Universal
Annual Report 2018

Plain-text annual report

ABOUT US For 100 years, Universal Corporation has been finding innovative solutions to serve our customers and meet their leaf tobacco needs. We built a global presence, solidified long-term relationships with customers and suppliers, adapted to changing agricultural practices, embraced state of the art technology and emerged as the recognized industry leader. Today, we conduct business in over 30 countries on five continents, employ more than 24,000 permanent and seasonal workers, and are the leading global leaf supplier. Universal Corporation has a long history of operating with integrity, honesty, and a focus on quality. We are a vital link in the leaf tobacco supply chain, providing expertise in working with large numbers of farmers, efficiently selling various qualities of leaf to a broad global customer base, adapting to meet evolving customer needs, and delivering products that meet stringent quality and regulatory specifications. As we move into our next 100 years, we will build on our history by seeking opportunities to leverage both our assets and expertise. We will continue our commitment to leadership in setting industry standards, operating with transparency, providing products that are responsibly‐sourced, and investing in and strengthening the communities where we operate. ANNUAL REPORT C E N T E N N I A L E D I T I O N EST 2018 1918 P.O. Box 25099 Richmond, Virginia 23260 USA WWW.UNIVERSALCORP.COM ABOUT US For 100 years, Universal Corporation has been finding innovative solutions to serve our customers and meet their leaf tobacco needs. We built a global presence, solidified long-term relationships with customers and suppliers, adapted to changing agricultural practices, embraced state of the art technology and emerged as the recognized industry leader. Today, we conduct business in over 30 countries on five continents, employ more than 24,000 permanent and seasonal workers, and are the leading global leaf supplier. Universal Corporation has a long history of operating with integrity, honesty, and a focus on quality. We are a vital link in the leaf tobacco supply chain, providing expertise in working with large numbers of farmers, efficiently selling various qualities of leaf to a broad global customer base, adapting to meet evolving customer needs, and delivering products that meet stringent quality and regulatory specifications. As we move into our next 100 years, we will build on our history by seeking opportunities to leverage both our assets and expertise. We will continue our commitment to leadership in setting industry standards, operating with transparency, providing products that are responsibly‐sourced, and investing in and strengthening the communities where we operate. ANNUAL REPORT C E N T E N N I A L E D I T I O N EST 2018 1918 P.O. Box 25099 Richmond, Virginia 23260 USA WWW.UNIVERSALCORP.COM Early depiction of tobacco being loaded onto ships using hogsheads. Jaquelin P. Taylor, Portrait Universal Corporation Headquarters Universal facility during the early twentieth century. Transporting tobacco in Richmond, Virginia (circa late 1800s). IN THE BEGINNING In 1918 Virginia tobacconist Jaquelin P. Taylor, pursuing a bold vision to build the largest tobacco leaf dealer organization in the world, led the consolidation of six prominent leaf merchants to form Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated (“Universal”). Universal’s original charter stated that the Company’s business was “to buy, sell and deal in leaf tobacco whether for its own account or on commission.” Today, 100 years later, we have vastly enlarged our scope of operations from a U.S. company to a global enterprise. We have also expanded our activities to provide services beyond simply buying tobacco. COMPANY ORIGINS Universal Corporation traces its origins back to the late nineteenth century and the efforts of Jaquelin Plummer Taylor of Orange County, Virginia. 1886 J.P. Taylor & Company formed. It was known as “the great shipping and exporting establishment, the largest in the South.” 1911 U.S. Supreme Court orders breakup of American Tobacco Company under the terms of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, paving the way for the formation of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company. 1917 “Doughboys”popularize American cigarette brands in Europe during World War I. Cigarette sales increase dramatically. 1910s 1918 The Virginia State Corporation Commission issued a Charter of Incorporation for Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated. 1918 Universal purchased about 10 percent of the U.S. market during the 1918 and 1919 crop years. 1918 Universal has administrative offices in New York City and Richmond, Virginia. New York was considered the world wide center in tobacco trade. SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at the offices of the Company, 9201 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday, August 2, 2018. A proxy statement and request for proxies are included in this mailing to 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 & REGISTRAR & DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN AGENT Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions P.O. Box 1342 Brentwood, New York 11717 Toll-Free: (866) 804-4445 Outside U.S.: (702) 414-6868 Email: shareholder@broadridge.com or Universal Corporation Investor Relations (804) 254-3789 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Ernst & Young LLP The Edgeworth Building 2100 East Cary Street, Suite 201 Richmond, Virginia 23223 INVESTOR RELATIONS Contact: Candace C. Formacek Vice President and Treasurer Jennifer S. Rowe Assistant Vice President, Capital Markets (804) 254-3789 Information Requests: (804) 254-3789 or Email: investor@universalleaf.com DIVIDEND PAYMENTS Dividend declarations are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. Dividends on the Company’s common stock 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 annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on its website or by writing to the Treasurer of the Company. Early depiction of tobacco being loaded onto ships using hogsheads. Jaquelin P. Taylor, Portrait Universal Corporation Headquarters Universal facility during the early twentieth century. Transporting tobacco in Richmond, Virginia (circa late 1800s). IN THE BEGINNING In 1918 Virginia tobacconist Jaquelin P. Taylor, pursuing a bold vision to build the largest tobacco leaf dealer organization in the world, led the consolidation of six prominent leaf merchants to form Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated (“Universal”). Universal’s original charter stated that the Company’s business was “to buy, sell and deal in leaf tobacco whether for its own account or on commission.” Today, 100 years later, we have vastly enlarged our scope of operations from a U.S. company to a global enterprise. We have also expanded our activities to provide services beyond simply buying tobacco. COMPANY ORIGINS Universal Corporation traces its origins back to the late nineteenth century and the efforts of Jaquelin Plummer Taylor of Orange County, Virginia. 1886 J.P. Taylor & Company formed. It was known as “the great shipping and exporting establishment, the largest in the South.” 1911 U.S. Supreme Court orders breakup of American Tobacco Company under the terms of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, paving the way for the formation of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company. 1917 “Doughboys”popularize American cigarette brands in Europe during World War I. Cigarette sales increase dramatically. 1910s 1918 The Virginia State Corporation Commission issued a Charter of Incorporation for Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated. 1918 Universal purchased about 10 percent of the U.S. market during the 1918 and 1919 crop years. 1918 Universal has administrative offices in New York City and Richmond, Virginia. New York was considered the world wide center in tobacco trade. SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at the offices of the Company, 9201 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday, August 2, 2018. A proxy statement and request for proxies are included in this mailing to 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 & REGISTRAR & DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN AGENT Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions P.O. Box 1342 Brentwood, New York 11717 Toll-Free: (866) 804-4445 Outside U.S.: (702) 414-6868 Email: shareholder@broadridge.com or Universal Corporation Investor Relations (804) 254-3789 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Ernst & Young LLP The Edgeworth Building 2100 East Cary Street, Suite 201 Richmond, Virginia 23223 INVESTOR RELATIONS Contact: Candace C. Formacek Vice President and Treasurer Jennifer S. Rowe Assistant Vice President, Capital Markets (804) 254-3789 Information Requests: (804) 254-3789 or Email: investor@universalleaf.com DIVIDEND PAYMENTS Dividend declarations are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. Dividends on the Company’s common stock 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 annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on its website or by writing to the Treasurer of the Company. WHAT WE DO We are the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. We trace our origins to the late nineteenth century, and tobacco has been our principal focus since our founding. Procuring leaf tobacco involves contracting with, providing agronomy support to, and financing farmers in many origins. We do not manufacture cigarettes or other consumer tobacco products. We provide value-added services to our customers, and are also involved in other smaller-scale tobacco and agri-business opportunities. J.P. Taylor tobacco facility (circa 1920s). i U n v e r s a l i T m e l i n e 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 3 Green prizery. Wall Street, 1929. 1920s The early years of Universal were not without challenges as the fledgling company struggled with both adverse market conditions and financial difficulties. With a new generation of management, the Company refocused on its core business and moved its cor- porate headquarters from New York to Richmond, Virginia. At the same time, Universal made its first forays into international markets, China and Canada, and continued to increase its U.S. leaf tobacco volumes. In 1927, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. 1924 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company of China organized. 1925 Canadian Leaf Tobacco Company, a subsidiary, is organized. 1926 A government report listed Universal as “probably the largest leaf dealer” in America. 1927 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. listed on the New York Stock Exchange. 1920s 1929 The stock market crashes on October 29th, Black Friday. e n i l e m T i l S R A E Y 0 0 1 i a s r e v n t U r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 4 Curing barn. Tobacco being delivered to Universal (circa 1930). 1930s 1930s With the severe economic downturn at the beginning of the decade, Universal concentrated on building efficiencies through larger processing volumes and cost-cutting measures. Universal also established a branch in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). 1933 United States enacts federal tobacco program, which controls supply and sets minimum prices. 1938 Universal establishes branch in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). 1930s i U n v e r s a l i T m e l i n e 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 5 Shanghai, China. Cigar leaf in Pennsylvania. Malawi curing barns. 1940s The period of World War II and the rebuilding years that followed created challenges for Universal and significant growth opportuni- ties in the U.S. and abroad. Cigarettes become the dominant form of smoked tobacco. Wrapper curing barn in Bahia, Brazil. 1941 Universal operations in China suspended during World War II. Cigar leaf operations reorganized under W.H. Winstead Co. of Pennsylvania. 1945 Upon his release as a prisoner of war, Universal’s A.I. (“Mac”) McOwan reclaims the Company’s facilities in China following five years of confiscation. 1940s 1949 Communist takeover forces Universal to leave China. Small packing plant constructed in Nyasaland (now Malawi). S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 6 e n i l e m T i l a s r e v n U i Chemist at work in the Universal tobacco laboratory in Richmond, Virginia. Containers of tobacco being loaded onto cargo ships. U.S. burley tobacco auction. Oriental leaf tobacco harvesting. Universal’s super factory in Simcoe, Canada. 1950s 1950s Universal led the industry in technology by establishing laboratory standards and by investing in revolutionary technology for cigar binder fabrication. The Company continued to look throughout the world for investment opportunities. 1958 Universal establishes the first scientific laboratory focused on the tobacco supply chain. 1953 Universal forms the Rhodesian Leaf Tobacco Co. to develop tobacco exports from Central Africa. 1959 Simcoe Leaf Tobacco Company formed in Canada. Danville, Virginia. i U n v e r s a l i T m e l i n e 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 7 Stringing tobacco, Mexico. Universal’s super factory in Simcoe, Canada. Factory in Perugia, Italy. Stringing oriental tobacco, Greece. 1961 Universal builds super factory in Henderson, Smithfield, and Wilson, NC, as well as Canada. 1950s 1960s Universal expanded its operations on four continents and devel- oped economies of scale through it’s first generation of “super factories”. Universal continued to expand in Rhodesia until U.N. economic sanctions stemming from the country’s civil war cut off the Rhodesian market. Expatriate Rhodesians aided in the company’s expansion into the Philippines and Korea. Growing acceptance of leaf from Malawi led Universal to form Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company in Malawi. 1962 Universal builds Canada’s first tobacco super factory, and builds a second super factory in the United States in Smithfield, North Carolina. 1964 Universal expands operations in Greece and Italy through a partnership with a Dutch Company, NV Deli-Maatschappij. 1965 Universal completes construction of a super factory in Wilson, North Carolina. Curing barns in Indonesia. 1966 Universal acquires 50 percent of Deltafina (Italy). Forms its first Mexican subsidiary. 1960s Wrapper curing barn in Indonesia. S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 8 e n i l e m T i l a s r e v n U i Universal and Virginia delegation in Japan. Tobacco factory in Sintanjin, Korea. Transporting tobacco in the Philippines. Air curing tobacco in the Philippines. Colombia. Philippines. 1970s 1970s industry experienced consolidation The worldwide tobacco of manufacturers and major purchasers of tobacco. Universal developed improved systems to control the flow and packing of tobacco and new quality control guidelines to address the changing marketplace. Universal reentered China, invested in operations in Guatemala, and continued expansion in Mexico. Brazil. 1970 Universal enters the Brazilian market through its Dutch partnership. 1976 Universal forms Oriental Processors and Exporters of Korea. 1974 Universal builds the first dealer threshing facility in Brazil. 1977 Universal fends off a hostile takeover attempt waged by Congoleum Corporation. i U n v e r s a l i T m e l i n e 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 9 1970s Transporting tobacco in the Philippines. Universal acquires Deli, which is headquartered in the Netherlands. Colombia. Agronomist in Brazil. 1980 Universal acquires the Royster Company, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, a manufacturer and marketer of phosphate fertilizer materials, mixed fertilizers, and micronutrients. 1984 Counterflow Separator patented to provide more efficient separation of tobacco leaf from its stem. 1980s Universal continued its leadership in tobacco technology including obtaining a patent on the Counterflow Separator machine which provides efficient separation of tobacco leaf from its stem. Universal also acquired NV Deli-Maatschappij, its partner in Greece, Italy, and Brazil. This company also included businesses in lumber and agri- products. 1984 Universal purchases Lawyers Title Insurance Company and Continental Land Title Company. 1986 Universal acquires NV Deli-Maatschappij, its partner in Greece, Italy and Brazil. This company also brings diversification opportunities in lumber and agri-products. 1987 Universal shareholders approve the creation of a holding company, Universal Corporation. North Carolina processing plant. 1988 The Company acquires Thorpe & Ricks in North Carolina, expanding its U.S. base. 1980s S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 10 e n i l e m T i l a s r e v n U i Thailand. The Netherlands. Tea tasting. 1990 Universal acquires the German company, Gebrüder Kulenkampff AG, expanding activities in Brazil and Turkey, and becoming the world’s leading dark air- cured tobacco merchant. 1991 Lawyers Title Insurance Company spun off to Universal Corporation shareholders. 1993 Universal purchases the Casalee Group, a major competitor with worldwide operations. 1990s 1990s Universal continued to expand its operations around the world including acquiring Gebrüder Kulenkampff AG, expanding activities in Brazil and Turkey, becoming the world’s largest dark air-cured tobacco merchant, and entering into a joint venture with Socotab creating the world’s leading oriental leaf merchant. The Company also implemented a global strategy that emphasizes partnerships with customers to promote supply stability. 1996 Universal implements a global strategy that emphasizes partnerships with customers to promote supply stability. 