  expenditure  commitments.  
Operating lease obligations represent minimum payments due under leases for various production, storage, distribution, and 
other facilities, as well as vehicles and equipment.  Tobacco inventory purchase obligations primarily represent contracts to 
purchase tobacco from farmers.  The amounts shown above are estimates since actual quantities purchased will depend on 
crop  yield  and  prices  will  depend  on  the  quality  of  the  tobacco  delivered.    More  than  half  of  the  Company’s  crop  year 
contracts  to  purchase  tobacco  are  with  farmers  in  Brazil.    Tobacco  purchase  obligations  have  been  partially  funded  by 
advances  to  farmers,  which  totaled  approximately  $121  million  as  of  March  31,  2006.    Commitments  to  purchase  agri-
products inventories are frequently matched to forward sales contracts with customers.   

Management believes that its financial resources are adequate to support its capital needs. Those resources include 
cash  from  operations,  cash  balances,  the  potential  to  issue  debt  to  the  public  under  its  shelf  registration  statement,  and 
committed and uncommitted bank lines. Any excess cash flow from operations after dividends, capital expenditures, and any 
necessary  debt  reduction  will  be  available  to  fund  expansion,  purchase  the  Company’s  stock,  or  otherwise  enhance 
shareholder value. 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS 

In  preparing  the  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  in  the  United 
States (“GAAP”), management is required to make estimates and assumptions that have an impact on the assets, liabilities, 
revenue,  and  expense  amounts  reported.  These  estimates  can  also  affect  supplemental  information  disclosures  of  the 
Company,  including  information  about  contingencies,  risk,  and  financial  condition.  The  Company  believes,  given  current 
facts  and  circumstances,  its  estimates  and  assumptions  are  reasonable,  adhere  to  GAAP,  and  are  consistently  applied. 
However, changes in the assumptions used could result in a material adjustment to the financial statements. The Company’s 
most critical accounting estimates and assumptions are in the following areas:  

Inventories  

Inventories of tobacco and most agri-products are valued at the lower of cost or market with cost determined under 
the  specific  cost  method.    In  the  tobacco  and  agri-product  businesses,  raw  materials  are  clearly  identified  at  the  time  of 
purchase.    The  Company  tracks  the  costs  associated  with  raw  materials  in  the  final  product  lots,  and  maintains  this 
identification  through  the  time  of  sale.    The  Company  also  capitalizes  direct  and  indirect  costs  related  to  processing  raw 
materials.  This method of cost accounting is referred to as the specific cost or specific identification method.  Lumber and 
building products inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined under the first-in, first-out method.
The  Company  writes  down  inventory  for  changes  in  market  value  based  upon  assumptions  related  to  future  demand  and 
market  conditions.  Future  demand  assumptions  can  be  impacted  by  changes  in  customer  sales,  changes  in  customers’ 
inventory positions and policies, competitors’ pricing policies and inventory positions, changing customer needs, and varying 
crop  sizes  and  qualities.    Market  conditions  that  differ  significantly  from  those  assumed  by  management  could  result  in 
additional write downs.  The Company experiences inventory write downs routinely.  Inventory write downs in fiscal years 

27

 
2006  and  2005,  and  the  transition  year  ended  March  31,  2004,  were  $14.7  million,  $6.7  million,  and  $7.7  million, 
respectively.

Advances to Suppliers and Guarantees of Bank Loans to Suppliers 

The Company provides agronomy services and seasonal crop advances of, or for, seed, fertilizer, and other supplies 
in its tobacco segment.  These advances are short term in nature and are customarily repaid upon delivery of tobacco to the 
Company.    Primarily  in  Brazil  and  certain  African  countries,  the  Company  has  also  made  long-term  advances  to  tobacco 
farmers to finance curing barns and other farm infrastructure.  In Brazil, the Company also guarantees both short-term and 
long-term loans made to farmers for the same purposes.  In some years, due to low crop yields and other factors, individual 
farmers may not deliver sufficient volumes of tobacco to repay maturing advances.  In that case, the Company may extend 
repayment of the advances into the following crop year or satisfy the guarantee by acquiring the loan from the bank.  In either
situation, the Company will incur losses whenever it is unable to recover the full amount of the loans and advances.  At each 
reporting period, management must make estimates and assumptions in determining the valuation allowance for advances to 
farmers and the liability to accrue for its obligations under bank loan guarantees. 

Intangible Assets  

The Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill as necessary, and at least annually, utilizing a discounted cash 
flow  model.  The  preparation  of  discounted  future  operating  cash  flow  analyses  requires  significant  management  judgment 
with  respect  to  operating  earnings  growth  rates  and  the  selection  of  an  appropriate  discount  rate.  The  majority  of  the 
Company’s goodwill is from acquisitions in the tobacco segment. Neither a one-percentage-point increase in the discount rate 
assumption  nor  a  one-percentage-point  decline  in  the  cash  flow  growth  rate  assumption  would  result  in  an  impairment 
charge. However, significant changes in estimates of future cash flows, such as those caused by unforeseen events or changes 
in market conditions, could result in an impairment charge.  

Income Taxes  

The Company’s effective tax rate is based on its expected income, statutory tax rates, and tax planning opportunities 
in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates.  Significant judgment is required in determining the effective tax 
rate  and  evaluating  the  tax  position of  the Company.   The  effective  tax  rate  is  applied  to  quarterly  operating  results.    The 
Company, through its subsidiaries, is subject to the tax laws of many jurisdictions, and could be subject to a tax audit in each
of  these  jurisdictions,  which  could  result  in  adjustments  to  tax  expense  in  future  periods.    In  the  event  that  there  is  a 
significant, unusual, or one-time item recognized in the Company’s results, the tax attributed to that item would be recorded 
at the same time as the item.  For example, in fiscal year 2005, the Company recorded a charge for certain fines imposed by 
the European Commission that will not be deductible for income tax purposes in the related countries where assessed.  No tax 
benefit was recognized on this charge, which increased the consolidated tax rate.  In fiscal year 2006, a similar situation arose 
when the Company recognized an impairment charge on its investment in Zimbabwe, which did not provide a deduction for 
income tax purposes.  

Tax regulations require items to be included in the tax return at different times than the items are reflected in the 
financial statements. As a result, the Company’s effective tax rate reflected in the financial statements is different than that
reported in its tax returns. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not tax deductible, while others
are related to timing issues, such as differences in depreciation methods. Timing differences create deferred tax assets and 
liabilities. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in future tax returns for 
which  the  Company  has  already  recorded  the  tax  benefit  in  its  financial  statements.  The  Company  has  recorded  valuation 
allowances for deferred tax assets when the amount of estimated future taxable income was not likely to support the use of 
the deduction or credit. During the nine months ended March 31, 2004, the Company received a significant dividend from a 
foreign subsidiary that enabled the Company to utilize foreign tax credit carryforwards of approximately $19 million.  The 
Company  expects  foreign  tax  credit  carryforwards  to  be  generated  in  future  periods.    Any  significant  reduction  in  future 
taxable income and changes in its sources or changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws could result in the expiration of foreign tax 
credit  carryforwards.  Deferred  tax  liabilities  generally  represent  tax  expense  recognized  in  the  Company’s  financial 
statements for which payment has been deferred or an expense that has not yet been recognized in the financial statements 
and has been deducted in the Company’s tax return.  

For additional disclosures on income taxes, see Notes 1 and 5 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” 

28

Pension Plans and Postretirement Benefits  

The measurement of the Company’s pension and postretirement obligations and costs are dependent on a variety of 
assumptions  used  by  the  Company’s  actuaries.  These  assumptions  include  estimating  the  present  value  of  projected  future 
pension  payments  to  all plan participants,  taking  into  consideration  the  likelihood of potential  future  events such  as salary 
increases and demographic experience. The assumptions made by the Company may have an effect on the amount and timing 
of  future  contributions.  The  plan  trustee  conducts  an  independent  valuation  of  the  fair  value  of  pension  plan  assets.  The 
significant assumptions used in the calculation of pension and postretirement obligations are:  

•

•

•

•

•

Discount rate – The discount rate is based on investment yields available at the measurement date on corporate long-
term bonds rated AA. 

Salary growth – The salary growth assumption is a factor of the Company’s long-term actual experience, the near-
term outlook, and assumed inflation.  

Expected return on plan assets – The expected return reflects asset allocations and investment strategy.  

Retirement  and  mortality  rates  –  Retirement  rates  are  based  on  actual  plan  experience  along  with  the  Company’s 
near-term outlook. Early retirement assumptions are based on actual Company experience.  Mortality rates are based 
on standard group annuity (RP-2000) mortality tables.  

Health care cost trends – For postretirement medical plan obligations and costs, the Company makes assumptions on 
future increases in medical costs. These assumptions are based on the actual experience of the Company along with 
third-party forecasts of long-term medical cost trends.  

The effect of actual results differing from the Company’s assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future 

periods and, therefore, generally affect its recognized expense in such future periods.  

Sensitivity Analysis. The effect of the indicated decrease or increase in the selected assumptions is shown below, 

assuming no change in benefit levels: 

(in thousands of dollars)

Effect on

2006 Projected Benefit 
Benefit Obligation

Increase (Decrease) 

Effect on

Annual Expense

Increase (Decrease)

Change in Assumption (Pension Plans)
1% increase in discount rate…………………………………………………...…………...........

$

1% decrease in discount rate………………………………………….…………………............

1% increase in salary scale………………………………………...…………………….............

1% decrease in salary scale…………………………………………...…………………….........

1% increase in rate of return on assets…………………………………...………………………

1% decrease in rate of return on assets……………………………………..……………………

Change in Assumption (Other Postretirement Benefits)

1% increase in discount rate……………………………….……………………….....................

1% decrease in discount rate…………………………………..…………………………….......

1% increase in medical inflation……………………………………..…………………….........
1% decrease in medical inflation……………………..…………………………………….........

(45,647)

48,036

10,366

(16,292)

N/A

N/A

(5,874)

7,012

2,767
(2,395)

$

(3,932)

4,686

3,148

(2,908)

(2,727)

2,728

(461)

539

199
    —   

See  Note  9  of  “Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements”  for  additional  information  on  pension  and 

postretirement benefit plans. 

29

             
               
               
                 
               
                 
             
               
               
                 
               
                  
                 
                    
                 
                    
               
Other Estimates and Assumptions  

Other  management  estimates  and  assumptions  are  routinely  required  in  preparing  the  Company’s  financial 
statements, including the determination of valuation allowances on accounts receivable, value-added tax credits in Brazil, and 
the determination of the fair value of the investment in Zimbabwe operations.  Changes in market and economic conditions, 
local tax laws, and other related factors are considered each reporting period, and adjustments to the accounts are made based 
on management’s best judgment. 

OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING TRENDS 
AND MANAGEMENT’S ACTIONS 

The  Company’s  financial  performance  depends  on  its  ability  to  maintain  efficient  operations  and  to  secure  the 
tobacco volumes desired by its customers.  After an 18% increase in worldwide flue-cured production by exporting countries 
(excluding China) in fiscal year 2005, fiscal year 2006 saw a modest decline of about 1% to 1.77 billion kilos.  Flue-cured 
production is forecast to decline by another 5.5% in fiscal year 2007 despite an increase in production in the United States as
production  in  Brazil  and  Zimbabwe  is  reduced.    Although  it  is  slightly  smaller,  Brazil’s  flue-cured  crop  appears  to  be  of 
average  quality  after  two  years  of  lower  quality  crops  due  to  weather  conditions.    Despite  the  decline  in  volume  that  is 
forecast  in  fiscal  year  2007,  the  world  flue-cured  tobacco  market  is  expected  to  remain  in  oversupply  with  uncommitted 
inventories increasing.  In fiscal year 2007, the Company will continue its evaluation of the viability of its African flue-cured
growing projects. Burley crops in exporting countries (excluding China) increased by 17% in fiscal year 2005, but declined 
by 11% in fiscal year 2006, bringing the two-year increase to about 4%.  Production is forecast to remain at about 666 million 
kilos  in  fiscal  year  2007,  and  uncommitted  inventories  of  burley  tobaccos  are  expected  to  increase.    However,  recently 
farmers in Malawi have protested auction pricing levels.  Any disruption in the marketing of the crop in Malawi would have a 
significant impact on world supply of burley tobacco and on the financial results for the Company. 

Economic conditions in Europe that affect the Company’s lumber operations remain difficult, but the construction 
supply  market  has  experienced  a  rebound  in  recent  months.    In  agri-products,  management  has  taken  steps  to  avoid  the 
situations that caused the large inventory write downs in fiscal year 2006.  

The Company expects that near term demand for leaf tobacco will be flat or declining slightly primarily due to the 
flattening trend in world cigarette consumption and improved leaf utilization by cigarette manufacturers.  The improvements 
in leaf utilization by manufacturers along with a possible shift to smokeless products may mean that demand for leaf tobacco 
has  peaked  and  will  not  grow  with  any  growth  in  consumption.    On  a  year-to-year  basis,  the  Company  is  susceptible  to 
fluctuations in leaf supply due to crop size and leaf demand as manufacturers adjust inventories or respond to changes in the 
cigarette market.  

The Company estimates that industry worldwide uncommitted flue-cured and burley inventories totaled about 144 
million kilos, excluding inventories of Asian government-owned monopolies, at March 31, 2006, compared to 230 million 
kilos  at    March  31,  2005.    At  March  31,  2005,  about  99  million  kilos  represented  U.S.  tobaccos  held  by  the  Commodity 
Credit Corporation for sale to the industry or by the U.S. farmers’ stabilization cooperatives.  That tobacco was sold during 
the year and is the primary reason for the 37% decline in uncommitted inventories since March 2005.  With the large crops 
continuing in fiscal year 2007, it is likely that industry inventories of uncommitted stocks will increase in the coming year. 

Although cigar consumption continues to grow in the United States, consumption within the main European Union 
markets  has  remained  flat.    Supplies  of  filler  and  binder  tobaccos,  which  until  last  year  had  been  in  surplus  due  to 
overproduction  in  certain  countries,  are  generally  in  balance  with  demand.    The  market  for  cigar  wrapper  continues  to  be 
firm.  Within the smokeless segment of the dark tobacco business, consumption of loose-leaf chewing tobacco continues to 
decline by between 5% and 8% annually, while the consumption of moist snuff products has been growing at about 6% per 
year.  Management believes that there is an adequate supply of suitable dark tobacco in the world market to meet the demand 
of the manufacturers of smokeless tobacco products.  

The  high  price  of  U.S.  leaf  relative  to  the  world  market  has  limited  exports,  which,  combined  with  declining 
purchases by U.S. manufacturers, have led to a decline in the amount of tobacco produced in the United States. That decline 
led to excess processing capacity in the United States, and the Company announced in December 2005 that it had closed its 
Danville, Virginia factory and consolidated all U.S. flue-cured and burley processing into its Nash County, North Carolina 
facility.

Because the shortfall from the decline in Zimbabwe tobacco purchased at auction has been replaced with crops from 
areas  where  the  Company  contracts  with  and  provides  financing  to  farmers,  the  Company  faces  increased  financing  and 
inventory  risk.    Efforts  to  expand  sources  of  African  tobacco  have  required  investments  in  working  capital  and  operating 

30

facilities.  Should tobacco production fail to fully develop in areas where the Company is making these investments, tobacco 
volumes and prices may not be sufficient for the Company to operate at a satisfactory return in those areas.  The Company 
continues to evaluate the viability of those projects. 

The Company’s debt levels increased over the last several fiscal years as a result of its investment in expansion of 
tobacco sources and factories, expansion of its agri-products and lumber and building products businesses, and the weak U.S. 
dollar.  In March 2006, Moody’s Investor Service reduced the ratings on Universal’s senior long-term debt from Baa3 to Ba1 
and short-term credit ratings from P-3 to NR.  The ratings remain under review for possible further downgrade.  Standard & 
Poor’s reduced the Company’s long-term credit ratings from BBB+ to BBB- with a negative outlook in February 2006.  The 
Company issued $200 million of convertible perpetual preferred stock in March 2006 to provide additional liquidity and to 
strengthen its balance sheet, and net cash provided by operations improved by about $150 million in fiscal year 2006 on a 
much  lower  investment  in  working  capital.  Management  expects  the  trend  of  increasing  debt  to  continue  to  reverse  as 
investments in its businesses are completed and crop sizes in Brazil and Africa decrease. However, the weakness of the U.S. 
dollar may continue to adversely affect debt balances.   

The  European  Union  (“E.U.”)  has  taken  action  toward  modifying  the  system  of  granting  subsidies  to  tobacco 
farmers.   The  E.U.  subsidy  makes  up  well  over  half  of  the  revenue  that  a  European  farmer  receives  on  a  tobacco  crop.  
Beginning with the 2006 crop, which will affect Universal in fiscal year 2008, and through the 2009 crop, 40% of the subsidy 
has been “decoupled” from  production.  The “decoupling” essentially  means that a farmer can receive the subsidy granted 
even if the farmer does not plant tobacco, so long as he keeps the land associated with that subsidy in good agricultural and 
environmental conditions.  The 60% remaining portion of the subsidy shall remain subject to actual production of tobacco.  
This means, in practical terms, that the total aid to tobacco farmers remains unchanged for those who continue; however, the 
incentive  to  grow  tobacco  does  change  and  some  growers  could  decide  to  discontinue  production.    In  the  subsidy  system 
applicable to the interim period (crops 2006-2009) the E.U. tobacco budget allocated to each producing country for payment 
of  the  “coupled”  portion  shall  remain  unchanged,  even  if  total  production  drops  within  certain  limits.    The  farmers  who 
continue to produce tobacco in countries where tobacco production declines during the interim period will receive a larger 
portion of the “coupled” subsidy than they would have if the E.U. budget had not been fixed for the interim period.    

Individual member states can increase the decoupled portion of the subsidy up to 100%.  Three of the main tobacco 
producing  countries  where  the  Company  operates,  directly  or  indirectly,  Italy,  Spain  and  France,  have  decided  not  to 
decouple more than the minimum 40% of the subsidy.  The 2006 crop contracts between farmers and processors indicate a 
reduction of total tobacco production of between 10% and 20%, mostly in the less desirable varieties and production areas.  
Because of the fixed budget allocated to tobacco “coupled” subsidy, this reduction shall result in an increase of the per unit 
subsidy available to those farmers who have decided to continue producing tobacco.  In Greece, where the Company’s joint 
venture, Socotab L.L.C., has oriental tobacco operations, the government opted to decouple 100% of the subsidy from the 
growing of tobacco.  The Company expects some reduction in crop volumes as a result of the decoupling, but it is too early to 
determine the impact on the operations of the joint venture. 

The Company has operations in two countries, Poland and Hungary, who joined the E.U. on May 1, 2004.  In those 
countries, the new subsidy system will not be implemented before the 2009 crop, and in the meantime, tobacco farmers will 
receive  subsidies  mainly  financed  by  the  domestic  budget.   During  fiscal  year  2005,  customers  located  in  Hungary 
significantly  reduced  their  purchases  of  Hungarian  leaf,  and  the  Hungarian  Government  introduced  new,  more    restrictive 
rules  for  the  distribution  of  domestically  financed  subsidies,  that  were  less  favorable  to  the  continuation  of  tobacco 
production.  Both negative factors have been corrected in recent months. 

Unless the subsidy system in place for the four crop years 2006 through 2009 is extended to 2013, the decoupled 
portion  would  increase  to  50%,  while  the  remaining  50%  would  be  used  to  finance  restructuring  activities  in  the  tobacco 
regions.  The decline in production will accelerate after the expiration of the interim period with the 2010 crop, unless action
is taken to extend the system through year 2013 or alternative funds are made available at the national level.  Management 
believes  that  in  the  interim  period,  the  major  influence  on  the  farmers’  decisions  to  produce  tobacco  will  be  the  level  of 
commercial prices for green tobaccos.  Higher farm income will depend on leaf quality and on cost reduction.  In addition, 
confirmed  support  from  European  tobacco  product  manufacturers  will  be  crucial  to  the  long-term  viability  of  tobacco 
production in Europe.   

Management believes that if farmer prices do not increase or, alternatively, if the member states do not choose to 
implement subsidies for tobacco production, the volume of tobacco produced in Europe will decline over time.  In this case, 
the Company’s results of operations could be negatively affected.  The recorded value of the Company’s equity in net fixed 
assets  that  could  be  affected  by  these  changes  was  approximately  $25  million  at  March  31,  2006.   In  addition,  unrealized 
currency losses for tobacco operations there were $11.6 million, net of taxes, $10.0 million of which relates to Hungary.