1995 Universal acquires Heuvelman, a major processor and distributor of value-added softwood products in Holland. 1998 The Company announces the beginning of a common share repurchase that develops into a $350 million program. 1998 Universal enters a joint venture with Socotab creating the world’s leading oriental leaf merchant. Tobacco sample. 1990s i U n v e r s a l i T m e l i n e 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 11 Universal returns its focus to its core business, leaf tobacco, 2006. Universal processing facility in Tete, Mozambique, 2006. Nash County, North Carolina based state-of-the-art super factory. 2000s Universal expanded its processing capabilities with the construction of a state-of-the-art, next generation super factory in Nashville, North Carolina, and a processing facility in Tete, Mozambique. The Company also decided to focus on its core leaf tobacco business and divested its lumber and agri-product operations. 2001 Contract leaf purchasing begins in the United States, supplanting the traditional auction market system. 2003 The grand opening of the state-of-the-art super factory in Nash, North Carolina. 2006 Opening of Mozambique processing facility. 2008 George C. Freeman III elected as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation. 2000s S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 12 e n i l e m T i l a s r e v n U i Global Labs has built a reputation for reliable product testing. MobiLeaf in operation in the tobacco fields of Brazil. CIFI,Inc. facility in Nash County, North Carolina. THE PRESENT AND BEYOND 2010s 2014 Universal develops MobiLeaf, a digital tablet-based solution to efficiently monitor and promote sustainable tobacco production and farmer participation. 2013 Universal begins a joint venture known as AmeriNic, Inc. to supply liquid nicotine for the electronic cigarette market. We are proud of our past accomplishments that have made us the company we are today, but we are also mindful of what we need to do to be successful in the future. As the industry leader, we must focus attention and resources on factors affecting sustainability throughout the supply chain, including reforestation, water conser- vation, reduced carbon emissions, child labor and environmentally sensitive agricultural practices. We know that our actions have a powerful impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people on five continents—farmers, employees and families in rural com- munities. That’s why we’re committed to investing in infrastructure and social programs that improve living conditions, promote educa- tion and make communities stronger and healthier. 2016 Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients, Inc. (CIFI, Inc.), an endeavor into the fruit and vegetable food ingredients market, is launched. CIFI completes its greenfield processing facility in Nash County, NC and begins sales. BEYOND i U n v e r s a l i T m e l i n e 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 13 The Universal Leaf Citizen Program serves a poverty- stricken area in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. Universal has planted over 300 million tree seedlings in the last 10 years. In Mozambique, the “Kukula Project” fights child labor by providing free meals to school-age children. Universal’s updated logo. Community center built by Universal as part of the Citizen Program. Universal initiated projects in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania to improve access to clean water. Over 370 wells and boreholes have been dug in the last 10 years. 2017 Universal launches its “Universal Effect” brand to recognize Universal’s continued global effort to positively impact the communities in which we operate, while working to achieve sustainability throughout our supply chain. 2017 Universal announces 47th consecutive annual increase in common stock dividends. 2018 Universal celebrates 100 years of continuous operation. BEYOND Project Water Guardian is one of Universal’s most successful public initiatives. As a result of this project, the presence of higher quality water in Vera Cruz, Brazil has risen from 44 percent to 75 percent, positively impacting approximately 14,000 people. 2010s S R A E Y 0 0 1 d r a w r o F g n v o t M r o p e R i l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 14 BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 70 dams and reservoirs to harvest rain water. These, and other efforts, have helped residents gain access to water close to home. All of this work has aided to decrease the burdens on families, increased school retention, led to health improvements and increased families’ food and crop production. IMPROVING HEALTH As many areas where we operate have a lack of access to health care, we have initiated projects to help our employees and their families as well as other members of their communities. We established a health clinic for employees at our factory site in Mozambique as well as first aid stations throughout many of our agronomy areas. This clinic sees approximately 1,500 patients per month, which totals about 14,000 consultations per year. We also run another clinic in Mozambique, which serves approximately 16,245 people from 4,727 families. A major issue of concern in this region is HIV and AIDS. We established a comprehensive HIV program Over the last decade, Universal has made great strides investing in communities to help achieve our goals of sustainability for the future. As part of the Universal Effect, we know that every action we take—from planting a seed to digging a well—ripples out into the surrounding communities that will reap the benefits for years to come. Our actions to achieve sustainability range from the simplicity of planting trees, to the development of cutting-edge technology to promote sustainable agricultural practices. We also take a holistic approach in how we can impact every part of a community to lift it up for the future…from the basics of clean water and food to education to health. After all, if one of these basic needs is not met, a community can’t thrive. Recognizing that everything is interconnected in the areas where we operate, we have initiated multiple programs to help communities prosper as well as pro- tect their natural resources. QUENCHING A NEED To meet the most fundamental needs, we have initiated projects in Africa to improve access to clean water. For example, we have invested more than US$1.2 million to install more than 300 closed wells and boreholes in Africa, reaching about 50,000 people. We are also helping build pit latrines to address the lack of toilet facilities in some areas. To help with the problems of a lack of irrigation resources, we have distributed more than 5,000 manual treadle pumps to help farmers cultivate additional crops in the dry season. We have also built more than The Khamande Clinic in Mozambique. i M o v n g F o r w a r d 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 15 Universal is committed to investing in the education of children in all the areas in which we operate. The “Let’s PLAY” program provides activities for children during the summer in India and the Philippines. in Mozambique aimed at the prevention, detection, and treatment of HIV. Over the last decade, we have seen an increase in the number of tests performed and a reduction in the prevalence of HIV-positive results. EDUCATING CHILDREN To achieve our ultimate goal of eliminating child labor, we have been renovating and building schools, creating tutoring programs and providing learning materials. We have renovated or built 45 schools and provided educational materials to 27 schools. In one area of Mozambique, we realized that children were not going to school and came up with a simple yet powerful concept—if we provide meals for the children, they will come to school. We initiated the “Kukula Proj- ect,” which aims to fight child labor, absenteeism, and under achievement in elementary school through the preparation and distribution of free daily meals at three schools. Overall attendance at these three schools increased 1,040 percent compared with the same time frame in previous years—an astounding success. SUPPORTING YOUTH It’s not just education that keeps kids out of the fields; we believe they need other opportunities and activities to keep them on track. In the Philippines, we established the “Let’s PLAY” program—a 25-day summer school focusing on sports, music and reading, to keep children out of the fields in summer. 1,500 children have participated in the program, which has been highly effective in preventing child labor. In India, we implemented a program to educate com- munities on the risks associated with child labor and established the After School Program (ASP) to help keep children in school. Participating schools have seen a 5 to 7 percent increase in attendance. One of our most ambitious projects is the Universal Leaf Citizen Program in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. This project involves a comprehensive approach to bettering the lives of the people in the town’s most poverty- stricken community. It is based around a community center that encourages social, cultural, intellectual and professional development and offers a variety of classes. It is home to the First Job Project, which helps people find work. The successful project has benefited more than 2,500 families. Children enjoying the fun at a celebration as part of Universal’s Leaf Citizen Program in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. d r a w r o F g n v o M i S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 16 Universal’s Research and Development Center was opened as a means of improving the quality of leaf grown in Brazil, and as a vehicle to educate growers, ULT personnel and customers from around the world about Brazilian tobacco production and best practices. CHAMPIONING OUR FARMERS Worldwide, we work with more than 500,000 farmers. Of course, these farmers are essential to our compa- ny, and we want to ensure that they are successful. By sharing knowledge and technology that demonstrates sustainable agricultural practices, we not only sustain them but also their families and communities. One example is the development of a research sta- tion and training center in Brazil that has become an international model for developing good agricultural practices. The Agronomic Center works to improve the The center’s training program has helped local personnel gain enhanced skills in agronomics and operations. quality of tobacco and offers a place for farmers, tech- nicians and clients to study tobacco production. In Mozambique, we forged an innovative degree program with Blackfordby College of Agriculture in Zimbabwe to offer technicians the opportunity to study general agriculture and management, and then pass on that expertise to farmers. The program allows graduates to deliver important skills and training to the farmer base, improving crop quality as well as sustainability efforts. We spearheaded a water storage dam project in Malawi to provide water access to growers to help improve the yield, quality and survival of their seedlings. Dams are being built in strategic locations. This provides the farming communities with a source of water throughout the year for both tobacco and food crops, as well as water for domestic and livestock purposes. On the technological side, we launched an innovative tablet-based grower management software package called MobiLeaf that offers real-time data from our farmers around the world. It allows us to improve tobacco production at the farm level by bringing standard methods of good agricultural practices to our growers and is helping dramatically in achieving our goal of sustainable tobacco growing. i M o v n g F o r w a r d 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 17 MobiLeaf tracks farm data related to the complete life cycle of crops for nearly 200,000 farmers — from plant cultivation and harvesting to compliance with laws and industry standards. SUSTAINING THE ENVIRONMENT We are also focusing on factors affecting sustainability throughout the supply chain, including reforestation, water conservation, reduced carbon emissions and environmentally-sensitive agricultural practices. As part of this, we have planted 300 million tree seedlings in the last decade. Project Water Guardian has been one of our most successful public service initiatives to date, drastically improving the water quality in Vera Cruz, Brazil. We worked to improve the water quality of crucial springs that supply drinking water to the town through a total environmental approach, discussing good practices and conservation-oriented management with the farmers. The amount of higher quality water rose from 44 percent to over 75 percent, and indirectly benefits approximately 14,000 people. In the Philippines, we have been working to protect bamboo, which is crucial to many goods and industries and provides environmental value. Bamboo is used by farmers for framing materials in barn construction. To protect this valuable resource and ensure its future supply, we initiated a bamboo reforestation project to rehabilitate existing sources as well as develop new plantings. leaf-processing facility An example of our waste reduction efforts is evident in Nashville, North at our Carolina. Rather than sending the factory’s by-products of dust and unmarketable leaf scrap and stem to the landfill, we began composting it in order to lessen our environmental impact. The composting process reduces the nicotine to negligible levels. Composting the by- products has reduced landfill costs and even generated revenue through the sale of the compost as a cost- effective alternative to commercial fertilizer. In southern Brazil, farmers need access to a sustainable source of wood to produce tobacco and avoid sourcing wood from important native forests. To support the preservation of native trees and reforestation, we have supplied more than 80 million tree seedlings there. On average, our contracted farmers are 110 percent self- sufficient in their wood requirements, which allows their excess sustainable wood to be sold to other farmers. From planting trees to providing clean water to im- proving education to providing farmers with the tools they need to support their families…everything is con- nected. We are happy to play a part in each of these communities as they build for the future while working to protect the environment for years to come. The Water Guardian program is a strategic approach to water conservation in South Brazil. TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS d r a w r o F g n v o M i S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 18 It has been an exciting and momentous year at Universal Corporation as we celebrated an important milestone, the 100th anniversary of our Company. For the last century, we have been a trusted partner to customers, growers and other stakeholders around the world. We have consistently set the standard in the leaf tobacco industry by continuously generating innovative solutions to meet the needs of our global customers and bringing efficiencies to the leaf tobacco supply chain. Our Board of Directors, management team and our many employees around the world are dedicated to building on this remarkable track record. As we move into our next 100 years, we will continue to be guided by the principles that have been central to our success — setting industry standards, operating with transparency, providing products that are responsibly sourced and strengthening the communities in which we operate. We have reached this milestone because we have successfully recognized trends in our industry and adapted to change. Consistent with this, beginning in November 2016, we, along with the assistance of our outside advisors, undertook an extensive review of our business, as well as the market environment to determine how we can create a strategy that capitalizes on our core competencies and best positions us for the future. In May 2018, having devoted considerable time to these efforts, we announced an enhanced capital allocation strategy that reflects the strength of our balance sheet and demonstrates our focus on sustainable shareholder value creation. Our enhanced capital allocation strategy focuses on four key priorities: • Strengthening and investing for growth in our core tobacco business; • Increasing our strong dividend; • Exploring growth opportunities in adjacent industries and markets that utilize our assets and capabilities; and • Returning excess capital through share repurchases. In connection with our newly announced strategy, and as part of our commitment to returning capital to our shareholders, in May 2018, our Board raised our quarterly dividend rate to $0.75 per share ($3.00 per share annual equivalent). This is a 36% increase from the prior annual dividend rate. We are particularly proud of our 47-year record of dividend increases and intend to continue this tradition. i M o v n g F o r w a r d 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 19 We are also committed to remaining the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. This means that we will continue to make disciplined investments within our core business and take advantage of growth opportunities in the tobacco sector. At the same time, we will look closely at adjacent industries and markets where we can leverage our assets and capabilities to ensure we are positioned to grow. In doing so, we believe that we will be able to deliver enhanced value for all shareholders through earnings growth and the generation of free cash flow. Our confidence in our ability to execute our new strategy follows a solid fiscal year, during which we grew market share and expanded the services that we provide to our customers in the face of declining cigarette volumes. Net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, was $105.7 million, or $4.14 per diluted share, compared with fiscal year 2017’s net income of $106.3 million, or $0.88 per diluted share. The fiscal year 2017 results included a one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders of $74.4 million, or $2.99 per diluted share, from the conversion for cash of the remaining outstanding shares of our Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock under the mandatory conversion in January 2017. Excluding that reduction, the effect of a reduction in income tax expense, and certain other non-recurring items, diluted earnings per share for fiscal year 2018 of $3.96 decreased by $0.01 compared to the same period last year. Operating income of $171.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, decreased by $6.9 million compared to the year ended March 31, 2017. Segment operating income was $180.6 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, a decrease of $7.9 million, compared to the year ended March 31, 2017, as improved results in our Other Regions and Other Tobacco Operations segments were offset by declines in our North America segment. Revenues of $2.0 billion for fiscal year 2018 were down only 1.8% compared to fiscal year 2017, as lower volumes, primarily in Africa, were largely offset by higher sales prices and processing revenues. These results would not be possible without our more than 24,000 permanent and seasonal employees around the world — from our factory in Mozambique to our corporate team in Richmond, Virginia — who drive our business forward and fulfill our mission. From our Company’s beginnings, we’ve recognized that our people are our most important asset: our success is a testament to their tireless efforts. We are also grateful for the support of the hundreds of thousands of farmers around the world who grow our tobacco. Our appreciation of them is one of the reasons why we continue to dedicate a considerable amount of resources to have a positive impact on the communities in which we operate. Over the last decade in particular, we have initiated multiple programs to make a difference in the lives of our farmers and their families, as well as our employees and other members in the communities. In this report, we outline the various programs on which we’re focusing our efforts. These projects range from improving access to clean water in Africa to implementing a summer school program in the Philippines. d r a w r o F g n v o M i S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 20 In addition to our initiatives to support education, improve access to medical facilities, and eliminate child labor, we are equally focused on improving the environment through implementing sustainable agricultural practices and providing farmers with best-in-class knowledge and technology. We believe this type of work is of paramount importance and it will continue to be a priority for our Company going forward. As we look to the future, I extend my sincere thanks to David Moore, our CFO, for his countless contributions to our Company during his 40 years of service. After an exceptional career with Universal Corporation, David will retire as CFO effective August 31, 2018. As an integral member of our team, he has seen our Company’s evolution and growth firsthand and has actively overseen the building of our strong balance sheet. He has been a dear friend and invaluable resource to me personally. David’s successor, Johan Kroner, currently Senior Vice President, will take on the role of CFO on September 1, 2018. He has considerable financial and operational expertise and a deep understanding of our business and our Company’s culture. I look forward to working closely with Johan in his new role. In addition to David’s retirement, Jay Adams, one of our independent directors, will be retiring from our Board at the conclusion of our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Jay has been an important part of our Board during the many changes that have taken place in his 15 years of Board service. Our Company has greatly benefited from Jay’s expertise and we have deeply valued his kind and gracious support during his tenure. In conclusion, this has been a momentous year for our Company. We’ve executed on our plans and taken important actions, including announcing our recently enhanced capital allocation plan, to position our Company for growth and success in the future. On behalf of the entire Board, I am honored to be part of the Universal Corporation team, and we are all honored to work for you, our shareholders. George C. Freeman, III Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS $ 4.14 $ 0.88 ** $ 3.92 2.18 2.20 48.50 2.14 2.16 70.75 2.10 2.12 56.81 $ 1,321,323 $ 1,293,403 $ 1,392,276 1,342,429 1,286,489 1,414,222 Net Income per Diluted Share * Dividends Declared Operating Income in dollars in dollars in millions of dollars 8 1 . 2 4 1 . 2 0 1 . 2 6 0 . 2 2 0 . 2 2 . 6 4 2 5 . 1 7 1 4 . 8 7 1 6 . 1 8 1 9 . 7 6 1 5 2 . 5 4 1 . 4 2 9 . 3 6 0 . 4 * * 8 8 . 0 * Attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders after deducting amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries. ** Includes a one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders of $74 million, or $2.99 per diluted share, from the conversion for cash of the remaining shares of the Company’s Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock. OPERATIONSSales and other operating revenues Operating incomeSegment operating income Net income Net income attributable to Universal CorporationPER COMMON SHARENet income attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders—dilutedDividends declaredIndicated 12-month dividend rateMarket price at year endAT YEAR ENDWorking capitalTotal Universal Corporation shareholders’ equityin thousands, except per share data$ 2,120,373 181,647 186,068118,148 109,016 $ 2,071,218 178,351 188,484112,506106,304Fiscal Year EndedMarch 31, 2016Fiscal Year EndedMarch 31, 2017$ 2,033,947 171,487 180,612116,168105,662Fiscal Year EndedMarch 31, 2018s r o t c e r i D f o d r a o B S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 22 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Universal Corporation George C. Freeman, III 1 * 3 Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Universal Corporation Diana F. Cantor 2 3 * 5 Partner Alternative Investment Management, LLC John B. Adams, Jr. 1 2 3 4 President and Chief Executive Officer Bowman Companies Lennart R. Freeman 1 4 5 Retired Executive Vice President Swedish Match AB Thomas H. Johnson 1 5 * Chief Executive Officer The Taffrail Group, LLC Michael T. Lawton 2 4 Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Domino’s Pizza, Inc. Eddie N. Moore, Jr. 1 2 3 4 * President and Chief Executive Officer Norfolk State University Robert C. Sledd 2 * 3 4 Managing Partner Pinnacle Ventures, LLC OFFICERS Universal Corporation George C. Freeman, III Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Catherine H. Claiborne Vice President and Assistant Secretary Robert M. Peebles Vice President and Controller John F. Shomaker, III Corporate Director, Taxes Airton L. Hentschke Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Candace C. Formacek Vice President and Treasurer Harvard B. Smith Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer Jennifer S. Rowe Assistant Vice President, Capital Markets David C. Moore Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Joseph W. Hearington, Jr. Vice President, Internal Auditing Preston D. Wigner Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary Johan C. Kroner Senior Vice President H. Michael Ligon Vice President, Corporate Affairs B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s 1 0 0 Y E A R S 2 0 1 8 A n n u a l R e p o r t 23 CHAIRMEN EMERITUS Henry H. Harrell Allen B. King 1 Executive Committee 2 Pension Investment Committee 3 Finance Committee 4 Audit Committee 5 Executive Compensation, Nominating, and Corporate Governance Committee * Committee Chairman DIRECTORS Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. George C. Freeman, III Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Catherine H. Claiborne Senior Vice President and Secretary Paul G. Beevor Managing Director, Asia Region Clayton G. Frazier Managing Director, North America Region Airton L. Hentschke Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer James A. Huffman Senior Vice President, Information and Planning Friedrich G. Bossert Managing Director, Dark Air-Cured Region Gary S. Taylor Managing Director, Africa Region David C. Moore Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Johan C. Kroner Senior Vice President Theodore G. Broome Executive Vice President and Sales Director Preston D. Wigner Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Assistant Secretary Cesar A. Bünecker Managing Director, South America Region Domenico Cardinali Managing Director, Europe Region Jonathan R. Wertheimer President, Socotab, L.L.C. n o i t a m r o f n I l i a c n a n F i S R A E Y 0 0 1 t r o p e R l a u n n A 8 1 0 2 24 PERFORMANCE GRAPH Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return* $200 $180 $160 $140 $120 $100 $80 $60 $40 $20 $0 3/13 3/14 3/15 3/16 3/17 3/18 Universal Corporation S&P Smallcap 600 Peer Group *$100 invested on 3/31/13 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending March 31. Copyright© 2018 Standard & Poor’s, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved. The performance graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on Universal Corporation common stock for the last five fiscal years with the cumulative total return for the same period of the Standard & Poor’s Smallcap 600 Stock Index and the peer group index. The peer group represents Alliance One International, Inc. The graph assumes that $100 was invested in Universal Corporation common stock at the end of the Company’s 2012 fiscal year, and in each of the comparative indices, in each case with dividends reinvested. CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN ON UNIVERSAL CORPORATION COMMON STOCK 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 At March 31 Universal Corporation $ 100.00 $ 103.49 $ 91.25 $ 114.41 $ 147.78 $ 105.06 S&P Smallcap 600 Peer Group 100.00 100.00 127.81 75.06 138.96 28.28 134.51 45.14 167.58 33.03 188.82 66.97 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 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: 001-00652 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Virginia (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 9201 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia (Address of principal executive offices) 54-0414210 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 23235 (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 Name of each exchange on which registered 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 Securities Act. Yes 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 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 No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes 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. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or a emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No The aggregate market value of the registrant's voting common equity held by non-affiliates, based upon the closing sales price on the New York Stock Exchange of the registrant's common stock on September 30, 2017, the last day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $1.4 billion. The registrant does not have non-voting common equity. As of May 21, 2018, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding was 24,899,948. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Certain information contained in the 2018 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 1. 1A. 1B. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Business .................................................................................................................................................... Risk Factors............................................................................................................................................... Unresolved Staff Comments ..................................................................................................................... Properties .................................................................................................................................................. Legal Proceedings ..................................................................................................................................... Mine Safety Disclosures ........................................................................................................................... PART II Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities................................................................................................. Selected Financial Data............................................................................................................................. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.................... 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk .................................................................. 8. 9. 9A. 9B. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data......................................................................................... Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure................... Controls and Procedures ........................................................................................................................... Other Information ..................................................................................................................................... PART III Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance....................................................................... Executive Compensation........................................................................................................................... Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.......................................... Principal Accounting Fees and Services ................................................................................................... PART IV Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules .................................................................................................. Form 10-K Summary ................................................................................................................................ Signatures.................................................................................................................................................. 3 9 13 14 15 15 16 17 19 34 36 87 87 87 88 89 89 89 89 90 90 92 2 General This Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we refer to herein as our Annual Report, 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, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Among other things, these statements relate to Universal Corporation’s financial condition, results of operations and future business plans, operations, opportunities, and prospects. In addition, Universal Corporation and its representatives may make written or oral forward-looking statements from time to time, including statements contained in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) 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, but are not limited to: anticipated levels of demand for and supply of our products and services; costs incurred in providing these products and services; timing of shipments to customers; changes in market structure; government regulation; product taxation; industry consolidation and evolution; changes in exchange rates and interest rates; impacts of regulation and litigation on our customers; and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions. For a description of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” We caution investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements as these statements speak only as of the date when made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this report. In addition, the discussion of the impact of current trends on our business in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Other Information Regarding Trends and Management’s Actions” in Item 7 should be read carefully in connection with evaluating our business and the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report. This Annual Report uses the terms “Universal,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” to refer to Universal Corporation and its subsidiaries when it is not necessary to distinguish among Universal Corporation and its various operating subsidiaries or when any distinction is clear from the context in which it is used. See the “Results of Operations” section in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 for a discussion of segment operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure that we refer to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and consider useful in understanding our business results and trends. PART I Item 1. Business A. The Company Overview We are the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. We operate in over 30 countries on five continents and procure, finance, process, pack, store and ship leaf tobacco and other agri-products. Tobacco has been our principal focus since our founding in 1918. The largest portion of our business involves procuring and processing flue-cured and burley leaf tobacco for manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. We do not manufacture any consumer products. Rather, we support consumer product manufacturers by selling them processed raw products and performing related services for them. Our reportable segments for our flue-cured and burley tobacco operations are North America and Other Regions. We also have a third reportable segment, Other Tobacco Operations, which comprises our dark tobacco business, our oriental tobacco joint venture, and certain tobacco- and non-tobacco-related services. We generated approximately $2.0 billion in consolidated revenues and earned $171.5 million in total operating income and $180.6 million in total segment operating income in fiscal year 2018. Universal Corporation is a holding company that operates through numerous directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries. Universal Corporation’s primary subsidiary is Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated. See Exhibit 21, “Subsidiaries of the Registrant,” for additional subsidiary information. 