31

 An important trend in the tobacco industry has been consolidation among manufacturers of tobacco products. This 
trend  is  expected  to  continue,  particularly  as  further  privatization  of  state  monopolies  occurs,  providing  opportunities  for 
acquisitions by international manufacturers. This concentration could provide additional opportunities for international leaf 
merchants, including Universal. A key success factor for leaf dealers is the ability to provide customers with the quality of 
leaf  and  the  level  of  service  they  desire  at  the  lowest  cost  possible.  In  addition,  the  international  leaf  dealers  have  larger 
historical  market  shares  with  some  customers  than  with  others.  Consequently,  the  Company’s  potential  growth  will  be 
affected by the growth of its major customers, and consolidation of customers  may have at least a short-term favorable or 
unfavorable impact on the Company’s business.    

Additional  attention  by  manufacturers  to  certain  quality  considerations  and  to  social  responsibility  programs  has 
increased Universal’s costs.  For example, the Company has established worldwide farm programs to ensure that non-tobacco 
related materials are kept out of the green tobacco delivered to the factories, which is an ongoing cost.  In addition, Universal
has established programs for good agricultural practices and has been active in social responsibility endeavors in many of the 
third world countries in which it does business. 

World  markets  for  all  of  the  products  that  the  Company  handles  are  extremely  competitive.    Management  is 
continuing to focus on cost reductions and efficiency improvements.  In fiscal year 2006, management completed a program 
that will eliminate $9 million in tobacco and corporate overhead costs, some of which occurred in fiscal year 2006. 

Decreased  social  acceptance  of  smoking  and  increased  pressure  from  anti-smoking  groups  have  had  an  ongoing 
adverse effect on sales of tobacco products, particularly in the United States.  Also a number of foreign governments have 
taken or proposed steps to restrict or prohibit cigarette advertising and promotion, to increase taxes on cigarettes, to prohibit
smoking in public areas, and to discourage cigarette consumption. A number of such measures are included in the Framework 
Convention on Tobacco Control, which was negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization. In some cases, 
such restrictions are more onerous than those proposed or in effect in the United States.  The Company cannot predict the 
extent  to  which  government  efforts  to  reduce  tobacco  consumption  might  affect  the  business  of  its  primary  customers. 
However, a significant decrease in worldwide tobacco consumption brought about by existing or future governmental laws 
and regulations would reduce demand for the Company’s products and services and could have a material adverse effect on 
its results of operations. 

 Recent  indicators  show  that  the  Dutch  economy  may  have  begun  to  improve.    According  to  the  Dutch  Statistics 
Bureau and Eurostat, unemployment rates have begun to fall, retail sales have risen, and business confidence is higher.  The 
Dutch economy expanded by almost 3% in the first calendar quarter of 2006.  The Company’s construction supply business 
has improved.  Continuing economic growth could provide an opportunity for volume and margin expansion.  Conversely, a 
return to economic recession in the Netherlands would negatively affect sales volumes and margins.  Any weakness of the 
U.S. dollar in relation to the euro benefits the Company’s lumber and building products operations, for which the euro is the 
functional currency. 

In  March  2006,  the  Company  announced  that  as  part  of  its  strategy  for  enhancing  shareholder  value,  it  routinely 
evaluates alternatives, including acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic alliances, in each of its business units.  Universal is in 
discussions regarding an offer for a substantial portion of its non-tobacco business.  However, there can be no assurance that 
these discussions will result in a transaction.  

The  Company,  through  its  subsidiaries,  is  subject  to  the  tax  laws  of  many  jurisdictions,  and  from  time  to  time 
contests assessments of taxes due. Changes in tax laws or the interpretation of tax laws can affect the Company’s earnings, as 
can the resolution of various pending and contested tax issues. The consolidated income tax rate is also affected by a number 
of  factors,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  mix  of  domestic  and  foreign  earnings  and  investments,  local  tax  rates  of 
subsidiaries, repatriation of foreign earnings, and the Company’s ability to utilize foreign tax credits. 

In  recent  years,  the  Company’s  domestic  income  has  declined  while  foreign  income  has  increased.  If  this  trend 
continues  and  tax  rates  remain  constant  worldwide,  the  Company’s  ability  to  utilize  its  foreign  tax  credits  could  be 
diminished.    As  a  result,  its  consolidated  income  tax  rate  could  increase.    The  Company  expects  foreign  tax  credit 
carryforwards to be generated in future periods. 

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk  

Interest Rates  

After  inventory  is  purchased,  interest  rate  risk  is  limited  in  the  tobacco  business  because  customers  usually  pre-

finance purchases or pay market rates of interest for inventory purchased for their accounts.   

32

The Company’s tobacco customers pay interest on tobacco purchased for their order.  That interest is paid at rates 
based on current markets for variable rate debt.  If Universal were to fund its committed tobacco inventory with fixed-rate 
debt, the Company might not be able to recover interest at that fixed rate if current market interest rates were to fall.  As of
March  31,  2006,  tobacco  inventory  of  $667  million  included  $555  million  in  inventory  that  was  committed  for  sale  to 
customers and $112 million that was not committed.  Committed inventory, after deducting about $99 million in customer 
deposits, represents the Company’s net exposure of about $456 million.  Universal maintains a substantial portion of its debt 
at variable interest rates in order to substantially mitigate interest rate risk related to carrying fixed-rate debt.  Debt carried at 
variable interest rates was $699 million at March 31, 2006.  Although a hypothetical 1% change in short-term interest rates 
would result in a change in annual interest expense of approximately $7 million, approximately 65% of that amount could be 
offset with changes in charges to customers.  The Company’s policy is to work toward a ratio of floating-rate liabilities to 
fixed-rate  liabilities  that,  over  time,  is  reflective  of  the  relationship  between  current  and  non-current  assets.    Committed 
inventory is part of this relationship. 

Currency 

The international tobacco trade generally is conducted in U.S. dollars, thereby limiting foreign exchange risk to that 
which is related to production costs, overhead, and income taxes in the source country. The Company also provides farmer 
advances that are denominated in the local currency.  Any currency gains or losses on those advances are usually offset by 
decreases or increases in the cost of tobacco, which is priced in the local currency.  However, the timing of the effect of the
offset may not occur until a subsequent quarter or fiscal year.  Most of the tobacco operations are accounted for using the 
U.S. dollar as the functional currency.  Because there are no forward foreign exchange markets in many of Universal’s major 
countries of  tobacco origin,  the  Company manages  its  foreign  exchange  risk by  matching  funding for  inventory  purchases 
with the currency of sale, which is usually the U.S. dollar, and by minimizing its net investment in individual countries.  In 
these  countries,  the  Company  is  vulnerable  to  currency  gains  and  losses  to  the  extent  that  monetary  assets  and  liabilities 
denominated in local currency do not offset each other. The Company recognized a $9.4 million net exchange loss due to 
remeasurement for fiscal year 2006, compared to a $1.5 million net exchange loss due to remeasurement for fiscal year 2005, 
and  a  $100  thousand  net  remeasurement  loss  for  the  nine-month  transition  year  ended  March  31,  2004.    The  Company 
recognized  $1.8  million  in  net  exchange  losses  from  foreign  currency  transactions  in  fiscal  year  2006,  compared  to  $400 
thousand  in  net  exchange  gains  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  March  31,  2005,  and  net  exchange  gains  of  $1.7  million  for  the 
transition year ended March 31, 2004.  In addition to foreign exchange gains and losses, the Company is exposed to changes 
in the cost of tobacco due to changes in the value of the local currency in relation to the U.S. dollar.  For example, when 
Universal purchased the Brazilian crop in the beginning of fiscal year 2006, the local currency had appreciated significantly 
against the U.S. dollar.  Thus, the cost of the crop increased over that of the prior year, in U.S. dollar terms. 

The lumber and building products operations, which are based in the Netherlands, use the euro as their functional 
currency.    In  certain  tobacco  markets  that  are  primarily  domestic,  the  Company  uses  the  local  currency  as  the  functional 
currency.  Examples of these domestic markets are Hungary and Poland.  In each case, reported earnings are affected by the 
translation of the local currency into the U.S. dollar. 

Commodity 

The  Company  works  to  limit  its  exposure  to  changes  in  prices  in  its  agri-products  businesses  by  matching  its 
customer orders with its supply contracts.  However, if the Company is not able to match its position, then the business is 
subject to price changes.  The movement of pricing for certain products that the Company purchases can be large.  Universal 
uses commodity futures in its rubber trading business to reduce the risk of price fluctuations.  The Company does not enter 
into rubber contracts for trading purposes.  All forward commodity contracts are adjusted to fair market value during the year,
and gains and losses are recorded in income at that time.  The amounts recorded during fiscal years 2006, 2005, and 2004 
were not material. 

Derivatives Policies 

Hedging  interest  rate  exposure  using  swaps  and  hedging  foreign  exchange  exposure  using  forward  contracts  are 
specifically contemplated to manage risk in keeping with management's policies.  Universal may use derivative instruments, 
such as swaps, forwards, or futures, which are based directly or indirectly upon interest rates, currencies, and commodities, to
manage and reduce the risks inherent in interest rate, currency, and price fluctuations. 

The Company does not utilize derivatives for speculative purposes, and it does not enter into market risk-sensitive 
instruments for trading purposes.  Derivatives are transaction specific so that a specific debt instrument, contract, or invoice
determines the amount, maturity, and other specifics of the hedge.  Counterparty risk is limited to institutions with long-term
debt ratings of A or better. 

33

 Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data  

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME  

(in thousands, except per share data)

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine Month

Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

Sales and other operating revenues………………….……………..............…………………… 

$

3,511,332

$

3,276,057

$

2,271,152

Costs and expenses…………………………………………...…………………………………
Cost of goods sold……………………………………………..………………………  
Selling, general and administrative expenses…………………..……………………… 
Restructuring and impairment costs…………………………………………………..… 
European Commission fines………………………………………..……...........……… 

Operating income……………………………………………………..………………………… 
Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates……...…………………………  
Interest expense………………………………………………………………..………  

Income before income taxes and other items………………………….………………………… 
Income taxes………………………………………………………...…………………  
Minority interests…………………………………………………....…………..…….  

Net income……………………………………………….…………………….………………  

Earnings per common share:

Basic……………………………………………………….…………………………… 
Diluted………………………………………………………………….……………...  

Basis for per-share calculations:

Weighted average common shares outstanding…………………….…………………  
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted share units……………………………… 
Dilutive effect of convertible perpetual preferred stock………………………………… 

Average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution…...………………………………… 

2,932,170
417,346
57,463
    —   

104,353
15,263
81,293

38,323
34,403
(4,020)

7,940

0.31

0.31

25,707
121
129

25,957

$

$

$

2,664,687
387,906
    —   
14,908

208,556
15,649
58,252

165,953
68,197
1,743

96,013

3.76

3.73

25,553
164
    —   

25,717

$

$

$

1,829,219
250,307
    —   
    —   

191,626
6,044
35,032

162,638
59,329
3,673

99,636

3.97

3.94

25,072
205
    —   

25,277

$

$

$

See accompanying notes.  

34

 
    
    
    
    
    
    
       
       
       
         
         
       
       
       
         
         
           
         
         
         
         
       
       
         
         
         
          
           
           
           
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
             
         
         
         
              
              
              
              
    
         
     
         
    
         
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION    

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  

(in thousands of dollars)

Current assets

ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents…………………………………………………………..……………………… $
Accounts receivable, net……………………………………………………………………………………
Advances to suppliers, net…………………………………………………………………………………
Accounts receivable—unconsolidated affiliates……………………........................……………..………
Inventories—at lower of cost or market: 

Tobacco……………………………………………………………………………………………
Lumber and building products………………………………………………………………………
Agri-products………………………………………………………………………………………
Other…………………………………………………………………………………..……………
Prepaid income taxes………………………………………………………….……………………………
Deferred income taxes…………………………………………………….…………………………………
Other current assets………………………………………………….………………………………………
Total current assets…………………………………………………………………………………

Property, plant and equipment—at cost 

Land……………………………………………………………………...………………………..….……
Buildings……………………………………………………………………………….…..………………
Machinery and equipment…………………………………………………………………………………

Less accumulated depreciation…………………………………………………….………...........

Other assets 

Goodwill and other intangibles…………………………….………………………………………………
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates……………………………..……………………………………
Deferred income taxes………………………………………………………………….……….…………
Other noncurrent assets……………………………………………………..………………………………

March 31,
2006

March 31,
2005

$

66,632
466,013
121,355
19,215

666,708
170,331
166,122
49,596
3,943
22,078
50,605
1,802,598

72,617
398,395
704,503
1,175,515
(593,418)
582,097

136,130
102,419
95,183
182,914
516,646

58,625
494,963
171,906
4,759

609,114
167,333
172,448
42,473
5,504
6,875
54,808
1,788,808

78,127
395,077
746,198
1,219,402
(595,732)
623,670

138,053
98,789
85,014
150,990
472,846

Total assets………………………………………..…………………………...…………………… $

2,901,341

$

2,885,324

See accompanying notes. 

35

  
  
  
  
            
  
            
          
  
          
          
  
          
            
  
              
          
  
          
          
  
          
          
  
          
            
  
            
              
  
              
            
  
              
            
  
            
       
  
       
            
  
            
          
  
          
          
  
          
       
  
       
         
  
         
          
  
          
          
  
          
          
  
            
            
  
            
          
  
          
          
  
          
       
  
       
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION    

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  

(in thousands of dollars)

Current liabilities

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Notes payable and overdrafts…………………………………………………..……………………........  
Accounts payable……………………………………………………………………...…………………… 
Accounts payable—unconsolidated affiliates………………………………………………………......... 
Customer advances and deposits……………………………………………………................................  
Accrued compensation……………………………………………………..……………………………… 
Income taxes payable………………………………………………...………..…………………………… 
Current portion of long-term obligations……………………………………………….…………….......  
Total current liabilities…………………………………………………………………………… 

$

Long-term obligations……………………………………………………………….…………………………....  
Postretirement benefits other than pensions…………………………………………………...………………..... 
Other long-term liabilities………………………………………………………………...………………………  
Deferred income taxes………………………………………………………………………..…………………… 
Total liabilities………………...............….....................……………………………...................  

March 31,

2006

March 31,

2005

448,601
332,732
2,996
98,871
33,995
12,026
8,585
937,806

762,201
45,560
136,082
37,022
1,918,671

$

429,470
299,452
279
48,634
35,621
32,866
123,439
969,761

838,687
43,459
131,885
43,899
2,027,691

Minority interests…………………………………………………………………………...…………….............  

17,799

35,245

Shareholders’ equity

Preferred stock:

Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, 500,000 authorized
       shares, none issued or outstanding…………………………………………………………… 
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value, 5,000,000
       authorized shares, 200,000 issued and outstanding shares (none at March 31, 2005)……… 

Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 authorized shares, 25,748,306 issued and 
outstanding shares (25,668,590 at March 31, 2005)……………………………………………………… 
Retained earnings……………………………………………………………………………………………..…… 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss………………………………………………………..………................  
Total shareholders' equity…………………………………………………..................................  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity………………………………………………..........…… 

    —   

193,546

120,618
697,987
(47,280)
964,871

    —   

    —   

117,520
733,763
(28,895)
822,388

$  

2,901,341

$  

2,885,324

See accompanying notes. 

36

  
  
          
  
          
          
  
          
              
  
                 
            
  
            
            
  
            
            
  
            
              
  
          
          
  
          
 
  
          
  
          
            
  
            
          
  
          
            
  
            
       
       
            
  
            
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
          
  
 
  
          
          
          
  
          
           
  
           
          
  
          
       
  
       
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION    
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

(in thousands of dollars)

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

Net income………………………………………………………………………………  $
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Depreciation………………………………………………………………………… 
Amortization………………………………………………………………………… 
Inventory valuation allowances and accrued losses on 
  firm purchase commitments………………………………………………………… 
Provision for losses on advances to suppliers………………………………………  
Translation (gain) loss, net…………………………………………………………… 
Deferred income taxes………………………………………………………………  
Minority interests…………………………………………………………………… 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends………………… 
Restructuring and impairment costs………………………………………………… 
Accrued liability for European Commission fines…………………………………… 
Other, net…………………………………………………………………………....  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net:

Accounts and notes receivable…………………………………………………… 
Inventories and other assets……………………………………………………… 
Income taxes……………………………………………………………………… 
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities…………………………………… 
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities………………………………… 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

Purchase of property, plant and equipment…………………………………………  
Purchase of business, net of cash acquired…………………………………………  
Sales of property, plant and equipment……………………..………………………  
Other, net……………………………………………………………………………  
Net cash used in investing activities………………………………………………… 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

Issuance (repayment) of short-term debt, net………………………………………… 
Issuance of long-term debt…………………………………………………………… 
Repayment of long-term debt………………………………………………………… 
Dividends paid to minority shareholders…………………………………………… 
Issuance of convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs……………………… 
Issuance of common stock…………………………………………………………… 
Purchases of common stock………………………………………………………… 
Dividends paid……………………………………………………………………… 
Other…………………………………………………………………………….......  
Net cash provided by financing activities……………………………………………………… 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash………………………………………………………  
Deconsolidation of Zimbabwe operations……………………………………………………… 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents……………………………………………………… 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of foreign

subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2004…………………………………… 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year………………………………………………… 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year………………………………………………… 

$

Supplemental information—cash paid:

Interest……………………………………………………….............……………… $

Income taxes, net of refunds………………………………………………………… 

$

See accompanying notes. 

37

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

7,940

$

96,013

$

99,636

64,753
3,386

16,928
28,486
9,342
(35,493)
(4,020)
10,871
57,463
    —   
3,542

(11,066)
(149,641)
(13,862)
74,699
63,328

(74,217)
(14,339)
12,595
12,199
(63,762)

56,684
    —   
(190,032)
(2,779)
193,546
3,098
    —   
(43,716)
(973)
15,828
(420)
(6,967)
8,007

    —   
58,625

66,632

78,288

77,532

$

$

$

69,409
4,724

6,744
2,324
1,473
(10,577)
1,743
(3,766)
    —   
14,908
4,026

(40,245)
(172,348)
4,131
(65,682)
(87,123)

(105,757)
(16,027)
5,778
(12,347)
(128,353)

139,440
294,958
(159,150)
(3,500)
    —   
4,867
    —   
(41,452)
(853)
234,310
481
    —   
19,315

    —   
39,310

58,625

58,643

67,198

$

$

$

45,519
3,348

7,706
2,781
100
(7,346)
3,673
(4,062)
    —   
    —   
(1,316)

(66,471)
(75,994)
10,886
(44,626)
(26,166)

(63,243)
    —   
2,837
    —   
(60,406)

(607)
202,967
(96,008)
(2,662)
    —   
22,028
(3,456)
(28,693)
2,500
96,069
732
    —   
10,229

(15,578)
44,659

39,310

36,007

62,057

              
            
            
            
            
            
              
              
              
 
            
              
              
            
              
              
              
              
                 
           
           
             
             
              
              
            
             
             
            
            
              
              
             
 
           
           
           
         
         
           
           
              
            
            
           
           
            
           
           
           
         
           
           
           
            
              
              
            
           
           
         
           
            
          
                
          
          
         
         
           
             
             
             
          
              
              
            
             
           
           
           
                
                
              
            
          
            
                
                 
                 
             
              
            
            
           
            
            
            
            
            
            
 
          
            
          
            
            
            
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION    

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY  

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

(in thousands of dollars)

Preferred Stock:
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock:
Balance at beginning of year……………………………… $
Issuance of convertible perpetual preferred 

   stock, net of issuance costs……………………………

Balance at end of year……………………………………

Common Stock:
Balance at beginning of year………………………………
Issuance of common stock and exercise of

stock options……………………………………………

Purchase of common stock………………………………
Balance at end of year……………………………………

Retained Earnings:
Beginning balance…………………………………………
Net income…………………………………………………
Net income of foreign subsidiaries for the
    three months ended March 31, 2004……………………
Cash dividends declared ($1.70 per share

in 2006; $1.62 per share in 2005;
$1.14 per share in 2004)…………….…………………

Cost of common shares retired in excess

    —   

193,546
193,546

117,520

3,098
  —
120,618

733,763
7,940

  —   

(43,716)

$

7,940

of stated capital amount……………...…………………
Balance at end of year………..……………………..........

  —   
697,987

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): 
Beginning balance…………………………………………
Translation adjustments, net of taxes………………………
Minimum pension liability, net of taxes…………………  
Foreign currency hedge adjustment,

(28,895)
(8,458)
(11,005)

(8,458)
(11,005)

   $

112,505

   $

90,665

5,015
  —   
117,520

679,202
96,013

  —   

(41,452)

  —   
733,763

(31,874)
12,166
(5,153)

$

96,013

12,166
(5,153)

22,028
(188)
112,505

592,673
99,636

18,854

(28,693)

(3,268)
679,202

(63,060)
24,427
12,025

$

99,636

24,427
12,025

net of taxes…………………………...………...………

1,078

1,078

(4,034)

(4,034)

  —   

  —   

Translation adjustments of foreign 

subsidiaries for the three months ended 
March 31, 2004, net of taxes……………...……………

Foreign currency hedge adjustment of

foreign subsidiaries for the three months
ended March 31, 2004, net of taxes……………………
Total comprehensive income (loss)………………………
Balance at end of year………………………………...….
Shareholders’ Equity at End of Year…………………… $

See accompanying notes. 

  —   

  —   

  —   

  —   

(4,844)

  —

  —   

  —   
(10,445)

$

  —   

  —   
98,992

$

(422)

  —
136,088

$

(47,280)
964,871

(28,895)
822,388

$

(31,874)
759,833

$

38

  
  
 
  
  
     
     
  
  
     
     
       
         
  
         
  
       
  
          
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
         
         
 
       
       
 
       
       
       
     
     
     
       
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
       
       
       
       
       
       
     
     
       
       
       
       
 
         
         
       
       
       
          
     
       
     
     
  
     
  
     
     
     
     
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION    

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY—(Continued)  

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

Preferred Shares Outstanding:
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock:
(in thousands of shares)
Balance at beginning of year………………………………………
Issuance of convertible perpetual preferred stock…………………
Balance at end of year……………………………………………

Common Shares Outstanding:
(in thousands of shares)
Balance at beginning of year……………………….……………
Issuance of common stock and exercise of

stock options……………………………………………………
Purchase of common stock……………………………...…………
Balance at end of year……………………………………………

  —   
200
200

25,669

79
  —   
25,748

See accompanying notes. 

25,447

222
  —   
25,669

24,921

608
(82)
25,447

39

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
         
  
  
         
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
    
  
    
           
  
         
  
         
  
          
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

(All dollar amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts or as otherwise noted.)  

NOTE 1.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES   

Consolidation 

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  Universal  Corporation  (which  together  with  its 
subsidiaries is referred to herein as “Universal” or the “Company”) and all domestic and foreign subsidiaries in which the 
Company maintains a controlling financial interest.  Control is generally determined based on a voting interest of greater than
50%, such that Universal controls all significant corporate activities of the subsidiary.  All significant intercompany accounts
and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.  None of the Company’s investments are considered to be variable interest 
entities. 

Prior to March 31, 2004, the fiscal years of foreign subsidiaries generally ended three months before the Company’s 
year  end  to  facilitate  timely  reporting.    The  financial  impact  of  intervening  events  materially  affecting  the  consolidated 
financial  position  or  results  of  operations  were  disclosed  or  recognized  in  the  financial  statements.    The  reporting  lag  for 
foreign subsidiaries was eliminated in connection with the Company’s change in fiscal year end at March 31, 2004.  See Note 
2 for additional information on the change in year end and elimination of the foreign reporting lag. 

The equity  method of accounting is used for investments in companies where Universal Corporation has a voting 
interest of 20% to 50%.  The investments are accounted for under the equity method because Universal exercises significant 
influence over those companies, but not control.  Investments where Universal has a voting interest of less than 20% are not 
significant and are accounted for under the cost method.  Under the cost method, the Company recognizes earnings upon its 
receipt of dividends.  

As of January 1, 2006, the Company deconsolidated its operations in Zimbabwe under accounting requirements that 
apply  under  certain  conditions  to  foreign  subsidiaries  that  are  subject  to  foreign  exchange  controls  and  other  government 
restrictions.    After  the  deconsolidation,  an  impairment  charge  was  recorded  to  reduce  the  net  investment  in  Zimbabwe 
operations  to  estimated  fair  value  (see  Note  3).    The  Company  is  accounting  for  the  investment  on  the  cost  method,  as 
required under the accounting guidance, and has reported it in investments in unconsolidated affiliates in the March 31, 2006, 
consolidated balance sheet. 

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates 

The  Company’s  equity  method  investments  and  its  cost  method  investments,  which  include  its  Zimbabwe 
operations, are non-marketable securities.  Universal reviews such investments for impairment whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an investment may not be recovered.  For example, the Company would 
test such an investment for impairment if the investee were to lose a significant customer, suffer a large reduction in sales 
margins,  experience  a  major  change  in  its  business  environment,  or  undergo  any  other  significant  change  in  its  normal 
business.    In  assessing  the  recoverability  of  equity  or  cost  method  investments,  the  Company  uses  discounted  cash  flow 
models.    If  the  fair  value  of  an  equity  investee  is  determined  to  be  lower  than  its  carrying  value,  an  impairment  loss  is 
recognized.    The  preparation  of  discounted  future  operating  cash  flow  analysis  requires  significant  management  judgment 
with respect to future operating earnings growth rates and the selection of an appropriate discount rate.  The use of different
assumptions could increase or decrease estimated future operating cash flows, and the discounted value of those cash flows, 
and therefore could increase or decrease any impairment charge.  

40

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Universal  has  a  49%  ownership  interest  in  Socotab  L.L.C.,  a  leading  processor  and  leaf  merchant  of  oriental 
tobaccos with operations located principally in Europe.  Summarized financial information for Socotab L.L.C. for its fiscal 
years ended March 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004, is as follows: 

Income Statement Information:

Sales…………………..………….……………………………….......……………   $
Gross profit…………………………..………………………........………………  
Net income…………………………..……………………………………........… 

325,621

   $

339,525

   $

               75,659    
               21,957 

               75,164    
               28,121 

308,805
               62,207 
               12,567 

Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 
2005

2006

2004

Balance Sheet Information:

March 31,

2006

2005

Current assets………………………………………………........……………...…   $              172,893     $              237,569    
Property, plant and equipment and other assets…………………………………   
               74,633    
Current liabilities………………………………………………........…………… 
             173,986 
Long-term obligations and other liabilities……………………………………… 
               15,621 
Minority interests………………………………………………........…………… 

               67,196    
             102,785 
               21,851 

640

797

Net Income per Share  

The  Company  calculates  earnings per  share  in  accordance  with  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting Standards  No. 
128,  “Earnings  per  Share.”    The  Company  uses  the  weighted  average  number  of  common  shares  outstanding  during  each 
period  to  compute  basic  earnings  per  common  share.    Diluted  earnings  per  share  is  computed  using  the  weighted  average 
number  of  common  shares  and  dilutive  potential  common  shares  outstanding.    Dilutive  potential  common  shares  are 
outstanding dilutive stock options that are assumed to be exercised, restricted share units that are assumed to be fully vested
and paid out in shares of common stock, and shares of the Company’s Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock 
that are assumed to be converted when the effect is dilutive. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents  

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase 

to be cash equivalents.  

Advances to Suppliers 

The Company provides agronomy services and seasonal crop advances of, or for, seed, fertilizer, and other supplies 
in its tobacco segment.  These advances are short term in nature, are repaid upon delivery of tobacco to the Company, and are 
reported  in  advances  to  suppliers  in  the  consolidated  balance  sheet.    Primarily  in  Brazil  and  certain  African  countries,  the 
Company has made long-term advances to tobacco farmers to finance curing barns and other farm infrastructure.  In addition, 
due to low crop yields and other factors, in some years individual farmers may not deliver sufficient volumes of tobacco to 
fully repay their seasonal advances, and the Company may extend repayment of those advances into the following crop year.  
The long-term portion of advances is included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheet.  Both the current 
and the long-term portion of advances to suppliers are reported net of allowances recorded when the Company determines 
that  amounts  outstanding  are  not  likely  to  be  collected.  Total  allowances  were  $46  million  at  March  31,  2006,  and  $14 
million at March 31, 2005, and were estimated based on the Company’s historical loss information and crop projections.  The 
allowances were increased by provisions for estimated uncollectible amounts of approximately $28.5 million in fiscal year 
2006, $2.3 million in fiscal year 2005, and $2.8 million in transition year 2004.  Write-downs charged against the allowance 
and recoveries of amounts previously charged off were not material.  Interest on advances is recognized as earned; however, 
interest accrual is discontinued when an advance is not expected to be fully collected.  At March 31, 2006, the Company had 
certain farmer loans with a total outstanding principal balance of approximately $45 million that were considered impaired.  
Approximately $17 million of the $46 million allowance related to those loans. 

41

    
             
             
             
                    
                    
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Inventories 

Inventories of tobacco and most agri-products are valued at the lower of cost or market with cost determined under 
the specific cost method.  In the tobacco and most agri-product businesses, raw materials are clearly identified at the time of
purchase.    The  Company  tracks  the  costs  associated  with  raw  materials  in  the  final  product  lots,  and  maintains  this 
identification  through  the  time  of  sale.    The  Company  also  capitalizes  direct  and  indirect  costs  related  to  processing  raw 
materials.  This method of cost accounting is referred to as the specific cost or specific identification method.  Lumber and 
building  products  inventory  is  valued  at  the  lower  of  cost  or  market,  with  cost  determined  under  the  first-in,  first-out 
(“FIFO”) method.  All other inventories are valued principally at the lower of average cost or market.  Inventory valuation 
allowances for damaged or slow-moving items were $20 million and $21 million at March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. 

The predominant cost components of the Company’s inventories are the costs of unprocessed tobacco, tea, seeds, 
and nuts, as well as hardwood and softwood lumber.  Direct and indirect processing costs related to these raw materials are 
capitalized and allocated to inventory in a systematic manner.  The Company does not capitalize any interest or sales-related 
costs in inventory.  Freight costs are recorded in cost of goods sold. 

Property, Plant and Equipment  

Depreciation  of  plant  and  equipment  is  based  upon  historical  cost  and  the  estimated  useful  lives  of  the  assets. 
Depreciation  is  calculated  using  the  straight-line  method.  Buildings  include  tobacco  and  agri-product  processing  and 
blending  facilities,  lumber  outlets,  offices,  and  warehouses.  Machinery  and  equipment  represent  processing  and  packing 
machinery and transportation, office, and computer equipment. Estimated useful lives range as follows: buildings—15 to 40 
years; processing and packing machinery—3 to 11 years; transportation equipment—3 to 10 years; and office and computer 
equipment—3 to 10 years.  The Company capitalized interest of approximately $800 thousand in fiscal year 2006 and $500 
thousand  in  fiscal  year  2005  on  the  construction  of  a  tobacco  processing  facility  in  Mozambique  and  approximately  $400 
thousand in fiscal year 2004 on the construction of a tobacco processing facility in Nash County, North Carolina. 

Goodwill and Other Intangibles  

Goodwill and other intangibles include principally the excess of the purchase price of acquired companies over the 
net  assets.  The  Company  did  not  record  any  charges  for  impairment  of  goodwill  in  fiscal  years  2006,  2005,  and  2004.  
Goodwill is carried at the lower of cost or fair value.  The Company uses discounted cash flow models to estimate the fair 
value  of  goodwill.  The  preparation  of  discounted  future  operating  cash  flow  analyses  requires  significant  management 
judgment  with  respect  to  operating  earnings  growth  rates,  and  the  selection  of  an  appropriate  discount  rate.  The  use  of 
different  assumptions  could  increase  or  decrease  estimated  future  operating  cash  flows,  and  the  discounted  value  of  those 
cash flows, and could increase or decrease any impairment charge.  

Income Taxes  

The Company provides deferred income taxes on temporary differences between the book and tax basis of its assets 
and  liabilities.  Those  differences  arise  principally  from  employee  benefit  accruals,  depreciation,  deferred  compensation, 
undistributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries not permanently reinvested,
restructuring and impairment costs, and valuation allowances on farmer advances and ICMS tax credits.  At March 31, 2006, 
the cumulative amount of permanently reinvested earnings of foreign subsidiaries, on which no provision for U.S. income 
taxes had been made, was $70 million.  

42

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 

Accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  is  reported  in  the  consolidated  statement  of  changes  in 

shareholders’ equity and consists of: 

Translation adjustments:

Before income taxes………………… ………….………………………………    $
Allocated income taxes…………………………..……………………….………  

(23,592)

   $

(10,631)

   $

                 4,462    

                     (41)   

(28,896)
                 6,059 

At March 31,
2006

At March 31,
2005

At March 31,
2004

Minimum pension liability:

Before income taxes………………………………………………........…………  
Allocated income taxes…………………………………………….....……………  

              (38,111)   
               13,339    

              (21,180)   
                 7,413    

              (13,460)
                 4,845 

Foreign currency hedge adjustment:

Before income taxes………………………………………………….....…………
Allocated income taxes………………………………………………......………

(5,224)
1,846

(6,857)
2,401

(633)
211

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss……………………………………………   $

(47,280)

$

(28,895)

$

(31,874)

Fair Values of Financial Instruments  

The fair values of the Company’s long-term obligations, disclosed in Note 7, have been estimated using discounted 
cash  flow  analyses  based  on  the  Company’s  current  incremental  borrowing  rates  for  similar  types  of  borrowing 
arrangements. The carrying amount of all other assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments approximates fair 
value.  

Derivative Financial Instruments  

The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Interest rate swaps and forward foreign 
currency exchange contracts are used from time to time to minimize interest rate and foreign currency risk. The Company 
enters  into  such  contracts  only  with  financial  institutions  of  good  standing,  and  the  total  credit  exposure  related  to  non-
performance by those institutions is not material to the operations of the Company.  

All interest rate swaps have been accounted for as fair value hedges. The Company recorded deferred gains on the 
termination  of  certain  interest  rate  swaps  totaling  $4.0  million  in  fiscal  year  2005,  and  $5.1  million  in  the  transition  year 
2004.  These gains are being amortized to interest expense over the maturities of the debt instruments that were hedged. No 
material amounts were recorded in net income during 2006, 2005, or 2004 due to hedge ineffectiveness.  The Company had 
approximately $50 million principal amount of fixed rate debt hedged with interest rate swaps at March 31, 2006. 

During fiscal year 2004, the Company entered a foreign currency swap with a third party to mitigate its exposure to 
changes  in  exchange  rates  related  to  a  foreign  currency  denominated  long-term  receivable  from  a  subsidiary.    The  swap 
extends to the maturity date of the receivable.  The arrangement is accounted for as a cash flow hedge, with changes in fair 
value  recorded  in  other  comprehensive  income.    No  amounts  were  recorded  in  net  income  due  to  hedge  ineffectiveness 
through March 31, 2006.  The fair value of the swap at March 31, 2006, was approximately $5.8 million and increased other 
long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. 

The  Company  also  uses  commodity  futures  in  its  rubber  business  to  reduce  the  risk  of  price  fluctuations.  The 
Company does not enter into contracts for trading purposes.  All forward foreign exchange contracts and forward commodity 
contracts are adjusted to fair market value through income during the year.  

Translation and Remeasurement of Foreign Currencies  

The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries having the local currency as the functional currency are translated 
into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at period end for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during each
43

    
             
             
             
               
               
                  
                 
                 
                    
             
             
             
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

reporting  period  for  results  of  operations.  Adjustments  resulting  from  translation  of  financial  statements  are  reflected  as  a 
separate component of comprehensive income or loss.  

The  financial  statements  of  foreign  subsidiaries  having  the  U.S.  dollar  as  the  functional  currency,  with  certain 
transactions denominated in a local currency, are remeasured into U.S. dollars. The remeasurement of local currency amounts 
into U.S. dollars creates remeasurement adjustments that are included in net income. The Company recognized a $9.4 million 
net exchange loss due to remeasurement for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, a $1.5 million net remeasurement loss for 
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, and a $100 thousand net remeasurement loss for the nine-month transition year ended 
March 31, 2004.  The Company recognized $1.8 million in net exchange losses from foreign currency transactions for the 
fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, $400 thousand in net exchange gains for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, and $1.7 
million in net exchange gains for the transition year ended March 31, 2004.  

Net  income  of  foreign  subsidiaries  for  the  three  months  ended  March  31,  2004,  which  was  recorded  as  a  direct 
addition  to  retained  earnings  to  eliminate  the  reporting  lag,  included  a  loss  of  $10.2  million  on  the  remeasurement  of  net 
monetary  assets  denominated  in  Zimbabwe  dollars.    The  Company  remeasured  local  currency  deposits  in  Zimbabwe  to 
reflect the value of the Zimbabwe dollar established in government-sponsored auctions that began in January 2004.  Prior to 
these auctions, local currency balances were remeasured at an official export exchange rate that had remained fixed since the 
previous  adjustment  in  fiscal  year  2003.    Local  currency  deposits  in  Zimbabwe  grew  in  the  months  preceding  March  31, 
2004, due to the country’s financial policies, and net monetary assets denominated in Zimbabwe dollars were remeasured to 
$2.4  million  at  that  date.    During  the  fiscal  years  ended  March  31,  2005  and  2006,  the  value  of  the  Zimbabwe  dollar 
continued to decline.  The Company’s aggregate remeasurement losses on net monetary assets were $4.3 million for fiscal 
year  2005,  and  $7.4  million  for  the  nine-month  period  in  fiscal  year  2006  prior  to  the  deconsolidation  of  the  Zimbabwe 
operations discussed above and in Note 3.   

The Company operates in the following highly inflationary economies: Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.  The 
Company  uses  the  U.S.  dollar  as  the  functional  currency  for  its  consolidated  subsidiaries  located  in  such  economies,  and 
remeasures transactions denominated in the local currency. 

Revenue Recognition  

Revenue is recognized when title and risk of loss are passed to the customer, and the earnings process is complete.  
The majority of the revenue recognized in the tobacco, lumber and building products, and agri-products segments is based on 
the physical transfer of products to customers.  The products delivered to customers can be readily inspected and approved 
for acceptance.  Universal also processes tobacco owned by its customers, and revenue is recognized when the processing is 
completed. 

Stock-Based Compensation 

As discussed under “Accounting Pronouncements” below, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has 
issued  revised  accounting  guidance  requiring  that  stock-based  compensation  be  measured  at  fair  value  and  reported  as 
expense in the financial statements.  Universal will adopt the new guidance beginning in fiscal year 2007.  Through fiscal 
year 2006, the Company continued to apply Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to 
Employees,”  and  related  Interpretations  (“APB  No.  25”)  to  all  awards  of  stock-based  compensation.    Under  APB  No.  25, 
compensation expense is not recognized on fixed stock options issued by the Company since the exercise price equals the 
market  price  of  the  underlying  shares  on  the  date  of  grant.    Statements  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  123, 
“Accounting  for  Stock-Based  Compensation”  (“Statement  No.  123”)  and  No.  148,  “Accounting  for  Stock-Based 
Compensation – Transition and Disclosure” (“Statement No. 148”) require companies that apply APB No. 25 to disclose pro 
forma  net  income  and  basic  and  diluted  earnings  per  share  as  if  the  fair  value  measurement  and  recognition  methods  in 
Statement No. 123 had been applied to all awards.  The disclosure is as follows: 

44

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

Net income………………………………………………………………………………...…… $
Stock-based employee compensation cost, net of tax effect,
   under fair value method……………….…………………………………………………....  
Pro forma net income under fair value method…………….………………………………… $

Earnings per share – basic…………………………………………………………..……......
Per share stock-based employee compensation cost, 
   net of tax effect, under fair value method………………………………..…………………  
Pro forma earnings per share – basic………………………………….……………………… $

$

Earnings per share – diluted…………………………………………………..……………… $
Per share stock-based employee compensation cost, 
   net of tax effect, under fair value method……………………………….……………………
Pro forma earnings per share – diluted………………………………………………….……

$

7,940

3,661
4,279

0.31

0.14

0.17

0.31

0.15
0.16

$

$

$

$

$

$

96,013

5,545
90,468

3.76

0.22

3.54

3.73

0.21
3.52

$

$

$

$

$

$

99,636

3,198
96,438

3.97

0.12

3.85

3.94

0.12
3.82

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was used to estimate the fair value of the options granted in fiscal years 
2006, 2005, and 2004.  The model includes subjective input assumptions that can materially affect the fair value estimates. 
The model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and that are 
fully transferable. For example, the expected volatility is estimated based on the most recent historical period of time equal to
the  weighted  average  life  of  the  options  granted.  The  Company’s  stock-based  employee  compensation  plans  have 
characteristics that differ from traded options. In management’s opinion, such valuation models do not necessarily provide a 
reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.  