3 Key Operating Principles We believe that by following several key operating principles we can continue to produce good financial returns from our business and enhance shareholder value. These key operating principles are: • • Strategic market position. We work closely with both our customers and suppliers to ensure that we deliver a product that meets our customers' needs while cultivating a strong, sustainable supplier base. We balance purchases of leaf tobacco against indicated customer demand and maintain global procurement and production operations to maximize supply chain efficiencies. Strong local management. Having strong local management in all of our key supply origins allows us to identify and react to constantly shifting market conditions. Empowered and experienced local management, coupled with global coordination, affords us the flexibility and knowledge necessary to adapt quickly in order to continually deliver high quality, competitively-priced products and services. • Compliant products. Customers expect a sustainable supply of compliant, traceable, competitively-priced product, and we believe that we lead in delivering these products. Among other initiatives, we invest in training farmers in good agricultural practices that encompass crop quality, environmental stewardship and agricultural labor standards. • Diversified sources. We operate in over 30 countries on five continents and maintain a presence in all major flue- cured, burley, oriental, and dark air-cured tobacco origin markets. This global presence allows us to meet our customers' diverse leaf requirements while minimizing the effects of adverse crop conditions and other localized supply disruptions. • Financial strength. Financial strength is critical and enables us to fund our global operations efficiently and to facilitate investment when suitable opportunities arise. Management of liquidity, interest expense and capital costs provides us with a competitive advantage and affords us flexibility when responding to customer requirements and market changes. Additional Information Our website address is www.universalcorp.com. We post regulatory filings on this website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. These filings include annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, Section 16 reports on Forms 3, 4, and 5, and any amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC. Access to these filings on our website is available free of charge. Copies are also available, without charge, from Universal Corporation Investor Relations, 9201 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, VA 23235. Reports filed with the SEC may be viewed at www.sec.gov or obtained at the SEC Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800- SEC-0330. We also post our press releases on our website. Information on our website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Annual Report. In addition, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Conduct, 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 “Corporate Governance” section of our website. Printed copies of the foregoing are available to any shareholder upon written request to our Treasurer at the address set forth on the cover of this Annual Report or may be requested through our website, www.universalcorp.com. 4 B. Description of Business General Our primary business is procuring, financing, processing, packing, storing, and shipping leaf tobacco for sale to manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. Procuring leaf tobacco involves contracting with, providing agronomy support to, and financing farmers in many origins. We do not manufacture cigarettes or other consumer tobacco products. Rather, we support consumer product manufacturers by selling them processed leaf tobacco and performing related services for them. Through various operating subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliates located in tobacco-growing origins around the world, we contract, purchase, process, and sell flue-cured and burley tobaccos, as well as dark air-cured and oriental tobaccos. Flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobaccos are used principally in the manufacture of cigarettes, and dark air-cured tobaccos are used mainly in the manufacture of cigars, smokeless, and pipe tobacco products. We also provide value-added services to our customers, including blending, chemical and physical testing of tobacco, service cutting for select manufacturers, manufacturing reconstituted leaf tobacco, and managing just-in-time inventory. Several important operating factors characterize our company and our primary business, leaf tobacco: • Experience dealing with large numbers of farmers, • Expertise in delivering a sustainable supply of compliant, traceable, competitively-priced leaf tobacco, • Capability to meet unique customer requirements for style, volume and quality, • Longstanding customer relationships, • • Presence in all major leaf tobacco sourcing areas, and Financial strength and flexibility. In addition to our core leaf tobacco business, we are involved in other smaller-scale tobacco and agribusiness opportunities. We participate in a joint venture, AmeriNic, Inc., which produces liquid nicotine for electronic nicotine delivery systems. AmeriNic’s products are manufactured in a FDA-compliant facility in North Carolina under stringent United States Pharmacopeia ("USP") standards. Our wholly owned subsidiary, Global Laboratory Services, Inc., provides testing for crop protection agents and tobacco constituents in seed, leaf, and finished products, including e-cigarette liquids and vapors. Analytical services include chemical compound testing in finished tobacco products and mainstream smoke. We also have businesses that produce high-quality dehydrated and juiced fruit and vegetable products and recycle waste materials from tobacco production. Additionally, we are involved in research and development growth trials with trusted partners for non-tobacco agriproducts production such as vanilla and stevia in Brazil. We have also expanded our offerings to meet demand for shisha (water pipe) style leaf tobacco for customers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and natural wrappers in the United States and Europe. When looking at new disciplined investments, both growth opportunities in tobacco and in adjacent industries and markets, we continue to seek prospects that we believe will capitalize on the strengths of our core competencies and deliver value to our shareholders. With respect to our core leaf tobacco business, we generate our revenues from product sales of processed, packed tobacco that we source, from processing fees for tobacco owned by third parties, and from fees for other services. Sales to our six largest customers, with whom we have longstanding relationships, have accounted for more than two-thirds of our consolidated revenues for each of the past three fiscal years. Our sales consist primarily of flue-cured and burley tobaccos. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, our flue-cured and burley operations accounted for 88% of our revenues and 94% of our segment operating income. We conduct our business in varying degrees in a number of countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Paraguay, the People’s Republic of China, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Zimbabwe. In addition, our oriental tobacco joint venture, Socotab, L.L.C. has operations in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, and Turkey. Because unprocessed, or “green,” leaf tobacco is a perishable product, timely processing is an essential service to our customers. Our processing of leaf tobacco includes grading in the factories, blending, removal of non-tobacco material, separation of leaf from the stems, drying, packing to precise moisture targets for proper aging, as well as temporary storage. Accomplishing these tasks generally requires investments in factories and machinery in areas where the tobacco is grown. Processed tobacco that has been properly packed can be stored by customers for a number of years prior to use, but most processed tobacco is used within two to three years. We are a major purchaser and processor in the chief exporting regions for flue-cured and burley tobacco throughout the world. Africa, Brazil, and the United States produce approximately two-thirds of the flue-cured and burley tobacco grown outside of China. We estimate that we have historically handled, through leaf sales or processing, between 30% and 40% of the annual production of such tobaccos in both Africa and the United States and between 15% and 25% in Brazil. These percentages can change from year to year based on the size, price, and quality of the crops. We participate in the procurement, processing, storage, and sale of oriental tobacco through ownership of a 49% equity interest in Socotab, L.L.C., a leading supplier of oriental tobaccos. In addition, we maintain a presence, and in certain cases, a leading presence, in all other major tobacco growing regions in the world. We believe that our leading position in the leaf tobacco industry is based on our volumes handled, our operating presence in all of the major 5 sourcing areas, our ability to meet customer style, volume, and quality requirements, our expertise in dealing with large numbers of farmers, our long-standing relationships with customers, our development of processing equipment and technologies, and our financial position. The efficiencies that we offer our customers, due to our established network of operational expertise and infrastructure on the ground and our ability to market most styles and grades of leaf to a diverse customer base, are also key to our success. We also have a leading position in worldwide dark tobacco markets. Our dark tobacco operations are located in most of the major producing countries and in other smaller markets. We operate in major dark tobacco producing countries, including the United States, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Paraguay, the Philippines, Nicaragua, and Brazil. Dark tobaccos are typically used in the manufacture of cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products, and as components of certain “roll-your-own” cigarette products. Sales are made by our sales force and, to a much smaller degree, through the use of commissioned agents. Most customers are long-established tobacco product manufacturers. Customer contract arrangements vary around the world and include negotiated pricing as well as cost plus arrangements. Discussions of a customer’s longer-term needs may begin as early as one to two years in advance of a particular crop purchase. These discussions are key to our future crop production planning. Prior to planting each year, we use early customer indications for type, style, processing, and volume requirements for the upcoming season’s crop to help us determine our farmer contracting and grower input needs in our origins. We work with our farmers and customers continually throughout the crop season. As crops progress through the growing season, customers will inspect the crop, and a customer’s early indications may be refined based upon emerging crop qualities and quantities and market pricing expectations. Ultimately, purchase agreements specifying quantity, quality, grade and price are executed, leading to inventory allocations of harvested green or processed leaf that we have acquired. In the majority of the countries where we operate, we contract directly with tobacco farmers or tobacco farmer cooperatives. In most countries outside the United States, we advance seed or seedlings, fertilizer, and other agricultural inputs to farmers. These advances are repaid by farmers with the tobacco they produce. We are dedicated to promoting a sustainable farmer base and provide our farmers with agronomy support. Our Good Agricultural Practices programs educate farmers in such matters as the reduction of non-tobacco related materials, product traceability, environmental sustainability, agricultural labor standards, and social responsibility. In Malawi and Zimbabwe, we also purchase some tobacco under auction systems. Our 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, we advance funds, guarantee local loans, or do both, each in substantial amounts, for the eventual purchase of tobacco. The majority of these seasonal advances and loan guarantees mature in one year or less upon the farmers’ delivery of contracted tobaccos. Most advances to farmers are denominated in local currency, which is a source of foreign currency exchange rate risk. Most tobacco sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, which reduces our foreign currency exchange risk after the tobacco has been purchased. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for more information about our foreign currency exchange and other risks. For a discussion of recent developments and trends in our business, along with factors that may affect our business, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” Seasonality Our operations are seasonal in nature. Tobacco in Brazil is usually purchased from January through July, while buying in Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and other African countries typically begins around March and continues through November. Farmers begin to sell U.S. flue-cured tobacco in late July, and the marketing season lasts for approximately four months. We normally operate each of our processing plants for seven to nine months of the year. During this period for each region, inventories of green tobacco, inventories of processed tobacco, and trade accounts receivable normally reach peak levels in succession. We normally finance this expansion of current assets with cash, short-term borrowings from banks, and customer advances, and these funding sources normally reach their peak usage in each region during its respective purchasing or processing period. Our balance sheet at our fiscal year end reflects seasonal expansions in working capital in South America and Central America. Our financial performance is also impacted by the seasonality of our business. Due to global tobacco growing cycles, as well as customer shipment preferences, we typically ship a larger portion of our volumes in the second half of our fiscal year. Changes in customer shipment schedules or changes in crop timing in a season can shift recognition of revenue in a given fiscal year or between fiscal years. Customers A material part of our business is dependent upon a few customers. Our six largest customers are Altria Group Inc., British American Tobacco plc, China Tobacco International, Inc., Imperial Brands plc, Japan Tobacco, Inc., and Philip Morris International, Inc. In the aggregate, these customers have accounted for more than two-thirds of our consolidated revenues for each of the past three fiscal years. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, each of British American Tobacco plc, Imperial Brands plc, and Philip Morris International, Inc., including their respective affiliates, accounted for 10% or more of our revenues. The loss of, or substantial 6 reduction in business from, any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our results. We have longstanding relationships with all of these customers. We had commitments from customers for approximately $572 million of the tobacco in our inventories at March 31, 2018. Based upon historical experience, we expect that at least 90% of such orders will be delivered during fiscal year 2019. Most of our products require shipment via trucks and oceangoing vessels to reach customer destinations. Delays in the delivery of orders can result from such factors as truck and container availability, port access and capacity, vessel scheduling, and changing customer requirements for shipment. As more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report, we recognize revenue from the sale of tobacco when title and risk of loss is transferred to our customer. Individual shipments may be large, and since the customer typically specifies shipping dates, our financial results may vary significantly between reporting periods due to timing of sales. In some markets, including Brazil, Italy, Poland, Tanzania, and the United States, we process tobacco that is owned by our customers, and we recognize the revenue for that service when the processing is completed. Competition Competition among leaf tobacco suppliers is based on the ability to meet customer specifications in the growing, buying, processing, and financing of tobacco, and on the prices charged for products and services. Competition varies depending on the market or country involved. The number of competitors varies from country to country, but there is competition in most areas to buy and sell the available tobacco. Our principal competitor is Alliance One International, Inc. (“Alliance One”). Alliance One operates in many of the countries where we operate. However, we are the only global leaf tobacco supplier in Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Mozambique, the Philippines, and Poland. We also have reconstituted tobacco sheet facilities and operations that handle dark air- cured tobacco. We consider ourselves and Alliance One to be the only global leaf suppliers based on our worldwide scope of operations. Most of our major customers are partially vertically integrated, and thus also compete with us for the purchase of leaf tobacco in several of the major markets. In most major markets, smaller competitors are very active. These competitors typically have lower overhead requirements and provide less support to customers and farmers. Due to their lower cost structures, they can often offer a price on products that is lower than our price. However, we believe that we provide quality controls and farm programs that add value for our customers in an increasingly regulated world and make our products highly desirable. Our Good Agricultural Practices support an approach to farming that is focused on sustainability, employing sound field production and labor management practices that meet our customers’ needs, promote farmer profitability, and reflect environmental sensitivity. We provide comprehensive training, technical support in the field, and crop analytics through ongoing research and development. We believe that our major customers increasingly require these services and that our programs increase the quality and value of the products and services we offer. We also believe that our customers value the security of supply that we are able to provide due to our strong relationships with our farmer base and our global footprint. Reportable Segments We evaluate the performance of our leaf tobacco business by geographic region, although the dark air-cured and oriental tobacco businesses are each evaluated on the basis of their worldwide operations. Performance of the oriental tobacco operations is evaluated based on our equity in the pretax earnings of our affiliate. Under this structure, we have the following primary operating segments: North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Dark Air-Cured, Oriental, and Special Services. North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia are primarily involved in flue-cured and burley leaf tobacco operations for supply to cigarette manufacturers. Our Dark Air-Cured group supplies dark air-cured tobacco principally to manufacturers of cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products, and our Oriental business supplies oriental tobacco to cigarette manufacturers. Our Special Services group provides laboratory services, including physical and chemical product testing, electronic nicotine delivery system and e-liquid testing, and smoke testing for customers. Our liquid nicotine joint venture and our fruit and vegetable ingredients business are also included in the Special Services group. The five regional operating segments serving our cigarette manufacturer customers share similar characteristics in the nature of their products and services, production processes, class of customer, product distribution methods, and regulatory environment. Based on the applicable accounting guidance, four of the regions – South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia – are aggregated into a single reporting segment, Other Regions, because they also have similar economic characteristics. North America is reported as an individual operating segment, because its economic characteristics differ from the other regions, generally because its operations require lower working capital investments for crop financing and inventory. The Dark Air-Cured, Oriental, and Special Services segments, which have differing characteristics in some of the categories mentioned above, are reported together as Other Tobacco Operations, because each is below the measurement threshold for separate reporting. 7 Financial Information about Segments Our North America and Other Regions reportable segments, which represent our flue-cured and burley tobacco operations, accounted for 15% and 73% of our revenues and 13% and 82% of our segment operating income, respectively, in fiscal year 2018. Our Other Tobacco Operations reportable segment accounted for 12% of our revenues and 6% of our segment operating income in fiscal year 2018. Sales and other operating revenues and operating income attributable to our reportable segments for each of the last three fiscal years, along with segment assets for each reportable segment at March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, are set forth in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements, which are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report. Information with respect to the geographic distribution of our revenues and long-lived assets is also set forth in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements. C. Employees We employed over 24,000 employees throughout the world during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. We estimated this figure because the majority of our personnel are seasonal employees. D. Research and Development We did not expend material amounts for research and development during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, or 2016. E. Patents, etc. We hold no material patents, licenses, franchises, or concessions. F. Government Regulation, Environmental Matters, and Other Matters Our business is subject to general governmental regulation in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions where we conduct 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 our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors” for a discussion of government regulations and other factors that may affect our business. 8 Item 1A. Risk Factors Operating Factors 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 fill all of our customers’ orders, and such failure would have an adverse effect on profitability and results of operations. In a contract market our obligation is to purchase the entire tobacco plant, which encompasses many leaf styles, therefore, we also have a risk that not all of that production will be readily marketable at prices that support acceptable margins. In addition, in many foreign countries where 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 crop advances or recover them in a reasonable period of time. The leaf tobacco industry is competitive, and we are heavily reliant on a few large customers. We are one of two major independent global competitors in the 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 demand for our products or services could 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 suppliers and dealers is based on the ability to meet customer requirements in the buying, processing, and financing of tobacco, and on the price charged for products and services. We believe that we consistently meet our customers’ requirements and charge competitive prices. Since we rely upon a few significant customers, the consolidation or failure of any of these large customers, or a significant increase in their vertical integration, could contribute to a significant decrease in our sales of products and services. We compete for both the purchase and sale of leaf with smaller leaf tobacco suppliers in some of the markets where we conduct business. Some of these smaller leaf tobacco suppliers operate in more than one country. Since they typically provide little or no support to farmers, these leaf tobacco suppliers typically have lower overhead requirements than we do. Due to their lower cost structures, they often can offer prices on products and services that are lower than our prices. Our customers also directly source leaf tobacco from farmers to meet some of their raw material needs. Direct sourcing provides our customers with some qualities and quantities of leaf tobacco that they prefer not to use in their existing blends and that may be offered for sale. This competition for both the sale and purchase of leaf, both with smaller leaf tobacco suppliers and direct sourcing, could reduce the volume of the leaf we handle and could negatively impact our financial results. Our financial results can be significantly affected by changes in the balance of supply and demand for leaf tobacco. As a leaf tobacco supplier, our financial results can be significantly affected by changes in the overall balance of worldwide supply and demand for leaf tobacco. The demand for leaf tobacco, which is based upon customers’ expectations of their future requirements, can change from time to time depending upon factors affecting the demand for their products. Our customers’ expectations and their demand for leaf tobacco are influenced by a number of factors, including: • • • • • trends in the global consumption of cigarettes, trends in consumption of cigars and other tobacco products, trends in consumption of alternative tobacco products, such as electronic nicotine delivery systems and non-combustible products, levels of competition among our customers, and regulatory and governmental factors. The world supply of leaf tobacco at any given time is a function of current tobacco production, inventories held by manufacturers, and the stocks of leaf tobacco held by leaf tobacco suppliers. Production of tobacco in a given year may be significantly affected by such factors as: • • • • demographic shifts that change the number of farmers or the amount of land available to grow tobacco, decisions by farmers to grow crops other than leaf tobacco, volume of annual tobacco plantings and yields realized by farmers, availability of crop inputs, • weather and natural disasters, including any adverse weather conditions that may result from climate change, and • crop infestation and disease. Any significant change in these factors could cause a material imbalance in the supply of and demand for tobacco, which would affect our results of operations. 9 Our financial results will vary according to tobacco growing conditions, customer requirements, and other factors. These factors may also limit the ability to accurately forecast our future performance and increase the risk of an investment in our common stock or other securities. Our financial results, particularly our year-over-year quarterly comparisons, may be significantly affected by variations in tobacco growing seasons and fluctuations in crop sizes. The timing of the cultivation and delivery of tobacco is dependent upon a number of factors, including weather and other natural events, and our processing schedules and results of operations can be significantly altered by these factors. In addition, the potential impact of climate change is uncertain and may vary by geographic region. The possible effects, as described in various public accounts, could include changes in rainfall patterns, water shortages, changing storm patterns and intensities, and changing temperature levels that could adversely impact our costs and business operations and the supply and demand for leaf tobacco. Our operations also rely on dependable and efficient transportation services. A disruption in transportation services, as a result of climate change or otherwise, may also significantly impact our results of operations. Further, the timing and unpredictability of customer orders and shipments may require us to keep tobacco in inventory and may also result in variations in quarterly and annual financial results. We base sales recognition on the passage of ownership. Since individual shipments may represent significant amounts of revenue, our quarterly and annual financial results may vary significantly depending on the timing of needs and shipping instructions of our customers and the availability of transportation services. These fluctuations result in varying volumes and sales in given periods, which also reduce the comparability of financial results. 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, 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 and impairment charges. We may also need to make significant capital investments in other regions to develop the needed infrastructure to meet customer supply requirements. Weather and other conditions can affect the marketability of our products. Tobacco crops are subject to vagaries of 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 tobacco required by our customers. In addition, other factors can affect the marketability of tobacco, including, among other things, the presence of excess residues of crop protection agents or non-tobacco related materials. 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. Our food ingredient business is subject to industry-specific risks which could adversely affect our operating results. Our food ingredients business is subject to risks posed by food spoilage or food contamination; shifting consumer preferences; federal, state, and local food processing regulations; product tampering; and product liability claims. If one or more of these risks were to materialize, our revenues and operating results could be adversely affected, and our Company’s reputation might be damaged. We may be adversely impacted if our information technology systems fail to perform adequately, including with respect to cybersecurity issues. The efficient operation of our business depends on our information technology systems. We rely on our information technology systems to effectively manage our business data, communications, supply chain, order entry and fulfillment, and other business processes. The failure of our information technology systems (including those provided to us by third parties) to perform as we anticipate could disrupt our business and affect our results of operations. In addition, our information technology systems may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond our control, including fire, natural disasters, systems failures, security breaches or intrusions (including theft of confidential data), and viruses. If we are unable to prevent physical and electronic break-ins, cyber-attacks and other information security breaches, we may suffer financial and reputational damage, be subject to litigation, or incur remediation costs or penalties because of the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information belonging to us or to our partners, customers, suppliers or employees. 10 Regulatory and Governmental Factors Government efforts to regulate the production and consumption of tobacco products could have a significant impact on the businesses of our customers, which would, in turn, affect our results of operations. About 5% of cigarettes manufactured worldwide are consumed in the United States. Nationally, 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: • • • • restrictions on the use of tobacco products in public places and places of employment, legislation authorizing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) to regulate the manufacturing and marketing of all tobacco products, increases in the federal, state, and local excise taxes on cigarettes and other "deemed" 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. Globally, a number of foreign governments and non-government organizations also have taken or proposed steps to restrict or prohibit tobacco product advertising and promotion, to increase taxes on tobacco products, to indirectly limit the use of certain types of tobacco, and to discourage tobacco product consumption. A number of such measures, including plain packaging, are included in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (“FCTC”), which was negotiated and promoted globally under the auspices of the World Health Organization (“WHO”). We cannot predict the extent or speed at 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 tobacco products and services and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Government actions can have a significant effect on the sourcing of tobacco. If some of the current efforts are successful, we could have difficulty obtaining sufficient tobacco to meet our customers’ requirements, which could have an adverse effect on our performance and results of operations. The WHO, through the FCTC, created a formal study group in 2007 to identify and assess crop diversification initiatives and alternatives to growing leaf tobacco in countries whose economies depend upon tobacco production. If certain countries were to partner with the FCTC study group and seek to eliminate or significantly reduce leaf tobacco production, we could encounter difficulty in sourcing leaf tobacco to fill customer requirements, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. Certain recommendations by the WHO, through the FCTC, may cause shifts in customer usage of certain styles of tobacco. As seen in countries like Canada and Brazil and in the European Union, efforts have been taken to eliminate ingredients from the manufacturing process for tobacco products. Recently, the FCTC and the FDA have discussed formulating a nicotine strategy (limitations on the level of nicotine allowed in tobacco and tobacco smoke). Such decisions could cause a change in requirements for certain styles of tobacco in particular countries. Shifts in customer demand from one type of tobacco to another could create sourcing challenges as requirements move from one origin to another. Trade proposals have included provisions that could effectively allow governments to regulate tobacco products differently than other products. These “carve outs” could negatively impact the industry and reduce requirements for leaf tobacco. In addition, continued government and public emphasis on environmental issues, including climate change, conservation, and natural resource management, could result in new or more stringent forms of regulatory oversight of industry activities, which may lead to increased levels of expenditures for environmental controls, land use restrictions affecting us or our suppliers, and other conditions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. For example, certain aspects of our business generate carbon emissions. Regulatory restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions have been proposed. These may include limitations on such emissions, taxes or emission allowance fees on such emissions, various restrictions on industrial operations, and other measures that could affect land-use decisions, the cost of agricultural production, and the cost and means of processing and transporting our products. These actions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. 