Principal  assumptions  used  in  applying  the  Black-Scholes  model,  along  with  the  results  from  the  model,  were  as 

follows: 

Assumptions:

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Risk-free interest rate………………………………………………...…...………
Expected life, in years…………………………………………..……………….
Expected volatility……………………………………………………..……...…
Expected dividend yield………………………………………………………..…

4.06 %
9.00
0.285
3.63 %

3.60 %
4.10
0.293
3.48 %

Results:

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

1.81 %
3.00
0.296
3.62 %

Fair value per share of options granted…………………………………..……… $

11.28

$

9.60

$

6.81

The expected life of stock options granted in fiscal year 2006 was higher than in prior years because the Company 
discontinued granting reload options, which allowed the holder of the options to exercise them and receive new options by 
exchanging previously acquired common stock for the shares received from the exercise. 

Estimates and Assumptions  

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United 
States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements 
and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.  

45

            
          
          
            
            
            
            
          
          
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
    
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Accounting Pronouncements  

In November 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 151, “Inventory Costs, an 
amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4” (“Statement No. 151”).  Statement No. 151 amends Accounting Research Bulletin 
No. 43 (“ARB No. 43”) to clarify that abnormal amounts of production-related costs, such as idle facility expense, freight, 
handling costs, and wasted materials, should be recognized as current-period charges rather than being recorded as inventory 
cost.  Statement No. 151 also requires that allocation of fixed production overhead to inventory cost be based on the normal 
capacity of a company’s production facilities.  Statement No. 151 will be effective for Universal in fiscal year 2007.  The 
Company does not expect the impact of Statement No. 151 to be material to its financial statements. 

In  December  2004,  the  FASB  issued  a  revision  of  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  123,  titled 
“Share-Based Payment” (“Statement No. 123R”).  Statement No. 123R requires that share-based payments, such as grants of 
stock  options,  restricted  shares,  and  stock  appreciation  rights,  be  measured  at  fair  value  and  reported  as  expense  in  a 
company’s  financial  statements  over  the  requisite  service  period.    The  earlier  guidance  that  Statement  No.  123R  replaced 
allowed companies the alternative of recognizing expense for share-based payments in their financial statements or disclosing 
the  pro  forma  effect  of  those  payments  in  the  notes  to  the  financial  statements.    Universal  periodically  issues  share-based 
payments to employees under its compensation programs  and has elected to make pro forma disclosures under the current 
accounting guidance.  The Company is required to adopt Statement No. 123R as of April 1, 2006, which is the beginning of 
fiscal year 2007, and will recognize expense over the service period for the fair value of all grants issued after March 31, 
2006,  as well  as  expense  attributable  to  the  remaining  service  period for  all  prior  grants  that have  not  fully  vested  by  that 
date.  Since vesting of share-based payments is normally accelerated at the date a grantee retires, the requisite service period
under  Statement  No.  123R  does  not  extend  beyond  the  earliest  date  the  grantee  is  eligible  to  retire.    As  a  result,  after  the 
Statement is adopted, the fair value of the grants will be recognized as expense over the shorter of the stated vesting period or
the period to the date of retirement eligibility.  This will result in immediate recognition of the fair value of grants to any
employees who are already eligible for retirement and create less uniformity in expense from period to period.  The Company 
currently  attributes  service  for  expense  recognition  over  the  shorter  of  the  required  service  period  or  the  period  to  the 
employee’s  mandatory  retirement  date,  with  recognition  being  accelerated  if  an  employee  elects  to  retire  early.    At  the 
anticipated  level  of  future  share-based  grants,  the  Company  does  not  expect  the  effect  on  annual  net  income  from  the 
adoption of Statement No. 123R to be materially different from the compensation cost under the fair value method for fiscal 
year 2006 disclosed above in the table under “Stock-Based Compensation.” 

Reclassifications  

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.  

NOTE 2.    CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR END AND ELIMINATION OF REPORTING LAG FOR FOREIGN 

SUBSIDIARIES

The Company changed its fiscal year end from June 30 to March 31, effective March 31, 2004.  In addition to better 
matching  the  fiscal  reporting  period  with  the  crop  and  operating  cycles  of  the  Company’s  largest  operations,  the  change 
allowed the Company to eliminate the three-month reporting lag previously used for  most of its foreign subsidiaries.  The 
Company and all of its consolidated subsidiaries now have the same fiscal reporting period. 

The consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and changes in shareholders’ equity reflect audited results for 
the fiscal years ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, and the nine-month transition year ended March 31, 2004.  The consolidated 
balance  sheets  reflect  the  audited  financial  position of  the  Company  at  March  31,  2006  and  2005.    Net  income  of  foreign 
subsidiaries for the three-month period ended March 31, 2004, representing the elimination of the reporting lag, is reflected 
as an addition to retained earnings in the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity for the transition year.  In
addition,  the  net  change  in  cash  and  cash  equivalents  of  foreign  subsidiaries  for  this  three-month  period  is  reported  on  a 
separate  line  in  the  consolidated  statement  of  cash  flows  for  the  transition  year.    Note  15  provides  unaudited  summary 
financial information recast to show consolidated historical results for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004, without the 
reporting lag for foreign subsidiaries. 

The Company’s U.S. tobacco operations recognize fixed factory overhead expense in the periods in which tobacco 
is processed.  Since processing does not normally occur during the period between April 1 and June 30, prior to the year-end 
change, the projected overhead expense for that period was allocated to the preceding three quarters of each fiscal year, based
on  volumes  processed.    Because  of  the  change  in  fiscal  year  end  to  March  31,  the  U.S.  factory  overhead  expense  for  the 

46

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

period April 1 through June 30, 2004, was reported in fiscal year 2005 results, and was allocated to the subsequent quarters of
that fiscal year.  As a result, operating income for the nine-month transition year ended March 31, 2004, reflects favorable 
comparisons  to  fiscal  years  2005  and  2006.    Had  the  2004  transition  year  included  the  estimated  fixed  factory  overhead 
expense for April 1 through June 30, 2004, tobacco segment operating income would have been approximately $11 million 
lower. 

NOTE 3.   RESTRUCTURING AND IMPAIRMENT COSTS 

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, the Company recorded restructuring and impairment costs related to 
its  tobacco  operations  totaling  approximately  $57.5  million  before  tax,  $46.3  million  after  tax,  or  $1.78  per  share.    The 
restructuring  costs  ($7.1  million)  and  a  portion  of  the  impairment  costs  ($21.2  million)  were  associated  with  decisions  to 
close a leaf tobacco processing facility and to implement certain other cost reduction initiatives.  The remaining impairment 
costs ($29.2 million) resulted from adjusting the Company’s investment in its operations in Zimbabwe to estimated fair value 
following deconsolidation of that investment.  

Closure of Danville Processing Facility and Other Cost Reduction Initiatives 

The components of the pretax charge related to the facility closure and other cost reduction initiatives are as follows:

Restructuring costs:

One-time termination benefits (involuntary)………………………………………… 
Special termination benefits (voluntary)…………………………………………..… 
Other costs……………………………….……………….…………………………  

Closure of
Danville

Processing
Facility

Other Cost

Reduction
Initiatives

Total

$                1,746 
               2,963 
85
               4,794 

$                1,095 
                  551 
                  611 
               2,257 

$                2,841 
               3,514 
                  696 
               7,051 

Impairment costs:

Land, building and equipment…………………………………………………..…… 

             21,240 

        —   

             21,240 

Total restructuring and impairment costs………………………………………………… 

$              26,034 

$                2,257 

$              28,291 

During  the  third  quarter  of  fiscal  year  2006,  the  Company  decided  to  close  its  leaf  tobacco  processing  facility  in 
Danville,  Virginia,  and  consolidate  all  of  its  flue-cured  and  burley  tobacco  processing  in  the  United  States  into  its  Nash 
County, North Carolina factory.  The closure of the Danville facility, which was effective in December 2005, was the result 
of  the  significant  decline  in  U.S.  tobacco  production  since  2000.    The  Company  also  undertook  various  cost  reduction 
initiatives,  including  voluntary  and  involuntary  staff  reductions  in  the  United  States  and  the  closure  of  two  administrative 
offices outside the U.S. 

The one-time termination benefits outlined above have been or will be paid to 353 employees, including 32 full-time 
employees  and  313  hourly  employees  whose  positions  were  eliminated  upon  closure  of  the  Danville  facility.    The  special 
termination  benefits  have  been  or  will  be  paid  to  31  employees  who  accepted  voluntary  separation  offers,  the  majority  of 
which were made to employees at the Nash County factory to reduce the workforce there following the transfer of certain 
employees  to  that  facility  from  the  Danville  factory.    The  other  restructuring  costs  represent  lease  costs  on  vacated  office 
space and employee relocation costs associated with the above actions. 

The impairment costs outlined above represent adjustments to write down the carrying value of the land, building, 
and equipment at the Danville facility to fair value.  The Company plans to sell the land and building and has adjusted their 
carrying  value  to  estimated  fair  value,  based  on  information  provided  by  outside  brokers  and  on  the  Company’s  recent 
experience selling other leaf tobacco facilities in the United States.  Certain equipment at the Danville facility is expected to 
be  redeployed  to  other  locations.    Based  on  the  Company’s  impairment  review,  the  carrying  value  of  that  equipment  is 
supported by the estimated future cash flows associated with the use of the equipment at the new locations.  The remaining 
equipment is expected to be used for replacement parts, or sold for alternative use or scrap, and has been written down to the 
related values estimated by two outside sources.  Should the Company decide not to redeploy any portion of the designated 

47

 
                   
 
 
 
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

equipment from the Danville facility to other locations, that equipment would likely be used for replacement parts, or sold for
alternative use or scrap, and additional impairment costs would be incurred. 

The  following  is  a  reconciliation  of  the  Company’s  liability  for  the  above  restructuring  costs  through  March  31, 

2006: 

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2006

One-Time

and Special

Termination
Benefits

Other Costs

Total

Balance at beginning of year…………………………………………………… 

$

      —   

Costs charged to expense……………………………………………………… 

Payments………………………………………………………………………  
Balance at end of year…………………………………………………………  

$

6,355

(1,744)
4,611

$

$

      —   

696

(261)
435

$

$

      —   

7,051

(2,005)
5,046

The $28.3 million in pre-tax restructuring and impairment costs associated with the Danville facility closure and the 

other cost reduction initiatives reduced fiscal year 2006 net income by $17.1 million, or $0.66 per diluted share. 

Investment in Zimbabwe Operations 

As discussed in Note 1, the Company deconsolidated its operations in Zimbabwe as of January 1, 2006, under U.S. 
accounting  requirements  that  apply  under  certain  conditions  to  foreign  subsidiaries  that  are  subject  to  foreign  exchange 
controls and other government restrictions.  After deconsolidation, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of 
$29.2 million to adjust the investment in those operations to estimated fair value.  No income tax benefit was recognized on 
the charge.  The investment is now accounted for using the cost method and is reported on the balance sheet in investments in 
unconsolidated affiliates.  Business operations in Zimbabwe were not impacted by the financial reporting change or the non-
cash  charge,  and  the  Company  intends  to  continue  its  operations  there.    The  impairment  charge  associated  with  the 
Zimbabwe operations reduced fiscal year 2006 net income by $29.2 million, or $1.12 per diluted share.  At March 31, 2006, 
the remaining investment in the Zimbabwe operations was approximately $8.7 million.  In addition to that investment, the 
Company has a net foreign currency translation loss associated with those operations of approximately $7.2 million, which 
remains a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss.

NOTE 4.   EUROPEAN COMMISSION FINES AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS 

European Commission Fines in Spain 

In October 2004, the European Commission (the “Commission”) imposed fines on “five companies active in the raw 
Spanish tobacco processing market” totaling €20 million (approximately $25 million) for “colluding on the prices paid to, 
and  the  quantities  bought  from,  the  tobacco  growers  in  Spain.”    Two  of  the  Company’s  subsidiaries,  including  Deltafina, 
S.p.A. (“Deltafina”), an Italian subsidiary, were among the five companies assessed fines.  In its decision, the Commission 
imposed  a  fine  of  €11.88  million  (approximately  $14.8  million)  on  Deltafina.    Deltafina  did  not  and does  not  purchase  or 
process  raw  tobacco  in  the  Spanish  market,  but  was  and  is  a  significant  buyer  of  tobacco  from  some  of  the  Spanish 
processors.    The  Company  recorded  a  charge  of  approximately  $14.9  million  in  the  second  quarter  of  fiscal  year  2005  to 
accrue the full amount of the fines assessed against the Company’s subsidiaries. 

In January 2005, Deltafina filed an appeal in the Court of First Instance of the European Communities.  The appeal 

process is likely to take several years to complete, and the ultimate outcome is uncertain. 

European Commission Fines in Italy 

In 2002, the Company reported that it was aware that the Commission was investigating certain aspects of the leaf 
tobacco markets in Italy.  Deltafina buys and processes tobacco in Italy.  The Company reported that it did not believe that 
the  Commission  investigation  in  Italy  would  result  in  penalties  being  assessed  against  it  or  its  subsidiaries  that  would  be 
material to the Company’s earnings.  The reason the Company held this belief was that it had received conditional immunity 
48

 
                   
 
                      
                   
                  
 
                     
                  
                   
 
                      
                   
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

from the Commission because Deltafina had voluntarily informed the Commission of the activities that were the basis of the 
investigation.   

On  December  28,  2004,  the  Company  received  a  preliminary  indication  that  the  Commission  intended  to  revoke 
Deltafina’s  immunity  for  disclosing  in  April  2002  that  it  had  applied  for  immunity.    Neither  the  Commission’s  Leniency 
Notice  of  February  19,  2002,  nor  Deltafina’s  letter  of  provisional  immunity,  contains  a  specific  requirement  of 
confidentiality.  The potential for such disclosure was discussed with the Commission in March 2002, and the Commission 
never  told  Deltafina  that  disclosure  would  affect  Deltafina’s  immunity.    On  November  15,  2005,  the  Company  received 
notification  from  the  Commission  that  the  Commission  had  imposed  fines  totaling  €30  million  (about  $36  million)  on 
Deltafina  and  the  Company  jointly  for  infringing  European  Union  antitrust  law  in  connection  with  the  purchase  and 
processing of tobacco in the Italian raw tobacco market. 

The Company does not believe that the decision can be reconciled with the Commission’s Statement of Objections 
and  facts.    The  Company  and  Deltafina  each  have  appealed  the  decision  to  the  Court  of  First  Instance  of  the  European 
Communities.    Based  on  consultation  with  outside  counsel,  the  Company  believes  it  is  probable  that  it  will  prevail  in  the 
appeals process and has not accrued a charge for the fine.  Deltafina has  provided a bank guarantee to the Commission in the 
amount of the fine in order to stay execution during the appeal process. 

U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 

As  a  result  of  a  posting  to  the  Company's  Ethics  Complaint  hotline  alleging  improper  activities  that  involved  or 
related to certain of the Company's tobacco subsidiaries, the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors engaged 
an  outside  law  firm  to  conduct  an  investigation  of  the  alleged  activities.  That  investigation  revealed  that  there  have  been 
payments that may have violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. At this time, the payments involved appear to have 
approximated $1 million over a five-year period. In addition, the investigation revealed activities in foreign jurisdictions that 
may have violated the competition laws of such jurisdictions, but the Company believes those activities did not violate U.S. 
antitrust laws. The Company voluntarily reported these activities to the appropriate U.S. authorities.  On June 6, 2006, the 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  notified  the  Company  that  a  formal  order  of  investigation  has  been  issued.    The 
Company has initiated corrective actions, and such actions are continuing. 

If the U.S. authorities determine that there have been violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or if the U.S. 
authorities  or  the  authorities  in  foreign  jurisdictions  determine  there  have  been  violations  of  other  laws,  they  may  seek  to 
impose sanctions on the Company or its subsidiaries that may include injunctive relief, disgorgement, fines, penalties, and 
modifications  to  business  practices.  It  is  not  possible  to  predict  at  this  time  whether  the  authorities  will  determine  that 
violations have occurred, and if they do, what sanctions they might seek to impose. It is also not possible to predict how the 
government's  investigation  or  any  resulting  sanctions  may  impact  the  Company's  business,  financial  condition,  results  of 
operations, or financial performance, although such sanctions, if imposed, could be material to its results of operations in any
quarter. The Company will continue to cooperate with the authorities in these matters. 

Other Legal Matters 

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  matters,  various  subsidiaries  of  the  Company  are  involved  in  other  litigation 
incidental to their business activities.  While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management is 
vigorously  defending  the  claims  and  does  not  currently  expect  that  any of  them  will  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the 
Company’s  financial  position.   However,  should  one  or  more  of  these  matters  be  resolved  in  a  manner  adverse  to 
management’s current expectation, the effect on the Company’s results of operations for a particular fiscal reporting period 
could be material. 

49

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

NOTE 5.    INCOME TAXES  

Income taxes consist of the following:  

Fiscal
Year Ended

March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended

March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended

March 31,
2004

Current

United States…………………………………………..………………………  
State and local……………………………….……………….………………… 
Foreign………………………………………………...…..…………………… 

Deferred

United States………………………………………...………………………… 
State and local……………………………...……………………………………  
Foreign…………………………………………………..……………………… 

Total…………………………………………………...……………………………  

$                     216 
                 1,930 
               67,845 
$                69,991 

$                  3,936 
                    817 
               69,271 
$                74,024 

$                  2,885 
                 1,101 
               61,172 
$                65,158 

$               (14,685)
                (2,022)
              (18,881)
              (35,588)
$                34,403 

$                 (7,669)
                     (10)
                 1,852 
                (5,827)
$                68,197 

$                 (9,802)
                   (430)
                 4,403 
                (5,829)
$                59,329 

A reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal rate to the effective income tax rate is as follows: 

Statutory tax rate……………….......………………....………………….......………  
State income taxes, net of federal benefit……………….......………………....…… 
Impact of permanently reinvested earnings……………….......………………....…   
Income taxed at other than the U.S. rate and other items……………….......………  
Impairment of investment in Zimbabwe operations……………….......……………  
Non-deductible European Commission fines……………….......………………....…
Effective income tax rate……………….......………………....……………………  

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,

2006

35.0 %
0.4
20.7
7.1
26.6
      — 

89.8 %

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,

2005

35.0 %
0.3
3.1
( 0.4 )

      — 
3.1

41.1 %

The U.S. and foreign components of income before income taxes and other items were as follows: 

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,

2004

35.0 %
0.3
0.5
0.7
      — 
      — 

36.5 %

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

United States……………….......…………………...….……….....…………………  
Foreign……………….......………………….…….………...………………………

$

Total……………….......………………......................................……………… $

(63,431)
101,754
38,323

   $

   $

(20,512)
186,465
165,953

   $

   $

(7,458)
170,096
162,638

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
             
             
               
             
             
             
               
             
             
  
  
  
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Significant components of deferred tax liabilities and assets were as follows:   

Liabilities
Foreign withholding taxes………………………………...……….....………………....……………………  
Tax over book depreciation……………………………...…….......………………....………………………  
Goodwill……………….......……………………...............…………………………………………………  
All other……………….......…………………….......…………...…………………………………………   
Total deferred tax liabilities……………………….......………….…………....……………………… 

Assets
Employee benefit plans……………….......…...…………...………....………………………………………  
Undistributed earnings……………….......……….…………..……....………………………………………  
Foreign currency translation………………...............……….……………....………………………………  
Minimum pension liability………………...............…………..…………....……………………………… 
Deferred compensation……………….................………………..……....…………………………………  
Tax credits……………….......…………………..…………...………………………………………………  
Restructuring and impairment costs………………………………………………………………………… 
Valuation allowances on Brazilian farmer advances and ICMS tax credits……………….................………  
Net operating loss carryforward……………….......…………………..…………...…………………………  
All other……………….......………………....……….…….………………………………………………   
Total deferred tax assets………………..................…………..……....………………………………  
Valuation allowance……………….......………………..………….....……………………………………   
Net deferred tax assets………………..................…………..……....…………………………………  

$

$

$

$

At March 31,
2006

At March 31,
2005

16,806
7,941
23,557
13,512
61,816

32,294
37,981
4,512
13,339
744
33,849
10,437
7,326
5,806
14,152
160,440
(18,784)
141,656

$

$

$

$

13,407
10,533
22,523
17,072
63,535

34,061
37,718
2,412
7,413
1,361
31,244
1,606
1,495
      — 
12,083
129,393
(22,990)
106,403

Tax  credits  at  March  31,  2006,  consist  of  $17.4  million  of  foreign  tax  credit  carryforwards  and  $16.5  million  of 
alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards.  Foreign tax credit carryforwards in the amounts of $5.6 million, $6.9 million, 
and $4.9 million will expire at the end of fiscal years 2013, 2015, and 2016, respectively.  Alternative minimum tax credit 
carryforwards have an indefinite life. 

NOTE 6.    SHORT-TERM CREDIT FACILITIES 

The Company maintains short-term lines of credit in the United States and in a number of foreign countries. Foreign 
borrowings  are  generally  in  the  form  of  overdraft  facilities  at  rates  competitive  in  the  countries  in  which  the  Company 
operates.  Generally, each foreign line is available only for borrowings related to operations of a specific country.  

At March 31, 2006, unused, uncommitted lines of credit were approximately $625 million. The weighted average 
interest  rates  on  short-term  borrowings  outstanding  as  of  March  31,  2006  and  2005,  were  approximately  4.7%  and  3.5%, 
respectively.

51

  
  
                 
  
                 
                   
  
                 
                 
  
                 
                 
  
                 
                 
                 
                 
  
                 
                 
  
                 
                   
  
                   
                 
                   
                      
  
                   
                 
  
                 
                 
                   
                   
  
                   
                   
  
                 
  
                 
               
               
                
  
                
               
  
               
  
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

NOTE 7.    LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS 

Long-term obligations consist of the following: 

Notes:
  Medium-term notes due from 2007 to 2013 at various rates………..........................................................  
  Private placement notes, due May 2008, at LIBOR + 1.25%………………………….........……………  
  6.5% notes, repaid February 2006………………………….........…………………..………………........  
Bank Facility:
  Borrowings supported by revolving credit agreement refinanced after year-end with

$

private placement notes due May 2008……..……………...…………...……..…………...…………
Secured loans at variable rates based on the lender's rate, repaid February 2006………….………………  
Other……………………………………………………………..................................……........................  

Less current portion…………………………………………….................................……..........................  
Long-term obligations……………………………………………….............................................………… 

$

At March 31,

At March 31,

2006

2005

$

570,602   
200,000   
      —    

      — 
      —    
184   
770,786   
(8,585)   
762,201   

$

586,958
      — 
100,000

200,000
74,979
189
962,126
(123,439)
838,687

Notes

The  Company  has  $571  million  in  medium-term  notes  outstanding.    These  medium-term  notes  mature  at  various 
dates from February 2007 to October 2013 and were all issued with fixed interest rates.  At March 31, 2006, interest rates on 
the notes ranged from 5.00% to 8.50%.  In addition, the Company had $200 million in private placement notes outstanding 
that  mature  in  May  2008.    In  December  2005,  the  Company  filed  a  shelf  registration  statement  with  the  Securities  and 
Exchange  Commission  to  provide  for  the  future  issuance  of  additional  debt  or  equity  securities  as  determined  by  the 
Company and offered in one or more prospectus supplements prior to issuance. 

Bank Facility 

In January, 2005, the Company entered into a five-year revolving bank credit agreement.  This agreement provides 
for  a  credit  facility  of  $500  million,  which  matures  in  January  2010.    Borrowings  under  the  credit  facility  bear  interest  at 
variable rates, based on either 1) LIBOR plus a negotiated spread (1.20% at March 31, 2006) or 2) the higher of the federal 
funds rate plus 0.5% or Prime rate, each plus a negotiated spread (0.2% at March 31, 2006).  The Company pays a facility 
fee.    Loans  made  under  the  facility  may  be  used  to  refinance  certain  existing  indebtedness,  to  provide  general  working 
capital, or for general corporate purposes.  At March 31, 2006, direct borrowings under the revolving credit agreement totaled 
$80  million.    These  borrowings  are  reported  in  notes  payable  and  overdrafts  in  the  consolidated  balance  sheet.    No 
commercial paper borrowings were outstanding at March 31, 2006.  

Certain covenants in the revolving credit agreement require the Company to maintain a minimum level of tangible 
net  worth  and  observe  a  restriction  on  debt  levels.    In  February  2006,  the  Company  determined  that  the  restructuring  and 
impairment  charges  for  the  closure  of  the  Danville  facility,  combined  with  lower  than  expected  operating  results  and  a 
decrease in committed tobacco inventories for the interim period, caused a covenant breach as of December 31, 2005, under 
its revolving credit facility and two secured loans.  The Company received waivers of the covenant violation from a sufficient 
number of the banks participating in the revolving credit facility, and no event of default occurred under that agreement.  The
Company decided to repay the secured term loans on February 7, 2006, using borrowings under the revolving credit facility, 
to avoid the costs of amending those loan agreements and to release the related liens on the closed Danville, Virginia, tobacco
processing facility, which was pledged as security on one of the loans.  No covenants were breached in any of the Company’s 
other debt obligations.  In March 2006, the Company completed amendments to the revolving credit agreement that modify 
certain  covenants  to  make  them  less  restrictive  until  March  31,  2008.    The  Company  was  in  compliance  with  all  debt 
covenants at March 31, 2006. 

In  March  2006,  the  Company  issued  $200  million  of  convertible  preferred  stock  and  used  the  net  proceeds  of 
approximately $194 million to reduce borrowings under the credit facility and repay other short-term notes payable.  In April 
2006, the Company issued an additional $20 million of convertible preferred stock, to complete the terms of the securities 
offering, and also used the net proceeds of approximately $19 million to repay borrowings under the credit facility. 

52

  
 
  
 
  
  
  
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Other Information 

The  fair  value  of  the  Company’s  long-term  obligations,  including  the  current  portion,  was  approximately  $752 

million at March 31, 2006, and $979 million at March 31, 2005.   

From time to time, the Company uses interest rate swap agreements to manage its exposure to changes in interest 
rates.  These agreements typically adjust interest rates on designated long-term obligations from fixed to variable.  The swaps
are accounted for as fair value hedges.  At March 31, 2006, the Company had interest rate swap agreements in place on $50 
million of long-term debt.  The fair value of those swap agreements was a liability of $1.4 million. 

Maturities of long-term debt outstanding at March 31, 2006, in millions of dollars, are as follows:  2007 - $8.6; 2008 

- $164.0; 2009 - $200.0; 2010 - $79.5; 2011 - $15.0; and 2012 and thereafter - $305.0. 

NOTE 8.    LEASES 

The Company’s subsidiaries lease various production, storage, distribution, and other facilities, as well as vehicles 
and  equipment  used  in  their operations.    Some  of  the  leases have  options  to  extend  the  lease  term  at  market  rates.    These 
arrangements  are  classified  as  operating  leases  for  accounting  purposes.    Rent  expense  on  operating  leases  totaled  $18.7 
million  in  fiscal  year  2006,  $15.6  million  in  fiscal  year  2005,  and  $11.1  million  in  the  nine-month  transition  year  2004.  
Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases total $18.9 million in 2007, $13.1 million in 2008, $10.8 
million in 2009, $7.8 million in 2010, $5.8 million in 2011, and $8.9 million after 2011. 

NOTE 9.    PENSION PLANS AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS  

Description of Benefit Plans 

The Company has several defined benefit pension plans covering U.S. and foreign salaried employees and certain 
other  employee  groups.  These  plans  provide  retirement  benefits  based  primarily  on  employee  compensation  and  years  of 
service. Domestic and foreign plan assets consist primarily of fixed income securities and equity investments. Prior service 
costs are amortized ratably over the average remaining service period of employees.  

The  Company  provides  postretirement  health  and  life  insurance  benefits  for  eligible  U.S.  employees  attaining 
specific age and service levels. The health benefits are funded by the Company as the costs of the benefits are incurred and 
contain  cost-sharing  features  such  as  deductibles  and  coinsurance.  The  Company  funds  the  life  insurance  benefits  with 
deposits to a reserve account held by an insurance company. The Company reserves the right to amend or discontinue these 
benefits at any time. 

53

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Actuarial Assumptions 

Assumptions  used  for  financial  reporting  purposes  to  compute  net  periodic  benefit  income  or  cost  and  benefit 

obligations, as well as the components of net periodic benefit income or cost are as follows: 

Foreign Pension
Benefits
2005

2006

Domestic Pension
Benefits
2005

2004

2004

2006

Other Postretirement
Benefits
2005

  2004

2006

Assumptions:
Discount rate, end of year….................…  
Rate of compensation

4.00 %   

4.50 %  

5.00 %  

5.50 %  

5.75 %  

6.00 %

5.50 %   

5.75 %  

6.00 %

increases, end of year…........................  

2.50 %

2.50 %

3.00 %

5.00 %  

5.00 %  

5.00 %

5.00 %   

5.00 %  

5.00 %

Expected long-term return

on plan assets, end of year…................  

4.00 %   

4.50 %  

5.00 %  

7.75 %  

7.75 %  

8.00 %

4.30 %   

4.30 %  

4.30 %

Rate of increase in per-capita cost of

covered health care benefits………......  

10.00 %    10.50 %   11.00 %

The  Company  uses  a  measurement  date  of  December  31  for  foreign  pension  benefits  and  for  domestic  pension 

benefits and other postretirement benefits.   

54

  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Benefit Obligations and Plan Assets 

The following table reconciles the changes in benefit obligations and plan assets in 2006 and 2005, and the funded 

status to prepaid or accrued cost at March 31, 2006 and 2005: 

Foreign Pension Benefits

March 31,
2006

March 31,
2005

Domestic Pension Benefits
March 31,
March 31,
2005
2006

Other Postretirement 
Benefits

March 31,
2006

March 31,
2005

Actuarial present value of benefit obligation:

Accumulated benefit obligation…………………  $
Projected benefit obligation……………………… 

   $

155,281
164,722

   $

149,751
156,834

   $

184,897
217,541

   $

166,666
199,972

      — 
65,489

199,972
5,060
10,964
6,152
      —    
      — 
(1,172)
6,396
(9,831)
217,541

   $

   $

192,774
5,083
10,970
5,114
      —    
      — 
(5,389)
311
(8,891)
199,972

$

$

138,042
8,884
10,737
(4,884)
      — 
      — 
(9,831)
142,948

(74,593)
3,823
      — 
2,567
55,285
(26,401)
(39,319)

   $

   $

   $

   $

129,344
15,040
7,938
(5,389)
      — 
      — 
(8,891)
138,042

(61,930)
2,399
      — 
2,271
40,296
(12,178)
(29,142)

   $

   $

   $

   $

52,688
1,102
3,478
1,751
      — 
      — 
      — 
10,466
(3,996)
65,489

4,302
232
3,637
      — 
      — 
      — 
(3,996)
4,175

(61,314)
548
      — 
(192)
13,749
      — 
(47,209)

Change in projected benefit obligation:

Benefit obligation, beginning of year……………  $
Service cost………………………......................  
Interest cost…………………………..................  
Effect of discount rate change…………………… 
Foreign currency exchange rate changes………… 
Business acquisition………………………….....  
Settlement………………………..............……… 
Other…………………...………….....................  
Benefits paid…………………..............………… 
Projected benefit obligation, end of year……………  $

Change in plan assets:

Plan assets at fair value, beginning of year………  $
Actual return on plan assets……………………… 
Employer contributions…………………...……… 
Settlements…………………...…...……..........… 
Foreign currency exchange rate changes………… 
Business acquisition……………………….…...… 
Benefits paid……………………….…...………  
Plan assets at fair value, end of year………………   $

Reconciliation of prepaid (accrued) cost:

Funded status of the plans…………………...……  $
Contributions after measurement date…………… 
Unrecognized net transition obligation…………  
Unrecognized prior service cost………………… 
Unrecognized net loss…………………...……… 
Additional minimum liability…………………... 
Prepaid (accrued) cost, end of year…………………  $

156,834
3,298
6,933
11,232
(9,254)
5,857
      — 
(1,928)
(8,250)
164,722

134,238
11,261
5,745
      — 
(8,169)
4,838
(9,217)
138,696

(26,026)
1,044
42
823
20,128
(14,994)
(18,983)

   $

$

   $

   $

   $

   $

140,877
2,527
7,389
        —   
7,462
      — 
      — 
5,988
(7,409)
156,834

124,291
6,319
4,282
      — 
6,755
      — 
(7,409)
134,238

(22,596)
2,048
54
415
16,652
(11,558)
(14,985)

   $

$

   $

   $

   $

   $

55

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

      — 
52,688

55,557
1,095
2,954
814
      — 
      — 
      — 
(4,558)
(3,174)
52,688

4,398
189
2,889
      — 
      — 
      — 
(3,174)
4,302

(48,386)
751
      — 
(241)
1,662
      — 
(46,214)

  
  
  
  
  
     
     
    
     
     
  
     
  
    
  
     
  
     
     
 
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
    
     
     
     
         
  
         
  
        
  
         
  
       
       
         
  
         
  
      
  
       
  
       
       
       
  
  
        
  
         
  
       
          
        
  
         
  
         
       
        
        
  
         
  
        
  
            
  
     
      
        
  
        
  
       
  
        
  
      
      
     
     
    
     
     
     
 
  
  
  
  
     
     
    
     
       
       
       
  
         
  
        
  
       
  
          
          
         
  
         
  
      
  
         
  
       
       
       
        
        
  
         
         
        
  
        
  
       
  
        
  
      
      
     
     
    
     
       
       
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
      
      
     
      
    
    
         
         
        
         
          
          
              
              
            
            
        
         
         
         
       
       
      
       
     
       
      
      
     
      
      
      
     
      
    
    
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

The  net  amounts  recognized  for  pension  and  postretirement  benefits  in  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  are  as 

follows: 

Foreign Pension Benefits
March 31,
2005

March 31,
2006
(18,983)
763

Domestic Pension Benefits

March 31,
2006

March 31,
2005

Other Postretirement Benefits
March 31,
March 31,
2005
2006

Accrued benefit liability………………  $
Intangible asset………………………  
Accumulated other

   $

   $

(14,985)
455

   $

(39,319)
2,057

   $

(29,142)
2,218

(47,209)
N/A

comprehensive loss………………… 
Net amount recognized………………   $

14,230
(3,990)

$

11,103
(3,427)

$

24,344
(12,918)

$

9,961
(16,963)

$

N/A
(47,209)

$

$

(46,214)
N/A

N/A
(46,214)

Prepaid pension costs of $1.4 million at March 31, 2005, are included in other noncurrent assets; accrued pension 
costs  of  $58.3  million  and  $45.5  million  were  included  in  other  long-term  liabilities  at  March  31,  2006  and  2005, 
respectively.

Additional information on the funded status of the Company’s pension plans is as follows: 

Foreign Pension Benefits

Domestic Pension Benefits

March 31,
2006

March 31,
2005

March 31,
2006

March 31,
2005

For plans with a projected benefit
  obligation in excess of plan assets:

Aggregate projected benefit obligation…………………..………............…   $
Aggregate fair value of plan assets…………………….……………...........  

   $

163,364
137,301

   $

155,484
132,748

   $

217,541
142,950

199,972
138,042

For plans with an accumulated benefit
  obligation in excess of plan assets:

Aggregate accumulated benefit obligation…………………..…...........…… 
Aggregate fair value of plan assets…………………………........................  

143,693
125,662

126,822
109,371

179,794
137,829

162,455
133,587

Certain  operating  subsidiaries  of  the  Company’s  lumber  and  building  products  segment  in  the  Netherlands 
participate in a multi-employer industry pension plan.  Contributions to the plan by those subsidiaries totaled approximately 
$7.1 million in fiscal year 2006, $5.2 million in fiscal year 2005, and $4.7 million in the transition year 2004. 

In fiscal year 2006, the additional minimum pension liability for both foreign and domestic pension plans increased, 
primarily due to a reduction in the discount rates used to value the benefits for those plans.  The increase in the additional 
minimum liability resulted in an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $16.9 million before income taxes, or 
$11.0 million after income taxes.  In fiscal year 2005, a decrease in the additional minimum liability for domestic plans was 
more  than  offset  by  an  increase  for  the foreign plans  that  was  due primarily  to  a  reduction  in  the discount  rate.   On  a net 
basis,  the  additional  minimum  liability  resulted  in  an  increase  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss  of  $7.7  million 
before income taxes, or $5.2 million after income taxes.  The additional minimum liability was reduced in 2004 due primarily 
to  stronger  equity  markets,  resulting  in  an  increase  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  of  $18.4  million  before 
income taxes, or $12.0 million after income taxes.   

The rate of increase in per-capita cost of covered healthcare benefits is assumed to decrease gradually from 10.0% in 

2006 to 6.0% for fiscal year 2014. 

56

  
  
  
    
        
        
        
        
        
           
              
           
           
 
  
      
         
         
           
      
          
        
        
        
        
 
  
  
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
  
       
  
       
  
       
       
       
       
       
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Net Benefits Cost 

The components of the Company’s net periodic benefits cost are as follows: 

Foreign Pension
Benefits
2005

2006

Domestic Pension
Benefits
2005

2004

2006

Other Postretirement
Benefits

2004

2006

2005

2004

Components of net periodic
benefits cost (income):
3,298
Service cost…………………………  $
Interest cost………………………… 
6,933
Expected return on plan assets……… 
(5,836)
Settlement/curtailment cost…………       — 
1,970
Net amortization and deferral……… 
6,365
Net periodic benefit cost……………  $

   $

   $

2,527
7,389
(6,460)
      — 
206
3,662

  $

  $

2,143
5,086
(4,389)
      — 
(140)
2,700

  $

  $

  $

  $

5,060
10,964
(10,146)   
1,172
1,127
8,177

5,083
10,970
(10,366)   
1,536
3,034
  $ 10,257

  $

3,740
8,302
(7,803)
1,671
1,916
7,826

$

$

1,102
3,478
(177)
      — 
(48)
4,355

   $

   $

1,095    $
2,954   
(181)   

      — 

(48)   
3,820    $

835
2,749
(137)
      — 
390
3,837

A  one-percentage-point  increase  in  the  assumed  health  care  cost  trend  would  increase  the  March  31,  2006, 
accumulated benefit obligation by approximately $2.8 million and the aggregate of the service and interest cost components 
of  the  net  periodic  postretirement  benefit  expense  for  the  2007  fiscal  year  by  approximately  $200  thousand.    A  one 
percentage  point  decrease  in  the  assumed  health  care  cost  trend  would  decrease  the  March  31,  2006,  accumulated  benefit 
obligation  by  approximately  $2.4  million;  however,  the  aggregate  of  the  service  and  interest  cost  components  of  the  net 
periodic postretirement benefit expense for the 2007 fiscal year would not change by a significant amount.  

Allocation of Plan Assets 

The Pension Investment Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) oversees the investment of funds 
for the Company’s U.S. defined benefit plans.  The Committee has established target asset allocations for those investments 
to reflect a balance of the needs for liquidity, total return, and risk control.  The assets are required to be diversified across
asset classes and investment styles to achieve that balance.  During the year, the asset allocation is reviewed for adherence to
the target policy and rebalanced to the target weights.  

Universal’s  weighted–average  target  pension  asset  allocation  and  target  ranges  at  December  31,  2005,  and  asset 

allocations at December 31, 2005 and 2004, by asset category were as follows: 

Asset Category1

Target
Allocation

Domestic equity securities…………………...………........ 
International equity securities…………………...…........… 
Fixed income securities2…………………...………........... 
           Total…………………………………………………… 

55.0%   
15.0%   
30.0%   
100.0%

Range

49% - 61%
13% - 17%
25% - 35%

Plan Assets
at December 31, 
20053

Plan Assets
at December 31, 
2004

54.0%   
17.6%   
28.4%   
100.0%

53.0%
18.9%
28.1%
100.0%

1The plan holds no real estate assets.
2Actual amounts include cash balances held for the payment of benefits.
3The plan assets were rebalanced in January 2006.

With  the  assistance  of  a  consultant,  the  Committee  selects  investment  managers  to  invest  the  funds  within  its 
guidelines.  To provide for diversification, equity fund managers are limited in the level of investment in any single security,
and limits are placed on the minimum size of the issuer of the security.  Fixed income managers must invest in U.S. dollar-
denominated bonds, with limitations on the amounts that may be invested in any single issuer.  The minimum credit rating of 
issuers is BBB, and limits are placed on the amount that can be invested in issuers rated at that level.  In addition, certain 
speculative  transactions  are  prohibited  in  either  equity  or  fixed  income  management,  as  appropriate.    These  prohibitions 
include  margin  buying,  short  selling,  and  transactions  in  lettered  or  restricted  stock,  puts,  and  straddles.    Managers  are 

57

 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
      
   
   
   
  
 
  
 
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
   
   
   
  
      
  
     
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
      
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

evaluated based on their adherence to the policies, and their ability to exceed certain standards for returns while limiting the
amount of risk over three to five years. 

During  fiscal  year  2005,  the  Company  and  its  outside  actuaries  completed  a  study  of  the  asset  allocation  for  the 
domestic  defined  benefit  plan.    Based  on  this  study,  the  Committee  approved  certain  changes  to  the  asset  allocation 
previously adopted by the Company and that allocation is periodically refined by the Committee.  To determine the expected 
long-term  rate  of  return  on  assets  assumption  for  the  December  31,  2004  measurement  date,  the  Company  considered  the 
historical weighted-average annual return for the revised asset allocation.  Based on this information, the long-term rate of 
return assumption was reduced from 8.00% to 7.75% and remained at that level at December 31, 2005.   

One of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries sponsors a defined benefit plan in the Netherlands.  The plan’s funding is 
insured,  and  the  insurers  govern  the  investment  allocation.    The  insurer  of  most  of  the  fund  balance  is  rated  ‘AA’  in  the 
Netherlands.  The subsidiary’s weighted–average target pension asset allocation and target ranges at December 31, 2005, and 
asset allocations at December 31, 2005 and 2004, by asset category were as follows: 

Asset Category*

Equity securities…………………...……………….……… 
Fixed income securities…………………...…………...…… 
Other…………………...………………………...………...  
         Total…………………...…………………….…............  

*The plan holds no real estate assets.

Target
Allocation

20.0%   
80.0%   
      —    
100.0%

Range

15% - 25%
70% - 90%
0% - 5%

Plan Assets
at December 31, 
2005

Plan Assets
at December 31, 
2004

20.0%   
80.0%   
      —    
100.0%

17.0%
82.0%
1.0%
100.0%

The Company expects to make contributions of $3.8 million to foreign plans and $4.4 million to domestic plans in 

fiscal year 2007. 

Estimated future benefit payments to be made from the Company’s plans are as follows: 

2007……………………………………………………………………………………  $
2008…………………………………………………………………………………… 
2009…………………………………………………………………………………… 
2010…………………………………………………………………………………… 
2011…………………………………………………………………………………… 
2012-2016……………………………………………………………………………  

Foreign
Pension
Benefits

Domestic
Pension
Benefits

Other
Postretirement
Benefits

$

6,920
7,222
7,460
7,946
8,038
42,326

   $

14,453
13,631
22,501
12,475
14,888
62,585

4,351
4,783
4,846
4,814
4,826
23,428

Domestic  pension benefits  in  fiscal  year 2009  are  actuarially  projected  to  include  lump-sum  non-qualified  benefit 

payments to certain retiring senior executives.   

Other Plans 

Universal  and  several  U.S.  subsidiaries  offer  an  employer-matched  stock  purchase  plan.    Amounts  charged  to 
expense  for  this  defined  contribution  plan  were  $1.3  million,  $1.3  million,  and  $978  thousand  for  2006,  2005,  and  2004, 
respectively.

NOTE 10.    COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK  

Common Stock 

At March 31, 2006, the Company had 100,000,000 authorized shares of its common stock, and 25,748,306 shares 
issued and outstanding.  Holders of the common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters requiring a 
vote.  Holders of the common stock are also entitled to receive dividends when, as, and if declared by the Company’s Board 
58

  
  
  
  
  
 
  
                
              
  
                
                
              
                
                
              
                
                
              
                
                
              
                
              
              
              
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

of  Directors.    The  Board  customarily  declares  and  pays  regular  quarterly  dividends  on  the  outstanding  common  shares; 
however, such dividends are at the Board’s full discretion, and there is no obligation to continue them.  If dividends on the 
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock” or “Preferred Shares”) are not declared and paid 
for any dividend period, then dividends on the common stock may not be paid until the dividends on the Preferred Stock have 
been paid for a period of four consecutive quarters. 

In 1999, the Company distributed, as a dividend, one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of 
common  stock.  Each  right  entitles  the  shareholder  to  purchase  1/200  of  a  share  of  Series  A  Junior  Participating  Preferred 
Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) at an exercise price of $110, subject to adjustment. The rights will become exercisable 
only  if  a  person  or  group  acquires  or  announces  a  tender  offer  for  15%  or  more  of  the  Company’s  outstanding  shares  of 
common  stock.  Under  certain  circumstances,  the  Board of  Directors  may  reduce  this  threshold percentage  to not  less  than 
10%. If a person or group acquires the threshold percentage of common stock, each right will entitle the holder, other than the
acquiring party, to buy shares of common stock or Series A Preferred Stock having a market value of twice the exercise price. 
If  the  Company  is  acquired  in  a  merger  or  other  business  combination,  each  right  will  entitle  the  holder,  other  than  the 
acquiring person, to purchase securities of the surviving company having a market value equal to twice the exercise price of 
the  rights.  Following  the  acquisition  by  any  person  of  more  than  the  threshold  percentage  of  the  Company’s  outstanding 
common stock but less than 50% of such shares, the Company may exchange one share of common stock or 1/200 of a share 
of Series A Preferred Stock for each right (other than rights held by such person). Until the rights become exercisable, they 
may be redeemed by the Company at a price of one cent per right. The rights expire on February 13, 2009. 

Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock 

The Company is also authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock.  In March 2006, 200,000 shares 
of Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock” or “Preferred Shares”) were issued under this 
authorization.    The  Preferred  Stock  has  a  liquidation  preference  of  $1,000  per  share  and  generated  approximately  $194 
million  in  net  cash  proceeds,  which  were  used  to  reduce  short-term  debt.    Holders  of  the  Preferred  Shares  are  entitled  to 
receive  quarterly  dividends  at  the  rate  of  6.75%  per  annum  on  the  liquidation  preference  when,  as,  and  if  declared  by  the 
Company’s Board of Directors.  Dividends are not cumulative in the event the Board does not declare a dividend for one or 
more  quarterly  periods.    Under  the  terms  of  the  Preferred  Stock  offering,  the  Board  is  prohibited  from  declaring  regular 
dividends on the Preferred Shares in any period in which the Company fails to meet specified levels of shareholders’ equity 
and net income; however, in that situation, the Board may instead declare such dividends payable in shares of the Company’s 
common stock or from net proceeds of common stock issued during the ninety-day period prior to the dividend declaration.  
The Preferred Shares have no voting rights, except in the event the Company fails to pay dividends for four consecutive or 
non-consecutive  quarterly  dividend  periods  or  fails  to  pay  the  redemption  price  on  any  date  that  the  Preferred  Shares  are 
called for redemption, in which case the holders of Preferred Shares will be entitled to elect two additional directors to the 
Company’s Board to serve until dividends on the Preferred Stock have been fully paid for four consecutive quarters. 

The Preferred Shares are convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time into shares of the Company’s common 
stock at a conversion rate of 21.4001 shares of common stock per preferred share, which represents an initial conversion price 
of  approximately  $46.73  per  common  share.    Upon  conversion,  the  Company  may,  at  its  option,  satisfy  all  or  part  of  the 
conversion value in cash.  Under certain conditions outlined in the terms of the Preferred Stock, the conversion rate may be 
adjusted. 

During the period from March 15, 2013 to March 15, 2018, the Company may, at its option, convert the Preferred 
Shares  into  shares  of  common  stock  at  the  prevailing  conversion  rate  if  the  closing  price  of  the  common  stock  during  a 
specified period exceeds 135% of the prevailing conversion price.  Upon this mandatory conversion, the Company may, at its 
option,  satisfy  all  or  part  of  the  conversion  value  in  cash.    On  or  after  March  15,  2018,  the  Company  may,  at  its  option, 
redeem all or part of the outstanding Preferred Shares for cash at the $1,000 per share liquidation preference. 

In  April  2006,  the  Company  issued  20,000  additional  shares  of  the  Preferred  Stock  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  its 
agreement  with  the  underwriters  of  the  stock  offering.    The  net  proceeds  from  the  issuance  of  these  additional  shares 
approximated $19 million and were used to reduce short-term debt. 

59

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

NOTE 11.    EXECUTIVE STOCK PLANS  

The Company’s shareholders have approved Executive Stock Plans under which officers, directors, and employees 
of the Company and its subsidiaries may receive grants and awards of common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, 
stock appreciation rights, incentive stock options, and non-qualified stock options.  Currently, grants are outstanding under 
the  1997  Executive  Stock  Plan  and  the  2002  Executive  Stock  Plan  (together,  the  “Plans”).    Up  to  2  million  shares  of  the 
Company’s  common  stock  may  be  issued  under  each  of  the  Plans.  However,  under  the  2002  Executive  Stock  Plan,  only 
500,000  shares  of  restricted  stock  may  be  awarded.  Pursuant  to  the  Plans,  non-qualified  options  have  been  granted  to 
executives and key employees at an option price equal to the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of 
grant.  

Options granted under the Company’s Plans generally vest and become exercisable either one to three years or six 
months after the date of grant. Most options expire ten years after the date of grant.  All outstanding options were fully vested
as  of  March 31, 2006.    The Company  granted  stock  options, restricted  shares,  and  restricted  share  units  during fiscal  year 
2006, but expects to grant stock-settled stock appreciation rights instead of stock options in the future.  

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the fiscal years 2006, 2005, and 2004 

follows: 

Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2006

Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2005

Nine-Month
Transition Year Ended
March 31, 2004

Average
Exercise
Price

42.64
46.34
36.57

44.20
43.34

43.34

Average
Exercise
Price

39.17
47.75
39.95

      —    
42.64

41.66

Shares

$

       2,742,296 
          366,277    
        (995,928)   

(23,334)
2,089,311

1,369,064

1,037,017

Average
Exercise
Price

37.46
43.08
36.24

24.69
39.17

39.03

Shares

$

       2,089,311 
          838,898    
     (1,101,018)   

      —    

1,827,191

1,208,790

1,051,265

Shares

$

       1,827,191 
          263,500    
          (72,000)   

(6,909)
2,011,782

2,011,782

738,058

Outstanding, beginning of year……… 
Granted………………………………  
Exercised……………………….........  
Cancelled...……………………….....  
Outstanding, end of year………………

Exercisable………………………......

Available for grant……………….……

The following table summarizes information concerning currently outstanding and exercisable options as of  

March 31, 2006: 

For options outstanding: 

Range of Exercise Prices, Per Share
$30-$40

$20-$30

$40-$50

Number outstanding……………………………………………………………………..........   
Weighted average remaining contractual life…………………………………………………   
Weighted average exercise price, per share……………………………………………………   $

35,217   
3.72   
25.52    $

617,043   
4.26   
37.34    $

1,359,522
5.76
46.52

For options exercisable:

Number exercisable…………………………………………………………………............…  
Weighted average exercise price, per share……………………………………………………   $

35,217   
25.52    $

617,043   

37.34    $

1,359,522
46.52

Certain potentially dilutive securities outstanding at March 31, 2006 and 2005 were not included in the computation 
of  earnings  per  diluted  share  since  their  exercise  prices  were  greater  than  the  average  market  price  of  the  common  shares 
during  the  period,  and  accordingly,  their  effect  was  antidilutive.  These  shares  totaled  1,698,599  and  825,000  at  weighted-
average  exercise  prices  of  $44.97  and  $47.76  per  share  at  March  31,  2006  and  2005,  respectively.    No  options  were 
antidilutive at March 31, 2004.  

60

             
  
             
  
             
             
  
             
  
             
             
  
             
             
            
  
             
  
          
  
             
      
  
             
      
  
             
      
  
             
      
  
             
      
  
             
      
  
             
         
  
      
  
      
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

The  Company  granted 65,900  restricted  stock  units  (“RSU’s”)  to officers and  employees  during fiscal  year  2006.  
The  market  price  per  share of  the  RSU’s  at  grant  date  was  $46.34.   Grantees  receive  equivalent  dividends,  in  the form  of 
additional RSU’s, on the date and at the amount dividends are paid on the Company’s common stock.  RSU grants, including 
the  related  dividend  equivalent  RSU’s,  vest  five  years  from  grant  date  and  are  then  paid  out  in  shares  of  common  stock.  
Including the dividend equivalent RSU’s, there were 67,915 RSU’s outstanding at March 31, 2006. 

The Company also had granted 28,900 shares of restricted stock to outside directors through March 31, 2006, with 
an average grant date market price of $37.68 per share.  Vesting and lifting of the restrictions occurs upon retirement from 
service as director. 

 NOTE 12.    COMMITMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS  

Commitments 

The  Company  enters  into  contracts  to  purchase  tobacco  from  farmers  in  a  number  of  the  countries  in  which  it 
operates.  The majority of these contracts are with farmers in Brazil and several African countries.  Most contracts cover one 
annual  growing  season,  but  some  contracts  with  commercial  farmers  in  Africa  cover  multiple  years.    With  the  farmer 
contracts in Brazil and Africa, the Company typically provides seasonal financing to support the farmers’ production of their 
crops  or  guarantees  their  financing  from  third-party  banks.    At  March  31,  2006,  the  Company  had  contracts  to  purchase 
approximately $684 million of tobacco from farmers, $517 million of which represented volumes to be delivered during the 
coming fiscal year.  These amounts are estimates since actual quantities purchased will depend on crop yields and prices will 
depend  on  the  quality  of  the  tobacco  delivered.    Tobacco  purchase  obligations  have  been  partially  funded  by  advances  to 
farmers, which totaled approximately $121 million at March 31, 2006.  The Company withholds payments due to farmers on 
delivery  of  the  tobacco  to  satisfy  repayment  of  the  seasonal  or  long-term  financing  it  provided  to,  or  guaranteed  for,  the 
farmers.  Arrangements to guarantee bank loans to farmers exist primarily in Brazil and are discussed in more detail below. 

The Company also has contracts to purchase raw materials and other inventory in its lumber and building products 
segment ($95 million at March 31, 2006) and its agri-products segment ($158 million at March 31, 2006).  Commitments to 
purchase  agri-products  inventories  are  frequently  matched  to  forward  sales  contracts  with  customers.    In  addition  to  its 
contractual  inventory  purchase  obligations,  the  Company  has  commitments  related  to  approved  capital  expenditures  and 
various other requirements that approximated $17 million at March 31, 2006. 

Guarantees and Other Contingent Liabilities 

Guarantees of bank loans to growers for crop financing and construction of curing barns or other tobacco producing 
assets are industry practice in Brazil and support the farmers’ production of tobacco there.  At March 31, 2006, total exposure
under subsidiaries’ guarantees issued for banking facilities of Brazilian farmers was approximately $211 million.  About 70% 
of these guarantees expire within one year, and nearly all of the remainder expire within five years.  The Company withholds 
payments due to the farmers on delivery of tobacco and forwards those payments to the third-party bank.  Failure of farmers 
to  deliver  sufficient  quantities  of  tobacco  to  the  Company  to  cover  their  obligations  to  third-party  banks  would  result  in  a 
liability for the Company under the related guarantee; however, in that case, the Company would have recourse against the 
farmers.  The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company’s subsidiary could be required to make is the 
face  amount,  $211  million,  and  any  unpaid  accrued  interest.    The  accrual  recorded  for  the  value  of  the  guarantees  was 
approximately  $8  million  at  March  31,  2006  and  2005,  respectively.    In  addition  to  these  guarantees,  the  Company  has 
contingent liabilities related to European Commission fines in Italy and other legal matters, as discussed in Note 4.   

Major Customers 

A material part of the Company’s tobacco business is dependent upon a few customers. For the fiscal years ended 
March 31, 2006 and 2005, and the transition year ended March 31, 2004, revenue from subsidiaries and affiliates of Altria 
Group,  Inc.  was  approximately  $625  million,  $510  million,  and  $450  million,  respectively.    For  the  same  periods,  Japan 
Tobacco, Inc. accounted for revenue of approximately $280 million, $310 million, and $250 million, respectively. The loss 
of, or substantial reduction in business from, either of these customers would have a material adverse effect on the Company.  

61

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Accounts and Notes Receivable 

The  Company’s  operating  subsidiaries  within  each  industry  segment  perform  credit  evaluations  of  customers’ 
financial condition prior to the extension of credit. Generally, accounts and notes receivable are unsecured and are due within
30  days.  When  collection  terms  are  extended  for  longer  periods,  interest  and  carrying  costs  are  usually  recovered.  Credit 
losses  are  provided  for  in  the  financial  statements,  and  such  amounts  have  not  been  material.  The  allowance  for  doubtful 
accounts  was  approximately  $13  million  and  $12  million  at  March  31,  2006  and  2005,  respectively,  and  reflects  actual 
amounts charged off to the allowance of approximately $2 million in fiscal year 2006 and $4 million in fiscal year 2005.  In 
the lumber and building product construction supply operations in the Netherlands, it is traditional business practice to insure
a major portion of accounts and notes receivable against uncollectibility for the majority of the amount owed.  At March 31, 
2006 and 2005, accounts and notes receivable by operating segment were as follows: 

Tobacco………………………………………………...……………………………………………..........… $                 211,641 
Lumber and building products…………………….……………………………………………….......…… 
Agri-products………………………………………...…………………………………………........…......  

                147,407    
                106,965    

At March 31, 
2006

At March 31, 
2005
$                 245,226 

                144,602 
                105,135 
494,963

$

466,013

$

Losses on Agri-Products Inventory and Purchase Commitments 

Certain subsidiaries in the Company’s agri-products segment buy, process, package, and sell sunflower seeds and 
almonds.  The markets for both of these commodities were in an oversupply position during the second half of fiscal year 
2006,  primarily  due  to  unexpectedly  high  production  from  the  2005  crops.    These  conditions  caused  prices  for  finished 
product  and  prices  indicated  for  raw  product  to  decline  significantly.    As  a  result  of  the  declines,  the  Company  recorded 
losses totaling approximately $17.2 million before tax ($10.9 million after tax) on uncommitted inventory, as well as firm 
commitments  to  purchase  undelivered  raw  product,  during  2006.    Some  of  the  Company’s  inventory  and  purchase 
commitment positions remain exposed to further price declines, and additional losses may be reported in subsequent periods 
on any additional price declines. 

Customer Claim 

Near the end of the nine-month transition year ended March 31, 2004, a customer of a foreign subsidiary rejected 
certain  shipments  of  tobacco  because  they  did  not  meet  that  customer’s  requirements.    The  Company  recorded  a  pretax 
charge  of  $10.8  million  during  the  period  ended  March  31,  2004,  to  recognize  the  estimated  costs  associated  with  the 
rejection  of  this  tobacco  (primarily  shipping  costs).    Of  the  charge,  $7.6  million  was related  to  shipments  delivered  in  the 
three months ended December 31, 2003, and was reflected in the income statement for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.  
The balance of $3.2 million related to shipments delivered in January 2004 and reduced the income of foreign subsidiaries 
recorded as a direct addition to retained earnings.  Management worked with the customer to mitigate the effects of the claim 
and  implemented  new  procedures  to  meet  customer  requirements  for  future  crops.    In  addition,  the  Company  was  able  to 
realize savings in the actual and estimated  costs of the claim, and accordingly, reversed approximately $3.5 million of the 
prior  charge  during  fiscal  year  2005  and  an  additional  $400  thousand  in  fiscal  year  2006.    The  remaining  provision  of 
approximately $750 thousand at March 31, 2006, is estimated to be adequate to cover the remaining costs of the claim. 

ICMS Tax Changes 

The  Company’s  operating  subsidiary  in  Brazil  pays  significant  amounts  of  ICMS  (“Imposto  Sobre  Circulacao  de 
Mercadorias e Servicos”) tax.  ICMS is a value-added tax on the transfer of goods and services between states in Brazil and is 
paid when tobacco purchased from farmers outside the state of Rio Grande do Sul is brought into that state for processing.  
Payment of the ICMS tax generates tax credits that may be used to offset ICMS tax obligations generated on domestic sales 
of  processed  tobacco  and  agricultural  materials,  or  they  may  be  sold  or  transferred  to  third  parties.    Since  domestic  sales 
compose  only  about  one-fifth  of  total  sales,  the  subsidiary  has  historically  generated  excess  ICMS  tax  credits  that  are 
routinely offered and sold to other companies, generally at a discount, upon approval from state tax authorities.  During fiscal
year 2005, changes in the ICMS tax regulations were implemented to limit the ability of companies to use purchased ICMS 
tax credits and to impose new restrictions, including consent from local governmental authorities, on the sale of those credits
to third parties.  As a result of these changes, management has determined that it is unlikely to realize, through use or sale, a 
substantial  amount  of  the  $49.7  million  in  ICMS  tax  credits  held  at  March  31,  2006.    Based  upon  certain  estimates  and 
62

               
  
               
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

assumptions about the future realization of these tax credits, allowances of approximately $14.5 million and $10.1 million  
were recorded as of March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The Brazilian operating subsidiary began processing tobacco 
purchased from farmers in the state of Santa Catarina at a new facility in that state during fiscal year 2006.  This change will
reduce the generation of excess ICMS credits for the current and future crop years.  The allowance on ICMS tax credits held 
at March 31, 2006 may be adjusted in future periods based on market conditions and the ability to use the excess tax credits 
or sell them to third parties.   

Tax Audits 

Subsidiaries  of  the  Company  are  subject  to  tax  audits  from  time  to  time  by  the  various  tax  authorities  of  the 
countries and jurisdictions in which they operate.  These audits can result in potential or actual assessments for taxes, interest,
and penalties in amounts that could have a material effect on results of operations for a particular fiscal reporting period. 

NOTE 13.    SEGMENT INFORMATION 

The  Company  reports  information  regarding  operating  segments  on  the  basis  used  internally  by  management  to 
evaluate  segment  performance.  Segments  are  based  on  product  categories.  The  Company  evaluates  performance  based  on 
operating income and equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.  

The  accounting  policies  of  the  segments  are  the  same  as  those  described  in  Note  1  of  “Notes  to  Consolidated 
Financial  Statements.”  Sales  between  segments  are  insignificant.  Sales  and  other  operating  revenues  are  attributed  to 
individual  countries  based  on  the  final  destination  of  the  shipment.    Equity  in  pretax  earnings  of  unconsolidated  affiliates 
relates  primarily  to  the  tobacco  segment.    Long-lived  assets  consist  of  net  property,  plant  and  equipment,  goodwill,  other 
intangibles, and certain other noncurrent assets.  

Reportable segments are as follows:  

Tobacco

Selecting, buying, shipping, processing, packing, storing, and financing of leaf tobacco in tobacco growing countries 

for the account of, or for resale to, manufacturers of tobacco products throughout the world.  

Lumber and Building Products  

Distribution  of  lumber  and  related  products  to  the  construction  markets  and  to  do-it-yourself  retailers  in  Europe, 

primarily in the Netherlands.  

Agri-Products  

Trading and processing tea, sunflower seeds, and nuts and trading of other products from the countries of origin to 

various customers throughout the world.  

63

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Reportable Segment Data 

Sales and Other Operating Revenues

Operating Income

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006
1,784,557
880,673
846,102
3,511,332

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005
1,672,938
845,922
757,197
3,276,057

   $

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004
1,275,975
590,903
404,274
2,271,152

   $

   $

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

   $

155,883
40,026
4,652
200,561
(23,482)

(15,263)
(57,463)

   $

195,517
45,744
12,789
254,050
(29,845)

181,046
24,692
8,160
213,898
(16,228)

(15,649)

(6,044)

Tobacco………………………………   $
Lumber and building products………… 
Agri-products…………………………  
Total segments………………………… 
Corporate expenses…………………… 
Equity in pretax earnings
  of unconsolidated affiliates…………… 
Restructuring and impairment costs…… 

Consolidated total………………………  $

3,511,332

   $

3,276,057   $

2,271,152

  $

104,353

   $

208,556

  $

191,626

Tobacco………………………………   $
Lumber and building products………… 
Agri-products…………………………  
Total segments………………………… 
Corporate……………………………… 

At March 31,
2006
2,087,927
524,860
285,827
2,898,614
2,727

   $

Segment Assets
At March 31,
2005
2,075,611
519,832
286,892
2,882,335
2,989

   $

At March 31,
2004
1,841,137
428,521
209,903
2,479,561
3,212

At March 31,
2006

Goodwill
At March 31,
2005

At March 31,
2004

   $

   $

102,822
29,587
733
133,142

   $

102,763
30,958
798
134,519

100,876
27,273
778
128,927

Consolidated total………………………  $

2,901,341

   $

2,885,324   $

2,482,773

  $

133,142

   $

134,519

  $

128,927

Depreciation and Amortization 

Capital Expenditures 

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

   $

50,340
14,964
2,835
68,139

   $

56,253
15,066
2,814
74,133

   $

36,333
10,526
2,008
48,867

   $

55,833
14,903
3,481
74,217

   $

79,365
24,271
2,121
105,757

56,073
5,807
1,363
63,243

Tobacco………………………………   $
Lumber and building products………… 
Agri-products…………………………  
Total segments………………………… 
Corporate……………………………… 

Consolidated total………………………  $           68,139 

$          74,133 

$          48,867 

$

74,217

$

105,757

$

63,243

64

    
    
     
       
       
       
       
  
       
  
        
  
         
  
         
  
         
       
  
       
  
        
  
           
  
         
  
           
    
  
    
  
     
  
       
  
       
  
       
  
  
  
        
  
        
  
        
  
  
  
        
  
        
  
          
  
  
  
        
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
     
       
       
       
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
    
     
       
       
       
       
  
       
  
        
  
         
  
         
  
         
       
  
       
  
        
  
              
  
              
  
              
    
  
    
  
     
  
       
  
       
  
       
           
  
           
  
            
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
    
     
       
       
       
         
         
          
         
         
         
         
  
         
  
          
  
         
  
         
  
           
           
  
           
  
            
  
           
  
           
  
           
         
  
         
  
          
  
         
  
       
  
         
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
         
       
         
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Geographic Data 

Sales and Other Operating Revenues

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2006

Fiscal
Year Ended
March 31,
2005

Nine-Month
Transition
Year Ended
March 31,
2004

The Netherlands…………………………………………………………………………………………  $
United States…………………………………………………………………………………………… 
All other countries……………………………………………………………………………………… 

796,136
850,049
1,865,147

$

796,661
688,414
1,790,982

$

531,807
462,723
1,276,622

Consolidated total………………………………………………………………………………………  $

3,511,332

$

3,276,057

$

2,271,152

United States……………………………………………………………………………………………  $
The Netherlands………………………………………………………………………………………… 
Brazil…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 
All other countries……………………………………………………………………………………… 

$

223,443
179,485
89,032
253,962

$

257,216
183,251
90,107
253,813

274,633
157,266
85,612
188,533

Consolidated total………………………………………………………………………………………  $

745,922

$

784,387

$

706,044

At March 31,
2006

Long-Lived Assets
At March 31,
2005

At March 31,
2004

NOTE 14.    UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

Due to the seasonal nature of the tobacco, lumber and building products, and agri-products businesses, management 

believes it is generally more meaningful to focus on cumulative rather than quarterly results. 

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2006
Sales and other operating revenues…………….…………………………………  $         860,144 
Gross profit……………………………..………....……………..........................  
        139,568 
Net income (loss)…………………..………...…………….........................……  
          11,819 
Basic…………… 
Net income (loss) per common share: 
              0.46 
Diluted………… 
              0.46 
Cash dividends declared per common share……………………………………… 
              0.42 
High…………… 
Market price range: 
            48.03 
Low……………  
            43.08 

   $         919,304 
        164,471 
          26,514 
              1.03 
              1.03 
              0.42 
            47.70 
            38.83 

   $         878,779 
        136,282 
          (5,669)
            (0.22)
            (0.22)
              0.43 
            43.99 
            36.31 

   $         853,105 
        138,841 
        (24,724)
            (0.96)
            (0.96)
              0.43 
            48.21 
            36.17 

Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2005
Sales and other operating revenues…………….…………………………………  $         737,141 
Gross profit……………………………..………....……………..........................  
        136,074 
Net income…………………..………...…………….........................…………… 
          20,479 
Basic…………… 
Net income per common share: 
              0.80 
Diluted………… 
              0.80 
Cash dividends declared per common share……………………………………… 
              0.39 
High…………… 
Market price range: 
            53.01 
Low……………  
            46.20 

   $         860,171 
        150,511 
          13,861 
              0.54 
              0.54 
              0.39 
            50.14 
            42.25 

   $         852,346 
        146,588 
          27,907 
              1.09 
              1.08 
              0.42 
            49.80 
            43.31 

   $         826,399 
        178,197 
          33,766 
              1.32 
              1.31 
              0.42 
            50.57 
            45.77 

65

 
  
 
  
       
       
       
       
       
       
    
    
    
    
    
    
       
       
       
       
       
       
         
         
         
       
       
       
       
       
       
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Significant items included in the quarterly results are as follows: 

•

•

•

•

Third  Quarter  2006  –  a  $23.9  million  restructuring  and  impairment  charge  associated  with  the  closure  of  the 
Company’s  tobacco  processing  facility  in  Danville,  Virginia,  and  other  cost  reduction  initiatives.    The  charge 
reduced net income by $15.5 million, or $0.60 per diluted share.  In addition, significant market price declines in 
two  products  handled  by  the  Company’s  agri-products  segment  (almonds  and  sunflower  seeds)  resulted  in  $11.8 
million in inventory valuation and purchase commitment losses that reduced net income by $7.4 million, or $0.29 
per diluted share. 

Fourth  Quarter  2006  –  a  $4.4  million  restructuring  charge,  primarily  to  recognize  additional  voluntary  and 
involuntary employee separation costs related to the closure of the Danville, Virginia, tobacco processing facility.  
The charge reduced net income by $1.6 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.  In addition, a $29.2 million impairment 
charge was recorded to reduce the Company’s investment in its operating subsidiaries in Zimbabwe to estimated fair 
value.  That charge provided no tax benefit, and therefore reduced net income by $29.2 million, or $1.11 per diluted 
share.  Incremental provisions for losses on uncollectible farmer advances in several African countries, Brazil, and 
the Philippines reduced pre-tax income by $19.5 million, and net income by $9.6 million, or $0.37 per diluted share.  
Further market price declines in commodities handled by the agri-products segment (principally almonds) resulted 
in additional inventory valuation and purchase commitment losses of $5.4 million that reduced net income by $3.5 
million, or $0.14 per diluted share. 

Second Quarter 2005 – a $14.9 million charge to recognize fines assessed by the European Commission against two 
of  the  Company’s  subsidiaries  related  to  tobacco  buying  practices  in  Spain.    The  charge  reduced  net  income  by 
$14.9 million, or $0.58 per diluted share. 

Fourth Quarter 2005 – a $3.5 million reduction of a 2004 charge related to a customer’s rejection of tobacco.  The 
revised estimate of the cost of the customer claim increased net income by $2.3 million, or $0.09 per diluted share. 

NOTE 15.  TRANSITION REPORTING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2004 

As described in Note 2, the Company changed its fiscal year-end from June 30 to March 31, effective for fiscal year 
2004.  In connection with this change, the Company also eliminated the three-month reporting lag previously used for most 
of  its  foreign  subsidiaries.    The  disclosures  below  provide  additional  information  on  the  operating  results  of  foreign 
subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2004, which were recorded as a direct addition  to retained earnings, as 
well as unaudited financial information for 2004 recast for the effect of eliminating the reporting lag. 

Results of Foreign Subsidiaries for Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 

Net income of foreign subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2004, representing the elimination of the 
reporting lag, was $18.9 million and is reflected as an addition to retained earnings in the consolidated statement of changes 
in shareholders’ equity.  The components of this net income amount are as follows: 

Sales and other operating revenues……………………………..…………………………....................................……………………… 

$

Costs and expenses………………………..………………………………………………….………........……………………………… 

Operating income……………………………………………………………………………………........……………………………… 

Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates…………………………………………..........…………………………………  

Interest expense………………………………………………………………………………………..............………………………… 

Income before income taxes and other items………………………….………………………………………….........................……… 

Income taxes…………………………………..………………………………………………………….....................………………… 

Minority interests………………………………...………..……………………………………………..................................………… 
Net income of foreign subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2004………………..…...…..……………………………… 

$

380,777

354,846

25,931

6,231

2,789

29,373

11,980

(1,461)
18,854

Comprehensive income of foreign subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2004, totaled $13.6 million, 
consisting of the net income of $18.9 million above, less net translation adjustments of $4.9 million and a currency hedge 
adjustment of $400 thousand. 

66

               
               
                 
                   
                   
                 
                 
                  
                 
 
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

As discussed under “Translation and Remeasurement of Foreign Currencies” in Note 1, the above results include a 
loss of $10.2 million on the remeasurement of net monetary assets in Zimbabwe to reflect the value of the local currency in 
government-sponsored auctions that began in January 2004.  The remeasurement loss was partially offset by interest income 
of $4.4 million on local currency cash balances.  As described in Note 12, the results also include a charge of $3.2 million for
costs related to the rejection of tobacco delivered to a customer in January 2004.   

Reportable segment data for the period shown above is as follows: 

Sales and Other
Operating
Revenues

Operating
Income

Tobacco........................................................................................................................................................
Lumber and building products.....................................................................................................................  
Agri-products...............................................................................................................................................  
Total segments.............................................................................................................................................  
Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.................................................................................  
Consolidated total........................................................................................................................................  

$

$

166,071

138,670
76,036
380,777
      —   
380,777

$

$

26,501

5,036
625
32,162
(6,231)
25,931

Segment  operating  income  was  $32.2  million,  the  major  components  of  which  arose  from  shipments  of  African, 

European, and Oriental tobaccos and from lumber and building product operations. 

The net change in cash and cash equivalents of foreign subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2004, is 

reported on a separate line in the consolidated statement of cash flows and is composed of the following: 

Net cash provided by operating activities………………………………………...…………......................................……………………… 

$

Net cash used in investing activities…………………………………………………………………………………………………………  

Net cash used by financing activities………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash………………………………..……………………………..........................................…………… 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of foreign subsidiaries
   for the three months ended March 31, 2004……………………………………………………………………………….………………  

$

50,228

(19,150)

(34,721)

(11,935)

(15,578)

The  reduction  in  cash  from  exchange  rate  changes  was  principally  due  to  the  remeasurement  of  local  currency 

deposits in Zimbabwe to reflect currency auction rates, as discussed above and in Note 1. 

67

               
                 
               
                   
                 
                      
               
                 
                  
               
  
                 
 
                 
                
                
                
 
                
 
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 

Summarized Historical Financial Information Recast for the Effect of Eliminating the Reporting Lag for Foreign 
Subsidiaries (Unaudited)  

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2005, all of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries follow the same 
fiscal reporting period.  As a result, the consolidated financial statements no longer reflect the results of foreign subsidiaries’ 
operations  on  a  three-month  reporting  lag.    To  facilitate  comparisons,  unaudited  summarized  financial  information  for  the 
twelve months and four quarters ended March 31, 2004, recast for the effect of eliminating the reporting lag, is as follows: 

(Unaudited)

Twelve Months
Ended
March 31,
2004

Quarters Ended

June 30,
2003

September 30,
2003

December 31,
2003

March 31,
2004

Sales and other operating revenues…………………… $
Operating income………………………………………
Income before income taxes and other items……………
Net income………………………………………………
Net income:

Per common share…………………………………
Per diluted common share…………………………

$

2,887,645
190,020
156,206
95,754

$

771,734
43,020
35,945
23,465

$

768,472
63,700
50,733
29,235

$

773,865
49,837
41,124
23,778

3.83
3.80

0.94
0.94

1.17
1.16

0.95
0.94

573,574
33,463
28,404
19,276

0.76
0.75

The above results include the following items: 

•

•

•

•

Quarter  ended  June  30,  2003  –  restructuring  charges  of  $5.7  million  and  a  charge  of  $12  million  related  to  the 
settlement of a lawsuit;  

Quarter ended September 30, 2003 – $2.0 million of allocated U.S. fixed factory overhead expense;  

Quarter ended December 31, 2003 – a charge of $7.6 million related to costs associated with a customer’s rejection 
of certain shipments of tobacco in that period by a foreign subsidiary and $5.8 million of allocated U.S. fixed factory 
overhead expense; and 

Quarter ended March 31, 2004 – an additional charge of $3.2 million related to costs associated with a customer’s 
rejection of certain shipments of tobacco in that period by a foreign subsidiary, $2.8 million of allocated U.S. fixed 
factory overhead expense and a remeasurement loss of $10.2 million from currency devaluation, partially offset by 
interest income of $4.4 million. 

68

    
       
          
          
          
          
          
            
            
            
            
          
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders 
Universal Corporation 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Universal Corporation as of March 31, 2006 and 
2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended 
March  31,  2006  and  2005,  and  the  nine-month  period  ended  March  31,  2004.    These  financial  statements  are  the 
responsibility of the Company’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.    An  audit  also  includes  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  consolidated 
financial position of Universal Corporation at March 31, 2006 and 2005, and the consolidated results of its operations and its 
cash flows for the years ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, and the nine-month period ended March 31, 2004, in conformity 
with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States), the effectiveness of Universal Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2006, based on 
criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the 
Treadway Commission and our report dated June 8, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. 

 /s/    Ernst & Young LLP   

Richmond, Virginia 
June 8, 2006 

69

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders 
Universal Corporation 

We  have  audited  management’s  assessment,  included  in  the  accompanying  Item  9A,  Management’s  Report  on 
Internal  Control  Over  Financial  Reporting,  that  Universal  Corporation  maintained  effective  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting  as  of  March  31,  2006,  based  on  criteria  established  in  Internal  Control—Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the 
Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (the  COSO  criteria).    Universal  Corporation’s 
management  is  responsible  for  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and  for  its  assessment  of  the 
effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting.    Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  management’s 
assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. 

We  conducted  our  audit  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 
effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audit included obtaining an 
understanding  of  internal control  over  financial  reporting, evaluating  management’s  assessment,  testing  and  evaluating  the 
design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in 
the circumstances.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

A  company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  a  process  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance 
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.   A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies 
and  procedures  that  (1)  pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the 
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as 
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that 
receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  company  are  being  made  only  in  accordance  with  authorizations  of  management  and 
directors  of  the  company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of  unauthorized 
acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  
Also,  projections  of  any  evaluation  of  effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become 
inadequate  because  of  changes  in  conditions,  or  that  the  degree  of  compliance  with  the  policies  or  procedures  may 
deteriorate.

In  our  opinion,  management’s  assessment  that  Universal  Corporation  maintained  effective  internal  control  over 
financial reporting as of March 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria.  Also, in our
opinion, Universal Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of 
March 31, 2006, based on the COSO criteria. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States),  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Universal  Corporation  as  of  March  31,  2006  and  2005,  and  the  related 
consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended March 31, 2006 and 
2005,  and  the  nine-month  period  ended  March  31,  2004  of  Universal  Corporation  and  our  report  dated  June  8,  2006 
expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. 

 /s/    Ernst & Young LLP   

Richmond, Virginia 
June 8, 2006 

70

 Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure  

For the three years ended March 31, 2006, there were no changes in or disagreements between the Company and its 

independent auditors on any matter of accounting principles, practices, or financial disclosures.  

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to 
be disclosed in reports filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, 
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and 
that  such  information  is  accumulated  and  communicated  to  the  Company’s  management,  including  its  Chief  Executive 
Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  as  appropriate,  to  allow  for  timely  decisions  regarding  required  disclosure.    The 
Company’s  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer  evaluated,  with  the  participation  of  the  Company’s 
management, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-
15(e)), as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s 
management concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.   

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial 
reporting  as  defined  in  Rule  13a-15(f)  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934.    The  Company’s  internal  control  over 
financial  reporting  is  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  to  management  and  the  Board  of  Directors  regarding  the 
preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements.  Due to inherent limitations, internal control over
financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  all  errors  or  misstatements  in  the  financial  statements,  and  even  control 
procedures  that  are  determined  to  be  effective  can  provide  only  reasonable  assurance  with  respect  to  financial  statement 
preparation and presentation.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that 
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions. 

As required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(c), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, 
with the participation of other members of management, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over 
financial reporting as of March 31, 2006.  The evaluation was based on the criteria set forth in “Internal Control – Integrated
Framework”  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (“the  COSO  criteria”).  
Based on its assessment, the Company’s management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting 
was effective as of March 31, 2006. 

Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2006, has 
been audited by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP.  Their attestation report 
on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting appears on page 70 of this Annual 
Report on Form 10-K. 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

There  were  no  changes  in  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  that  occurred  during  the 
Company’s  last  fiscal  quarter  that  have  materially  affected,  or  are  reasonably  likely  to  materially  affect,  the  Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting. 

Item 9B.  Other Information 

None. 

71

Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant  

PART III 

Except as to the matters set forth below, information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the 

Company’s 2006 Proxy Statement.  

The following are executive officers of the Company as of June 1, 2006.  

Name

A. B. King
H. H. Roper
D. C. Moore
K. M. L. Whelan
G. C. Freeman, III
P. D. Wigner
R. M. Peebles
W. K. Brewer
J. M. M. van de Winkel

Position

Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Vice President and Treasurer
Vice President
General Counsel and Secretary
Controller
Executive Vice President, Universal Leaf 
Chairman and President, Deli Universal, Inc.

Age
60
57
50
59
43
37
48
47
57

There are no family relationships between any of the above officers.  

All of the above officers, except Messrs. King, Moore, Freeman, Wigner, Peebles, Brewer, and van de Winkel have 
been employed by the Company in the listed capacities during the last five years.  A. B. King served as President and Chief 
Operating  Officer  from  December  1992  until  December  2002  and  was  elected  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer 
effective January 1, 2003.  D. C. Moore was elected Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer effective April 1, 2006, 
and served as Senior Vice President of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated (“Universal Leaf”) from September 
2005  until  April  2006,  Managing  Director of Universal  Leaf  International  SA  from April  2002 until  September  2005,  and 
Senior Vice President of Universal Leaf Services International Ltd. from September 1999 until April 2002.   Mr. Freeman 
served as General Counsel and Secretary from February 1, 2001, until November 2, 2005, and was elected Vice President on 
November  2,  2005.    P.  D.  Wigner  was  elected  General  Counsel  and  Secretary  on  November  2,  2005,  served  as  Senior 
Counsel of Universal Leaf from November  2004 until November 2005, Counsel of Universal Leaf from March 2003 until 
September 2004, and was an associate with Williams Mullen, P.C. from November 2000 until March 2003.  R. M. Peebles 
was elected Controller in September 2003.  Prior to that time, Mr. Peebles served as a consultant with The Gabriel Group, 
Inc. from June 2001 to August 2003, was the Assistant Controller with the Pittston Company from November 2000 to March 
2001,  and  was  Assistant  Controller  of  CSX  Corporation  from  June  1997  to  October  2000.    Mr.  Brewer  served  as  Vice 
President, International Processing Director of Universal Leaf from 1993 to 2002, President of Universal Leaf North America 
U.S., Inc. from January 1, 2002 until March 2006 and was elected Executive Vice President of Universal Leaf on March 24, 
2006.  J. M. M. van de Winkel was Co-President and Co-Chairman of Deli Universal, Inc. from August 1998 until August 
2003 and was elected President and Chairman of the Board of Deli Universal, Inc. on August 5, 2003.   

The Company has a Business Ethics Policy that includes the New York Stock Exchange’s requirements for a “Code 
of  Business  Conduct  and  Ethics”  and  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission’s  requirements  for  a  “Code  of  Ethics  for 
Senior Financial Officers.”  A copy of the Business Ethics Policy is available through the “Investor/Corporate Governance” 
section of the Company’s website at www.universalcorp.com.  If the Company amends a provision of the Business Ethics 
Policy,  or  grants  a  waiver  from  any  such  provision  to  a  director  or  executive  officer,  the  Company  will  disclose  such 
amendments and the details of such waivers on the Company’s website to the extent required by the Securities and Exchange 
Commission or the New York Stock Exchange. 

Item 11.    Executive Compensation  

Refer  to  the  captions  “Executive  Compensation”  and  “Directors’  Compensation”  in  the  Company’s  2006  Proxy 
Statement,  which  information,  except  the  information  under  the  headings  “Report  of  the  Executive  Compensation, 
Nominating, and Corporate Governance Committee” and “Stock Performance Graph”, is incorporated herein by reference.  

72

  
  
  
  
  
  
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters  

Shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized for issuance with respect to the Company’s compensation 
plans.  The  following  table  sets  forth  information  as  of  March  31,  2006,  with  respect  to  compensation  plans  under  which 
shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized for issuance.   

Plan Category

Equity compensation plans approved

  by shareholders:

  1989 Executive Stock Plan….......……………....

  1997 Executive Stock Plan….....…………………

  1994 Amended and Restated Stock

    Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors………

  2002 Executive Stock Plan…….…………………

Equity compensation plans not 

  approved by shareholders3………….……………

Total…………………………………………............

Number of Securities to Be
Issued upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

 Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights

Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans1

17,153

351,475

53,000

1,590,154

    —   

2,011,782

$    

38.20

37.87

34.23

44.90

    —   

$    

43.34

720,058 2

720,058

1
Amounts exclude any securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants, and rights. 

2
The 2002 Executive Stock Plan permits grants of stock options and stock appreciation rights, and awards of common stock, restricted stock, and 
phantom stock/restricted stock units.  Of the 720,058 shares of common stock remaining available for future issuance under that plan, 484,400 
shares are available for awards of common stock or restricted stock.  

3
All of the Company’s equity compensation plans have been approved by shareholders. 

Refer  also  to  the  caption  “Stock  Ownership”  in  the  Company’s  2006  Proxy  Statement,  which  information  is 

incorporated herein by reference.  

Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions  

Refer  to  the  caption  “Certain  Transactions”  in  the  Company’s  2006  Proxy  Statement,  which  information  is 

incorporated herein by reference.  

Item 14.    Principal Accounting Fees and Services  

Refer to the caption “Audit Information – Fees of Independent Auditors” and “Audit Information – Pre-Approval 

Policies and Procedures” in the Company’s 2006 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. 

73

      
      
      
Item 15.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules  

(a) 

The following are filed as part of this Form 10-K: 

 PART IV  

1. Financial Statements.  All financial statements are set forth in Item 8. 
2. Financial Statement Schedules.  None. 
3. Exhibits.  The exhibits are listed in the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature pages to this Form 

10-K. 

(b)

Exhibits 

The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted as a separate section to this Form 10-K. 

(c) 

Financial Statement Schedules 

All  schedules  are  omitted  since  the  required  information  is  not  present  in  amounts  sufficient  to  require 
submission  or  because  the  information  required  is  included  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  notes 
therein.

74

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  Section  13  or  15(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  the 

Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.  

SIGNATURES  

June 13, 2006 

      UNIVERSAL CORPORATION  

         By:                      /s/    ALLEN B. KING   

___________________________________________________________________________

Allen B. King 
Chairman, President,  
and Chief Executive Officer 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below 

by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.  

Signature

Title

Date

/s/    ALLEN B. KING

Chairman, President, and 

June 13, 2006

Allen B. King

Chief Executive Officer and

Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/    HARTWELL H. ROPER

Vice President and

June 13, 2006

Hartwell H. Roper

Chief Financial Officer

/s/    ROBERT M. PEEBLES

Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

June 13, 2006

Robert M. Peebles

/s/    JOHN B. ADAMS, JR.

Director

John B. Adams, Jr.

/s/    CHESTER A. CROCKER

Director

Chester A. Crocker

/s/    JOSEPH C. FARRELL

Director

Joseph C. Farrell

/s/    CHARLES H. FOSTER, JR.

Director

Charles H. Foster, Jr.

/s/    THOMAS H. JOHNSON

Director

Thomas H. Johnson

75

June 13, 2006

June 13, 2006

June 13, 2006

June 13, 2006

June 13, 2006

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Signature

Title

Date

/s/    EDDIE N. MOORE, JR.

Director

June 13, 2006

Eddie N. Moore, Jr.

 /s/    JEREMIAH J. SHEEHAN

Director

June 13, 2006

Jeremiah J. Sheehan

/s/    HUBERT R. STALLARD

Director

June 13, 2006

Hubert R. Stallard

/s/    WALTER A. STOSCH

Director

June 13, 2006

Walter A. Stosch

/s/    DR. EUGENE P. TRANI

Director

June 13, 2006

Dr. Eugene P. Trani

76

  
  
  
  
Exhibit 
Number  Document

EXHIBIT INDEX

3.1 

3.2 

3.3 

4.1 

4.2 

4.3 

4.4 

4.5 

4.6 

4.7 

4.8 

4.9 

4.10 

4.11 

4.12 

4.13 

4.14 

4.15 

4.16 

Amended  and  Restated  Articles  of  Incorporation  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Form  8-A 
Registration Statement, dated December 22, 1998, File No. 1-652). 

Amendment  to  the  Articles  of  Incorporation  in  the  form  of  a  Certificate  of  Designation  with  respect  to  Series  B 
6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock of the Registrant.*  

Amended and Restated Bylaws (as of March 10, 2006).*  

Indenture  between  the  Registrant  and  Chemical  Bank,  as  trustee  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the 
Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 25, 1991, File No. 1-652). 

Rights  Agreement,  dated  as  of  December  3,  1998,  between  the  Registrant  and  Wachovia  Bank,  N.A.,  as  Rights 
Agent (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 3, 1998, 
File No. 1-652). 

First  Amendment  to  the  Rights  Agreement,  dated  as  of  April  23,  1999,  between  the  Registrant,  Wachovia  Bank, 
N.A.,  as  Rights  Agent,  and  Norwest  Bank  Minnesota,  N.A.,  as  Successor  Rights  Agent  (incorporated  herein  by 
reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 7, 1999, File No. 1-652). 

Specimen  Common  Stock  Certificate  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Amendment  No.  1  to 
Registrant’s Form 8-A Registration Statement, dated May 7, 1999, File No. 1-652). 

Distribution Agreement dated September 6, 2000 (including forms of Terms Agreement, Pricing Supplement, Fixed 
Rate Note and Floating Rate Note) (incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Current Report on Report 8-K 
dated September 6, 2000, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  November  21,  2007  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated November 21, 2000, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  December  15,  2010  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated December 15, 2000, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  February  15,  2008  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated February 12, 2001, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  February  15,  2007,  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated February 19, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  15,  2009  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated September 3, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  15,  2009  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated September 12, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  20,  2007  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated September 20, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  15,  2009  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  26,  2012  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated September 26, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  15,  2009  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated October 31, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  15,  2009  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated November 4, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

1

 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
Number  Document

4.17 

4.18 

4.19 

10.1 

10.2 

10.3 

10.4 

10.5 

10.6 

10.7 

10.8 

10.9 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  15,  2009  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated November 7, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form  of  Fixed  Rate  Note  due  September  15,  2009  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated November 8, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

Form of Floating Rate Note due 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K 
dated May 25, 2005, File No. 1-652). 

The Registrant, by signing this Report on Form 10-K, agrees to furnish the Securities and Exchange Commission, 
upon its request, a copy of any instrument which defines the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Registrant and 
its consolidated subsidiaries, and for any unconsolidated subsidiaries for which financial statements are required to 
be filed, and that authorizes a total amount of securities not in excess of 10% of the total assets of the Registrant and 
its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. 

Universal Corporation Restricted Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated herein by reference to the 
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1991, File No. 1-652). 

Universal  Leaf  Tobacco  Company,  Incorporated  Supplemental  Stock  Purchase  Plan  (incorporated  herein  by 
reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1991, File No. 1-652). 

Form of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated Executive Life Insurance Agreement (incorporated herein 
by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1994, File No. 1-
652). 

Universal  Leaf  Tobacco  Company,  Incorporated  Deferred  Income  Plan  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the 
Registrant’s Report on Form 8, dated February 8, 1991, File No. 1-652). 

Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated Benefit Replacement Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the 
Registrant’s Report on Form 8, dated February 8, 1991, File No. 1-652).      

Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated 1996 Benefit Restoration Plan (incorporated herein by reference to 
the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, File No. 1-652). 

Universal Corporation 1989 Executive Stock Plan, as amended on August 7, 2003 (incorporated herein by reference 
to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, File No. 1-652). 

Universal Corporation 1991 Stock Option and Equity Accumulation Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to 
the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1991, File No. 1-652). 

Amendment to Universal Corporation 1991 Stock Option and Equity Accumulation Agreement (incorporated herein 
by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1992, File No. 1-
652). 

10.10  Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated 1994 Deferred Income Plan, amended and restated as of September 
1, 1998 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
September 30, 1998, File No. 1-652). 

10.11  Universal Corporation Outside Directors’ Deferred Income Plan, restated as of October 1, 1998 (incorporated herein 
by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998, File No. 
1-652). 

10.12  Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated 1994 Benefit Replacement Plan (incorporated herein by reference 

to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1994, File No. 1-652). 

10.13  Form  of  Universal  Corporation  1994  Stock  Option  and  Equity  Accumulation  Agreement  (incorporated  herein  by 
reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1994, File No. 1-
652). 

2

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Exhibit 
Number  Document

10.14  Universal Corporation 1994 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors dated October 
27, 2003 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
September 30, 2003, File No. 1-652). 

10.15  Form  of  Universal  Corporation  Non-Employee  Director  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option  Agreement  (incorporated 
herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, File 
No. 1-652). 

10.16  Universal  Leaf  Tobacco  Company,  Incorporated  Benefit  Restoration  Plan  Trust,  dated  June  25,  1997,  among 
Universal  Leaf  Tobacco  Company,  Incorporated,  Universal  Corporation  and  Wachovia  Bank,  N.A.,  as  trustee 
(incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 
1997, File No. 1-652). 

10.17  First Amendment to the Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated Benefit Restoration Trust, dated January 
12,  1999,  between  Universal  Leaf  Tobacco  Company,  Incorporated  and  Wachovia  Bank,  N.A.,  as  trustee 
(incorporated herein by reference to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 
31, 1998, File No. 1-652). 

10.18  Form  of  Universal  Corporation  1997  Restricted  Stock  Agreement  with  Schedule  of  Awards  to  named  executive 
officers (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
December 31, 1997, File No. 1-652). 

10.19  Form of Universal Corporation 1997 Stock Option and Equity Accumulation Agreement, with Schedule of Grants to 
named executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the quarter ended December 31, 1997, File No. 1-652). 

10.20  Form  of  Universal  Corporation  Non-Employee  Director  Restricted  Stock  Agreement  (incorporated  herein  by 
reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1998, File No. 1-
652). 

10.21  Form  of  Employment  Agreement  dated  January  15,  1998,  between  Universal  Corporation  and  named  executive 
officers (Henry H. Harrell, Allen B. King, William L. Taylor, Hartwell H. Roper) (incorporated herein by reference 
to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1997, File No. 1-652). 

10.22  Form  of  Employment  Agreement  dated  October  23,  2003,  between  Universal  Corporation  and  named  executive 
officers  (George  C.  Freeman,  III  and  James  H.  Starkey,  III)  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, File No. 1-652). 

10.23  Universal  Corporation  Director’s  Charitable  Award  Program  (incorporated  herein by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s 

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, File No. 1-652). 

10.24  Universal Corporation 1997 Executive Stock Plan, as amended on August 7, 2003 (incorporated herein by reference 
to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, File No. 1-652). 

10.25 

1997  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option  Agreement  between  Deli  Universal,  Inc.  and  J.  M.  M.  van  de  Winkel 
(incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 
1998, File No. 1-652). 

10.26  Form of Universal Corporation 1999 Stock Option and Equity Accumulation Agreement, with Schedule of Grants to 
Executive Officers (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended June 30, 2001, File No. 1-652). 

10.27  Form of Amendment to Stock Option and Equity Accumulation Agreements dated December 31, 1999 (incorporated 
herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, File 
No. 1-652). 

10.28  Form of Universal Corporation 2000 Special Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement, with Schedule of Grants and 
Exercise Loans to named executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on 
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000, File No. 1-652). 

3

 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
Number  Document

10.29  Agreement  for  Stemming  Services  between  Philip  Morris  Incorporated  and  Universal  Leaf  Tobacco  Company, 
Incorporated, dated May 11, 2001 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, File No. 1-652). 

10.30  Form  of  Amendment  to  Stock  Option  and  Equity  Accumulation  Agreements  dated  March  15,  1999  (incorporated 
herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, File 
No. 1-652). 

10.31  Form of Amendment to Stock Option and Equity Accumulation Agreements dated December 8, 2000 (incorporated 
herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, File 
No. 1-652). 

10.32  Form  of  Amendment  to  Stock  Option  and  Equity  Accumulation  Agreements  dated  June  11,  2001  (incorporated 
herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, File 
No. 1-652). 

10.33  Form  of  Amendment  to  Non-Qualified  Stock  Option  Agreements  dated  June  11,  2001  (incorporated  herein  by 

reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, File No. 1-652). 

10.34  Form of Amendment to 2000 Special Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreements dated June 15, 2001 (incorporated 
herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001, File 
No. 1-652). 

10.35  Form of 2001 Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement, with Schedule of Grants to Executive Officers (incorporated 
herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002, File 
No. 1-652). 

10.36  Amendment No. 1 to Stemming Services Agreement by and between Philip Morris Incorporated and Universal Leaf 
Tobacco  Company  Incorporated  dated  August  29,  2002  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s 
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, File No. 1-652). 

10.37  Universal Corporation 2002 Executive Stock Plan, as amended on August 7, 2003 (incorporated herein by reference 

to the Registrant’s Annual report on form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, file no. 1-652). 

10.38  Form  of  2002 Stock  Option and  Equity  Accumulation  Agreement,  with Schedule of Grants  to  Executive  Officers 
(incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 
2003, File No. 1-652). 

10.39  Form of 2002 Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement, with Schedule of Grants to Executive Officers (incorporated 
herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003, File 
No. 1-652). 

10.40  Credit  Agreement  dated  as  of  January  7,  2005,  among  the  Registrant  and  the  Registrant’s  subsidiaries  identified 
therein as a “Guarantor” and such other entities as may from time to time become a party thereto, the lenders named 
therein  and  such  other  lenders  as  may  become  a  party  thereto,  and  Wachovia  Bank,  National  Association,  as 
Administrative  Agent  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  for  the 
dated January 13, 2005, File No. 1-652). 

10.41  Amendment  No.  2  to  Agreement  for  Stemming  Services  between  Philip  Morris  Incorporated  and  Universal  Leaf 
Tobacco  Company,  Incorporated,  dated  March  31,  2004  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s 
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005, File No. 1-652). 

10.42  Form of 2005 Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current 

Report on Form 8-K filed June 9, 2005, File No. 1-652). 

4

 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
Number  Document

10.43  Amendment No. 3 to Stemming Services Agreement between Philip Morris USA Inc. and Universal Leaf Tobacco 
Company, Incorporated, dated July 1, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report 
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, File No. 1-652). 

10.44  Form  Aircraft  Time  Sharing  Agreement  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current  Report  on 

Form 8-K filed October 17, 2005, File No. 1-652). 

10.45  First  Amendment  to  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  March  27,  2006,  among  the  Registrant,  as  Borrower,  and  the 
banks named therein as Lenders (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K 
filed March 31, 2006, File No. 1-652). 

10.46  Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Units  Award  Agreement  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  the  Registrant’s  Current 

Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2006, File No. 1-652). 

10.47  Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report 

on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2006, File No. 1-652). 

12 

21 

23 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.* 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant.* 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.* 

31.1 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* 

31.2 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* 

32.1 

Statement of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.* 

Statement of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.* 

32.2 
______        
* Filed herewith. 

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
[THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK] 

Information for Shareholders

STOCK LISTED
New York Stock Exchange

STOCK SYMBOL
UVV

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT 
PLAN
The Company offers to its 
common shareholders an automatic 
dividend reinvestment and 
cash payment plan to purchase 
additional shares. The Company 
bears all brokerage and service fees. 
Booklets describing the plan in 
detail are available upon request.

TRANSFER AGENT AND 
REGISTRAR AND DIVIDEND 
REINVESTMENT PLAN 
AGENT
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Shareowner Services
P.O. Box 64854
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0854
(800) 468-9716
or
Universal Corporation
Shareholder Services
(804) 359-9311

ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting will be held 
at the offi ces of the Company, 
1501 N. Hamilton Street, 
Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday, 
August 1, 2006. A proxy statement 
and request for proxies are included 
in this mailing to shareholders.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP
P.O. Box 680
Richmond, Virginia 23218-0680

INVESTOR RELATIONS
Contact:
Karen M. L. Whelan
Vice President and Treasurer
(804) 359-9311
Information Requests:
(804) 254-1813 or
investor@universalleaf.com

DIVIDEND PAYMENTS
Dividend declarations are subject 
to approval by the Company’s 
Board of Directors. Dividends have 
traditionally been paid quarterly 
in February, May, August, and 
November to shareholders of record 
on the second Monday of the 
previous month.

SEC FORM 10-K
Shareholders may obtain additional 
copies of the Company’s report to the 
Securities and Exchange Commission
on its website or by writing to the 
Treasurer of the Company. 

CERTIFICATIONS
The Company’s Chief Executive 
Offi cer and Chief Financial 
Offi cer have fi led the certifi cations 
required by Section 302 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 
with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission as exhibits to the 
Annual Report on Form 10-K. 
In addition, the Company’s Chief 
Executive Offi cer annually fi les with 
the New York Stock Exchange the 
corporate governance certifi cation 
required by Listing Standard 
303A.12. The certifi cation was 
submitted, without qualifi cation, as 
required after the Company’s 2005 
Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

www.universalcorp.com

P.O. Box 25099
Richmond, Virginia 23260
www.universalcorp.com