11 Because we conduct a significant portion of our operations internationally, political and economic 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 also to the effects of changes in the trade policies and economic regulations of foreign governments. These uncertainties and risks, which include undeveloped or antiquated commercial law, the expropriation, indigenization, or nationalization of assets, and the authority to revoke or refuse to renew business licenses and work permits, may adversely impact our ability to effectively manage our operations in those 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. 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 we incur increased costs related to such replacement, our financial condition or results of operations, or both, would suffer. In addition, the Trump administration has called for substantial changes to U.S. foreign trade policy, including the possibility of imposing greater restrictions on international trade and significant tariffs on goods imported into the United States. An escalation of protectionist trade measures by the United States or other countries, such as taxes, tariffs, increased customs duties or other measures, could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Due to broad uncertainty regarding the timing, content and extent of any regulatory changes in the United States or abroad, we cannot predict the impact, if any, that these changes could have to our business, financial condition and results of operations. 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. In most jurisdictions, we regularly have audits and examinations by the designated tax authorities, and additional tax assessments are common. We believe that we comply with applicable tax laws in the jurisdictions where we operate, and we vigorously contest all significant tax assessments where we believe we are in compliance with the tax laws. In December 2017, the United States Congress enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), which changed the central premise for corporate taxation from a system of taxing worldwide income to a modified territorial system. The Tax Act further lowered the statutory tax rate on domestic earnings from 35% to 21%, but also includes new limitations on the deductibility of certain expenses. The Tax Act requires complex computations to be performed that were not previously required under U.S. tax law, significant judgments to be made in interpretation of the provisions of the Tax Act and significant estimates in calculations, and the preparation and analysis of information not previously relevant or regularly produced. The U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and other standard-setting bodies could interpret or issue guidance on how provisions of the Tax Act will be applied or otherwise administered that is different from our interpretation. As we complete our analysis of the Tax Act, review all information, collect and prepare necessary data, and interpret any additional guidance, we may make adjustments to provisional amounts that we have recorded, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Financial Factors Failure of our customers or suppliers to repay extensions of credit could materially impact our results of operations. We extend credit to both suppliers and customers. 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, delivery failure, or permanent reductions in crop sizes, full recovery of advances may never be realized, or otherwise could be delayed until future crops are delivered. See Notes 1 and 13 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for more information on these extensions of credit. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may affect our results of operations. We account for most of our tobacco operations using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency. The international tobacco trade generally is conducted in U.S. dollars, and we finance most of our tobacco operations in U.S. dollars. Although this generally limits foreign exchange risk to the economic risk that is related to leaf purchase and production costs, overhead, and income taxes in the source country, significant currency movements could materially impact our results of operations. Changes in exchange rates can make a particular crop more or less expensive in U.S. dollar terms. If a particular crop is viewed as expensive in U.S. dollar terms, it may be less attractive in the world market. This could negatively affect the profitability of that crop and our results of operations. In tobacco markets that are primarily domestic, such as Hungary, Poland, and the Philippines, the local currency is the functional currency. In addition, the local currency is the functional currency in other markets, such as Western Europe, where export sales have been denominated primarily in local currencies. In these markets, reported earnings are affected by the translation of the local currency into the U.S. dollar. See Item 7A, “Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosure About Market Risk” for additional discussion related to foreign currency exchange risk. 12 Our purchases of tobacco are generally made in local currency, and we also provide farmer advances that are denominated in the local currency. We account for currency remeasurement gains or losses on those advances as period costs, and they are usually accompanied by offsetting increases or decreases in the purchase cost of tobacco, which is priced in the local currency. The effect of differences in the cost of tobacco is generally not realized in our earnings until the tobacco is sold, which often occurs in a quarter or fiscal year subsequent to the recognition of the related remeasurement gains or losses. The difference in timing could affect our profitability in a given quarter or fiscal year. We have used currency hedging strategies to reduce our foreign currency exchange rate risks in some markets. In addition, where we source tobacco in countries with illiquid or nonexistent forward foreign exchange markets, we often manage our foreign exchange risk by matching funding for inventory purchases with the currency of sale and by minimizing our net investment in these countries. To the extent that we have net monetary assets or liabilities in local currency, and those balances are not hedged, we may have currency remeasurement gains or losses that will affect our results of operations. Changes in interest rates may affect our results of operations. We generally use both fixed and floating interest rate debt to finance our operations. Changes in market interest rates expose us to changes in cash flows for floating rate instruments and to changes in fair value for fixed-rate instruments. We normally maintain a proportion of our debt in both variable and fixed interest rates to manage this exposure, and from time to time we may enter hedge agreements to swap the interest rates. In addition, our customers may pay market rates of interest for inventory purchased on order, which could mitigate a portion of the floating interest rate exposure on short-term borrowings. To the extent we are unable to match these interest rates, a decrease in interest rates could increase our net financing costs. We also periodically have large cash balances and may receive deposits from customers, both of which we use to fund seasonal purchases of tobacco, reducing our financing needs. Decreases in short-term interest rates could reduce the income we derive from those investments. Changes in interest rates also affect expense related to our defined benefit pension plan, as described below. Low investment performance by our defined benefit pension plan assets and changes in pension plan valuation assumptions may increase our pension expense and may require us to fund a larger portion of our pension obligations, thus diverting funds from other potential uses. We sponsor domestic defined benefit pension plans that cover certain eligible employees. Our results of operations may be positively or negatively affected by the amount of expense we record for these plans. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) require that we calculate expense for the plans using actuarial valuations. These valuations reflect assumptions about financial market and other economic conditions that may change based on changes in key economic indicators. The most significant year-end assumptions we used to estimate pension expense for fiscal year 2018 were the discount rate, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, and the mortality rates. In addition, we are required to make an annual measurement of plan assets and liabilities, which may result in a significant change to shareholders’ equity through a reduction or increase to the “Pension and other postretirement benefit plans” component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. At the end of fiscal year 2018, the projected benefit obligation of our qualified U.S. pension plan was $223 million and plan assets were $215 million. For a discussion regarding how our financial statements can be affected by pension plan valuation assumptions, see “Critical Accounting Estimates – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 and in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Although GAAP expense and pension funding contributions are not directly related, key economic factors that affect GAAP expense can also affect the amount of cash we are required to contribute to our pension plans under requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”). Failure to achieve expected returns on plan assets could also result in an increase to the amount of cash we would be required to contribute to our pension plans. In order to maintain or improve the funded status of our plans, we may also choose to contribute more cash to our plans than required by ERISA regulations. Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments None 13 Item 2. Properties We own the following significant properties (greater than 500,000 square feet): Location Flue-Cured and Burley Leaf Tobacco Operations: North America: United States Principal Use Building Area (Square Feet) Nash County, North Carolina .......................................................................... Factory and storages 1,323,000 Other Regions: Brazil Santa Cruz ....................................................................................................... Factory and storages 2,386,000 Malawi Lilongwe.......................................................................................................... Factory and storages 942,000 Mozambique Tete .................................................................................................................. Factory and storages 770,000 Philippines Agoo, La Union ............................................................................................... Factory and storages 770,000 Tanzania Morogoro......................................................................................................... Factory and storages 895,000 Zimbabwe Harare (1) .......................................................................................................... Factory and storages 1,445,000 Other Tobacco Operations: United States Lancaster, Pennsylvania .................................................................................. Factory and storages 793,000 (1) Owned by an unconsolidated subsidiary. We lease headquarters office space of about 50,000 square feet at 9201 Forest Hill Avenue in Richmond, Virginia, which we believe is adequate for our current needs. Our business involves, among other things, storing and processing green tobacco and storing processed tobacco. We operate processing facilities in major tobacco growing areas. In addition, we require tobacco storage facilities that are in close proximity to the processing facilities. We own most of the tobacco storage facilities, but we lease additional space as needs arise. We believe that the properties currently utilized in our tobacco operations are maintained in good operating condition and are suitable and adequate for our purposes at our current volumes. In addition to our significant properties listed above, we own other processing facilities in the following countries: Germany, Guatemala, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States. In addition, we have an ownership interest in a processing plant in Mexico and have access to processing facilities in other areas, such as India, the People’s Republic of China, and South Africa. Socotab L.L.C., an oriental tobacco joint venture in which we own a noncontrolling interest, owns tobacco processing plants in Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Turkey. Except for the Lancaster, Pennsylvania facility, the facilities described above are engaged primarily in processing tobaccos used by manufacturers in the production of cigarettes. The Lancaster facility, as well as facilities in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Paraguay, process tobaccos used in making cigar, pipe, and smokeless products, as well as components of certain “roll-your-own” products. 14 Item 3. Legal Proceedings Tanzania Fair Competition Commission Proceeding In June 2012, our Tanzanian subsidiary, Tanzania Leaf Tobacco Company Ltd. (“TLTC”), entered into a two crop-year supply agreement for unprocessed “green” tobacco with a newly-formed Tanzanian subsidiary of one of our major customers. The agreement involved green tobacco purchases from four of the approximately 400 grower cooperatives in Tanzania, which allowed the customer and its Tanzanian subsidiary on a small test basis to evaluate whether it would be a viable alternative for the customer to establish its own vertically integrated supply operations in that market. Prior to that time, the customer’s subsidiary did not exist, and it only purchased processed Tanzanian tobacco from tobacco dealers in specified amounts and only for certain grades and stalk positions. In contrast, the agreement with TLTC required the customer’s subsidiary to purchase green tobacco on a “run of crop” basis. “Run of crop” requires the purchase of all green tobacco produced on the tobacco plant, regardless of grade or stalk position. The agreement, therefore, enabled the customer’s subsidiary on a small test basis to evaluate the quality of green tobacco purchased on a “run of crop” basis and to assess how such tobacco would be suited to the customer's tobacco requirements. The customer unilaterally elected to establish its own vertically integrated supply operations in Tanzania after the expiration of the agreement, and its subsidiary began purchasing green tobacco directly from Tanzanian grower cooperatives during the second crop year thereafter. Despite the pro-competitive object and effect of the agreement between TLTC and the customer’s subsidiary, in October 2016, the Tanzania Fair Competition Commission (“FCC”) notified TLTC and the customer’s subsidiary that it reviewed the agreement and provisionally concluded that it infringed Tanzania antitrust law by having the object and effect of preventing competition in the purchase of unprocessed green tobacco in the area in which the four grower cooperatives were located. The FCC also provisionally concluded that our U.S. subsidiary, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. (“ULT”), and additional subsidiaries of the customer, were jointly and severally liable for the actions of TLTC and the customer’s Tanzanian subsidiary, respectively. TLTC and ULT submitted a written response contesting the FCC’s allegations, and on February 27, 2018, the FCC issued its decision to TLTC and ULT which confirmed its initial conclusion that the agreement infringed Tanzanian antitrust law. In its decision, the FCC concluded incorrectly that the parties to the agreement unfairly benefited in the amount of $105 thousand. The FCC arbitrarily assessed a fine jointly against TLTC and ULT of approximately $197 million and a fine jointly against the customer’s Tanzanian subsidiary and another subsidiary of the customer exceeding $1 billion. TLTC and ULT have worked closely with expert legal advisors and economists on this matter. Based on these engagements and consultations, we firmly believe the FCC’s allegations are frivolous and clearly without merit or support from the facts, law or economic analysis. We further believe the FCC’s proceedings were rife with irregularities and did not comply with applicable legal and regulatory procedures with respect to this matter, including failing to establish jurisdiction over ULT or to offer a legal justification for including ULT in the proceeding. To the contrary, we believe the facts, law and economic analysis clearly support the legality and pro-competitive nature of the agreement and support a proper conclusion that there was no infringement of Tanzania antitrust law, and the agreement had no negative impact on the Tanzania tobacco market. We further believe the FCC’s proposed fine is ludicrous, unwarranted and contrary to Tanzania law. TLTC and ULT immediately appealed the FCC findings to the Tanzania Fair Competition Tribunal, which immediately stayed the execution of any FCC fines. We are unable to predict how long the appeal process will take; however, we believe it could last several years. At this time, we believe that the likelihood of incurring any material liability in this matter is remote, and no amount has been recorded. Other Contingent Liabilities In addition, some of our subsidiaries are involved in other litigation or legal matters incidental to their business activities. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, we are vigorously defending the matters and do not currently expect that any of them will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial position. However, should one or more of these matters be resolved in a manner adverse to our current expectation, the effect on our results of operations for a particular fiscal reporting period could be material. Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures Not applicable. 15 PART II Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Common Equity Our 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. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 Cash dividends declared ..................................................................................... $ 0.54 $ 0.54 $ 0.55 $ 0.55 First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Market price range: High.................................................................................................................. Low .................................................................................................................. 75.70 63.15 65.90 55.00 60.45 52.05 53.85 45.95 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017 Cash dividends declared ..................................................................................... $ 0.53 $ 0.53 $ 0.54 $ 0.54 Market price range: High.................................................................................................................. Low .................................................................................................................. 57.75 52.26 61.69 55.29 64.20 52.40 83.35 63.30 Our 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 our future earnings, financial condition, and capital requirements. Under certain of our credit facilities, we must meet financial covenants relating to minimum tangible net worth and maximum levels of debt. If we were not in compliance with them, these financial covenants could restrict our ability to pay dividends. We were in compliance with all such covenants at March 31, 2018. At May 21, 2018, there were 1,072 holders of record of our common stock. See Notes 5 and 11 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for more information on debt covenants and equity securities. Purchases of Equity Securities As indicated in the following table, we repurchased shares of our common stock during the three-month period ended March 31, 2018. Common Stock Period (1) Total Number of Shares Repurchased Average Price Paid Per Share (2) Total Number of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (3) Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (3) January 1-31, 2018....................................................................................... 68,718 $ February 1-28, 2018..................................................................................... March 1-31, 2018......................................................................................... 92,540 22,366 Total ............................................................................................................. 183,624 $ 49.83 48.63 46.80 48.86 68,718 $ 96,575,782 92,540 22,366 92,075,562 91,028,833 183,624 $ 91,028,833 (1) (2) (3) Repurchases are based on the date the shares were traded. This presentation differs from the consolidated statement of cash flows, where the cost of share repurchases is based on the date the transactions were settled. Amounts listed for average price paid per share include broker commissions paid in the transactions. A stock repurchase plan, which was authorized by our Board of Directors, became effective and was publicly announced on November 7, 2017. This stock repurchase plan authorized the purchase of up to $100 million in common and/or preferred stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors. This stock repurchase program will expire on the earlier of November 15, 2019, or when we have exhausted the funds authorized for the program. 16 Item 6. Selected Financial Data Summary of Operations Sales and other operating revenues...................................................................... $ 2,033,947 $ 2,071,218 $ 2,120,373 $ 2,542,115 $ 2,461,699 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 (in thousands, except share and per share data, ratios, and number of shareholders) Operating income................................................................................................. $ (1) ............................................................................. $ Segment operating income Net income ........................................................................................................... $ (2) ......................................... $ Net income attributable to Universal Corporation 171,487 180,612 116,168 105,662 Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders................... $ 105,662 Return on beginning common shareholders’ equity ............................................ 8.2% Earnings per share attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders: Basic............................................................................................................... $ Diluted............................................................................................................ $ 4.18 4.14 Financial Position at Year End $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 178,351 188,484 112,506 106,304 20,890 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 181,647 186,068 118,148 109,016 94,268 8.2% 4.16 3.92 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 246,151 175,175 155,155 149,009 134,159 12.8% 5.77 5.25 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 223,009 232,757 140,919 132,750 117,900 12.1% 5.05 4.66 7.9% 0.89 0.88 Current ratio ......................................................................................................... 5.94 5.83 6.65 3.66 2.77 Total assets........................................................................................................... $ 2,168,632 $ 2,123,405 $ 2,231,177 $ 2,264,401 $ 2,285,987 Long-term debt..................................................................................................... $ 369,086 $ 368,733 $ 368,380 $ 239,508 $ 180,060 Working capital.................................................................................................... $ 1,321,323 $ 1,293,403 $ 1,392,276 $ 1,200,023 $ 1,094,764 Total Universal Corporation shareholders’ equity ............................................... $ 1,342,429 $ 1,286,489 $ 1,414,222 $ 1,378,230 $ 1,258,571 General Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ....................................................................... Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends.............. Number of common shareholders........................................................................ 10.31 10.31 1,131 10.25 5.30 1,182 10.22 4.59 1,225 8.46 4.05 1,295 10.73 5.49 1,354 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic.................................................................................................................. 25,274,975 23,433,860 22,683,290 23,238,978 23,354,793 Diluted............................................................................................................... 25,508,144 23,770,088 27,825,491 28,392,033 28,478,058 Dividends per share of convertible perpetual preferred stock (annual) (3) .......... $ — $ 50.63 Dividends per share of common stock (annual) .................................................. $ 2.18 Book value per common share............................................................................. $ 53.85 $ $ 2.14 50.90 $ $ $ 67.50 2.10 52.94 $ $ $ 67.50 2.02 50.19 $ $ $ 67.50 1.98 44.79 (1) The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on segment operating income, which is operating income after allocated overhead expenses (excluding significant charges or credits), plus equity in the pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Segment operating income is a non-GAAP measure. See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report for information on reportable operating segments. (2) We hold less than a 100% financial interest in certain consolidated subsidiaries, and a portion of net income is attributable to the noncontrolling interests in those subsidiaries. (3) In December 2016 and January 2017, all outstanding shares of the Company's Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock were converted for common stock or for cash, and none were outstanding during fiscal year 2018. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report. 17 The calculations of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends are shown in Exhibit 12. Fixed charges primarily represent interest expense we incurred during the designated fiscal year, and preference dividends represent the pretax equivalent of dividends on preferred stock. Significant items included in the operating results in the above table are as follows: • • • • • Fiscal Year 2018 – a $4.5 million reduction of income tax expense from the provisional accounting for the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017. The reduction in income tax expense increased diluted earnings per share by $0.18. Fiscal Year 2017 – $4.4 million restructuring and impairment costs, primarily related to our decision to close our tobacco processing facility in Hungary. We are now processing tobaccos sourced from Hungary in our facilities in Italy. The restructuring and impairment costs reduced net income by $2.8 million, or $0.10 per diluted share. In addition, all 218,490 outstanding shares of our Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock were converted during the third and fourth quarters. Of the total shares converted, 107,418 shares were converted for cash, resulting in a reduction of retained earnings of approximately $74.4 million for the excess of the conversion cost over the carrying value of the shares. The reduction in retained earnings resulted in a corresponding one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders for purposes of determining the amounts reported for basic and diluted earnings per share for the year. The reduction in earnings available to common shareholders decreased diluted earnings per share by $2.99. Fiscal Year 2016 – a $3.4 million pretax gain arising from the acquisition of a joint venture partner's 50% ownership interest in a tobacco processing entity in Guatemala. The transaction increased our ownership interest in the entity to 100%, requiring us to consolidate the financial statements of the entity and to remeasure our original 50% ownership interest to fair value, resulting in the gain. In addition, we recorded restructuring and impairment costs of $4.4 million related to a decision to significantly scale back our operations in Zambia. The net effect of the gain and the restructuring and impairment costs increased pretax income by $1 million and net income by $0.7 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. Fiscal Year 2015 – a $12.7 million benefit to pretax earnings from the reversal of a valuation allowance on the remaining unused balance of the excise tax credits realized from the favorable outcome of litigation by our subsidiary in Brazil in fiscal year 2014. In addition, we recorded a consolidated income tax benefit of $8.0 million arising from the ability of our subsidiary, Deltafina S.p.A. ("Deltafina"), to pay a significant portion of the European Commission fine and related interest charges settled during the first quarter following the unsuccessful appeal of the case related to tobacco buying practices in Italy. The effect of those items was partially offset by restructuring costs of $4.9 million, primarily related to downsizing certain functions at our operations in Brazil and the decision to suspend our operations in Argentina. On a combined basis, the net effect of these items increased pretax income by $7.8 million and net income by $13.1 million, or $0.46 per diluted share. Fiscal Year 2014 – an $81.6 million pretax gain resulting from the favorable outcome of litigation by our operating subsidiary in Brazil related to previous years’ excise tax credits. In addition to the gain, we recorded restructuring costs of $6.7 million, primarily related to the closure of a tobacco processing facility in Brazil and the consolidation of these operations into our main processing facility there. The net effect of the gain and the restructuring costs increased pretax income by $74.9 million and net income by $48.7 million, or $1.72 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 Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” For information on risks and uncertainties related to our business that may make past performance not indicative of future results, or cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see “General,” and Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” OVERVIEW We are the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. We derive most of our revenues from sales of processed tobacco to manufacturers of tobacco products throughout the world and from fees and commissions for specific services. We hold a strategic position in the world leaf markets where we work closely with both our customers and farmers to ensure that we deliver a compliant product that meets our customers' needs while promoting a strong supplier base. We adapt to meet changes in customer requirements as well as broader changes in the leaf markets, while continuing to provide the stability of supply and high level of service that distinguishes us in the marketplace. We believe that we have successfully met the needs of both our customers and suppliers while adapting to changes in leaf markets. Over the last three fiscal years, we have generated over $520 million in net cash flow from operations, invested over $120 million in our businesses, settled the mandatory conversion of our Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock for about $178 million in cash, and returned almost $200 million to our shareholders through a combination of dividends and share repurchases. We have also faced some leaf tobacco supply issues over the last three fiscal years. Fiscal year 2016 was the second year of oversupplied market conditions, where the supply of leaf tobacco exceeded demand. We were able to end the year with strong fourth quarter volumes, primarily driven by later timing of customer shipping orders in Brazil and Asia, and the positive change in leaf supply arrangements in our North America segment. We also achieved modest growth in overall volumes for the full fiscal year and improved our margins, and our selling, general, and administrative costs were lower. Our inventories continued to be well- managed, and uncommitted stocks declined from fiscal year 2015’s level, in line with our target. We delivered solid results again in fiscal year 2017 despite supply headwinds, most notably from the weather-reduced crop sizes in Brazil and ongoing challenging market conditions in Tanzania. Although we had anticipated ending the year with slightly lower volumes, earlier shipment timing as well as attractive green prices in some origins resulting in some additional purchases by our customers boosted shipments later in our fiscal year, allowing us to improve our market share and achieve lamina sales volumes that were slightly above those of the prior fiscal year. Our segment operating income for the 2017 fiscal year was also improved, primarily attributable to a reduction in selling, general, and administrative costs and earlier receipt of distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries. We are pleased with our good results for fiscal year 2018. Net income remained steady at about $106 million, despite modestly lower lamina volumes and a slight decline in operating income to $171 million, compared to fiscal year 2017. We also continued to grow our market share and expand the services we provide our customers, including gaining new multi-year processing commitments in Brazil. In addition, we rewarded our shareholders by increasing our dividend rate and returning almost $55 million through dividends and repurchasing about $22 million, or 2%, of our outstanding common stock. Fiscal year 2018 was not without its challenges as fewer carryover crop sales and shipment delays in North America, African burley crop sizes that were down more than 40% over the prior year, and a $10 million reduction in income from the timing of receipt of distributions of unconsolidated subsidiaries compared to the prior fiscal year, negatively impacted our results. However, we did benefit from a return to normal crop volumes in Brazil, and the resultant gains from higher volumes and lower factory unit costs there. Although our working capital requirements were higher in fiscal year 2018, we maintained our strong balance sheet. Our uncommitted inventory levels, at March 31, 2018, remained within our target range, and we are currently using some of our cash balances to fund the fiscal year 2019 crop. We expect our working capital requirements will be higher in fiscal year 2019 due to the recovery of the African burley crops and strong demand for wrapper tobacco, which has a longer life cycle. The next crop cycle, which will be reflected in our fiscal year 2019 results, has begun with green tobacco purchases in Brazil. Farmer deliveries there are a little slower this year, but the crop quality is very good. We are also seeing the recovery of African burley production volumes and improved North American shipments, and if the global leaf market remains stable, we expect higher total sales volumes for fiscal year 2019. On May 23, 2018, we announced a new capital allocation strategy that demonstrates our focus on sustainable shareholder value creation. The enhanced strategy is a result of an extensive review of our business, as well as the market environment, that began in November 2016. We believe the strategy capitalizes on our core competencies and ensures that we are well positioned for the future. In connection with this newly announced strategy, and as part of our commitment to shareholder returns, our Board raised our quarterly dividend rate to $0.75 per share ($3.00 per share annual equivalent), a 36% increase from the prior quarterly dividend rate. We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of our company this year. For one hundred years, we have had a rich history of adapting to change, finding innovative solutions to serve our customers and meet their leaf tobacco needs, and achieving results that benefit all of our stakeholders. Although we operate in a mature industry, our mission is to remain the world’s leading independent 19 leaf tobacco supplier. In recent years, we have increased our market share and enhanced the range of services we provide to certain customers, including direct buying, agronomic support, and specialized processing services. We are continually exploring options to capitalize on the strengths of our core competencies and seek growth opportunities in and related to tobacco and our global operations. As we move into our next 100 years, we will continue our commitment to leadership in setting industry standards, operating with transparency, providing products that are responsibly-sourced, and investing in and strengthening the communities where we operate. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Amounts described as net income and earnings per diluted share in the following discussion are attributable to Universal Corporation and exclude earnings related to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries. The total for segment operating income referred to in the discussion below is a non-GAAP financial measure. This measure is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other operating performance measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. We have provided a reconciliation of the total for segment operating income to consolidated operating income in Note 14. "Operating Segments" to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. We evaluate our segment performance excluding certain significant charges or credits. We believe this measure, which excludes these items that we believe are not indicative of our core operating results, provides investors with important information that is useful in understanding our business results and trends. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018, Compared to the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017 Net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, was $105.7 million, or $4.14 per diluted share, compared with $106.3 million, or $0.88 per diluted share for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The fiscal year 2017 results included a one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders of $74.4 million, or $2.99 per diluted share, from the conversion for cash of the remaining outstanding shares of our Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock under the mandatory conversion in January 2017. That reduction, the effect of a reduction in income tax expense from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017, and certain other non-recurring items are detailed in Other Items below. Excluding those items, diluted earnings per share for fiscal year 2018 of $3.96 decreased by $0.01 compared to the same period last year. Operating income of $171.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, decreased by $6.9 million compared to the year ended March 31, 2017. Segment operating income was $180.6 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, a decrease of $7.9 million, compared to the year ended March 31, 2017, as improved results in our Other Regions and Other Tobacco Operations segments were offset by declines in our North America segment. Revenues of $2.0 billion for fiscal year 2018 were down only 1.8% compared to fiscal year 2017, as lower volumes, primarily in Africa, were largely offset by higher sales prices and processing revenues. Flue-cured and Burley Leaf Tobacco Operations Other Regions Operating income for the Other Regions segment improved by $3.9 million to $147.3 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. The improvement was driven by lower selling, general, and administrative expenses and higher processing revenues, largely offset by lower sales volumes and other revenues from the receipt of distributions from unconsolidated affiliates. In South America, total lamina sales volumes were up for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, on higher current crop sales partly offset by reduced carryover crop sales. The higher current year crop volumes also increased processing revenues and improved margins from reduced factory unit costs there. Results for the Africa region for the year ended March 31, 2018, compared to the prior year, were down due to lower African burley production levels this year. Earnings improved for the Asia region primarily on stronger sales and for the Europe region on stronger sales and favorable exchange rates. Selling, general, and administrative costs for the segment were lower for fiscal year 2018, mostly from net foreign currency remeasurement gains compared with losses in fiscal year 2017, partially offset by an unfavorable comparison due to the reversal of value-added tax reserves in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. Revenues for the Other Regions segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, were up $59.2 million to $1.5 billion compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, as higher sales prices and processing revenues as well as a better product mix offset lower sales volumes and other revenues from the receipt of distributions from unconsolidated affiliates. North America North America segment operating income of $23.2 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, was down by $11.9 million, compared with the previous year. The decline was driven by lower sales volumes. In the United States, volumes were down primarily due to large prior crop carryover sales last year and some delayed customer shipments in the fourth fiscal quarter due to reduced transportation availability, while results for Guatemala and Mexico were affected by lower volumes and less favorable margins. Selling, general and administrative costs were lower compared with fiscal year 2017, on reduced compensation costs and lower customer claims. Segment revenues were down by $107.7 million to $308.7 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, compared with the prior fiscal year, on the lower volumes. 20 Other Tobacco Operations The Other Tobacco Operations segment operating income increased by $0.1 million to $10.1 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, compared with the prior fiscal year. For fiscal year 2018, earnings were lower for the dark tobacco operations, compared to the prior fiscal year, mostly driven by lower sales in Indonesia on the lack of wrapper tobacco availability from the weather damaged crop. Indonesian wrapper volumes and quality recovered in the subsequent crop, which will be available for sale in fiscal year 2019. Earnings for the oriental joint venture increased for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, largely on higher sales volumes. Results for the joint venture for fiscal year 2018 also included gains on the sale of idle assets offset by higher currency remeasurement losses from the devaluation of the Turkish lira. Operating results for the Special Services group were up slightly for the year ended March 31, 2018, compared with the prior fiscal year. Selling, general, and administrative costs for the segment were up modestly for fiscal year 2018 compared to fiscal year 2017 on higher currency remeasurement losses. Revenues for the Other Tobacco Operations segment increased by $11.3 million to $243.1 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, compared to fiscal year 2017, mainly on higher sales prices in our dark tobacco operations. Other Items Cost of goods sold declined by about 1% to $1.7 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, compared with fiscal year 2017. The decrease was in line with similar percentage decline in revenues. Selling, general, and administrative costs decreased by $11.5 million to $200.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, compared to the year ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in fiscal year 2018 was largely on net foreign currency remeasurement gains compared with losses in fiscal year 2017, mainly in Africa, partly offset by an unfavorable comparison due to the reversal of value-added tax reserves in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. The consolidated effective income tax rates for the year ended March 31, 2018, was approximately 30%. The rate included the effect of the changes in U.S. corporate income tax law under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that were recorded under the SEC’s “provisional” classification upon enactment of the new law in the third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2017, as well as adjustments made to the “provisional” accounting in the quarter ended March 31, 2018, due to the collection and analysis of additional information for certain foreign subsidiaries, as well as additional clarifying guidance issued with respect to the new law. The effect of the new law mainly represents changes to deferred tax assets and liabilities, as well as the reduction of the U.S. tax liability on undistributed foreign earnings. As a result of the adjustments to the earlier provisional accounting, our earnings for the year ended March 31, 2018 included a $4.5 million ($0.18 per share) net reduction of income tax expense from the new law after those adjustments. The consolidated effective income tax rate for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 was approximately 34% . Income taxes for that period were lower than the 35% federal statutory rate at that time, due to a combination of lower net effective tax rates on income from certain foreign subsidiaries, and effects of changes in local currency exchange rates on deferred income tax balances. For more details, see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report. Going forward, our consolidated effective tax rate will be heavily dependent on the tax rates of the individual countries in which we operate, the mix of our pretax earnings from those countries, and the prevailing rates of exchange of their local currencies with the U.S. dollar. The mix of pretax earnings and local currency exchange rates in particular can change significantly between annual and quarterly reporting periods based on crop sizes, market conditions, and economic factors. We expect these changes will make our effective tax rate more volatile from year-to-year and quarter-to-quarter than it has been in the past. Based on our current mix of pretax earnings and current exchange rates, our average effective tax rate should generally be in the range of 28% to 32%. However, the actual effective tax rate could be above or below this level, with significant variations possible based on exchange rate changes. In December 2016, 111,072 shares of the Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock were converted into approximately 2.5 million shares of the Company's common stock. In January 2017, the Company completed a mandatory cash conversion of the remaining 107,418 outstanding shares of the preferred stock in accordance with the original terms of the preferred shares. Although the conversions of the preferred stock did not impact the Company’s net income, the cash conversions in January 2017 resulted in a one-time reduction of retained earnings of approximately $74.4 million during the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2017, and a corresponding one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017 for purposes of determining the amounts reported for basic and diluted earnings per share. The effect of the conversions on diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, was ($2.99). Results for the year ended March 31, 2017 included restructuring and impairment costs of $4.4 million ($0.10 per diluted share). 21 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017, Compared to the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2016 Net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, was $106.3 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, compared with fiscal year 2016’s net income of $109.0 million, or $3.92 per diluted share. The fiscal year 2017 results included a one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders of $74.4 million, or $2.99 per diluted share, for purposes of determining the amounts reported for basic and diluted earnings per share, from the conversion for cash of the remaining outstanding shares of our Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock under the mandatory conversion in January 2017. That one-time reduction and certain other non-recurring items are detailed in Other Items below. Excluding those items, diluted earnings per share for fiscal year 2017 of $3.97 increased $0.07 compared to the same period of fiscal year 2016. Operating income of $178.4 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, was down $3.3 million compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. Segment operating income, which excludes non-recurring items, was $188.5 million for fiscal year 2017, an increase of $2.4 million from fiscal year 2016, primarily attributable to improved results for the North America segment, partly offset by a decline for the Other Tobacco Operations segment. Revenues of $2.1 billion for fiscal year 2017 were relatively flat compared with fiscal year 2016, as the slightly higher volumes and a benefit from earlier receipt of distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries were offset by lower green leaf costs and lower processing revenues. Flue-cured and Burley Leaf Tobacco Operations Other Regions Operating income for the Other Regions segment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, of $143.3 million, was nearly flat, down only $0.3 million compared to $143.6 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. Total volumes for the segment declined, but overall margins improved, benefitting from lower selling, general, and administrative expenses and timing of receipt of distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries. Africa volumes were slightly lower, reflecting challenging market conditions in Tanzania which offset volume improvements in other origins. South America’s results were down, continuing the trend noted throughout fiscal year 2017 from lower volumes and higher factory unit costs as a result of the reduced buying program and lower third-party processing volumes there in fiscal year 2017. Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the segment were down significantly for fiscal year 2017 on several items, including the favorable comparison to costs incurred in fiscal year 2016 to settle challenges regarding property rights and valuation of forestry land in South America, the reversal of value-added tax reserves, lower net foreign currency and exchange remeasurement losses, and a reduction in provisions for supplier advances compared to fiscal year 2016. Revenues for the segment were down about $116.0 million to $1.4 billion, on the lower sales volumes at lower average green leaf prices and lower processing revenues, offset in part by increased distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries. North America Operating income for the North America segment was $35.2 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, up $4.0 million compared with fiscal year 2016. Earnings improvements were driven mainly by higher sales volumes, partially due to earlier timing of current crop shipments in fiscal 2017. However, margins for the year were lower from a less favorable product mix, as well as reduced factory yields on weather affected U.S. crops. Fiscal year 2017 revenues for the segment increased by $54.6 million to $416.4 million compared to fiscal year 2016, on those higher sales volumes, at lower green leaf prices, and a less favorable product mix. Other Tobacco Operations For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, the Other Tobacco Operations segment operating income decreased by $1.3 million to $10.0 million compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. Earnings improved modestly for the dark tobacco operations as higher domestic volumes were largely offset by a less favorable sales mix and higher inventory write-downs in fiscal year 2017. Results from the oriental joint venture also improved for fiscal year 2017 mainly on favorable comparisons due to tax accruals in the fiscal year 2016. Those improvements were outweighed by higher losses in the special services group, primarily for the new food ingredients business. Higher selling, general, and administrative costs for the segment also contributed to the declines. Revenues for the segment were up by $12.2 million to $231.8 million for the year ended March 31, 2017, mostly due to increased volumes from the timing of shipments of oriental tobaccos into the United States compared to fiscal year 2016. 22 Other Items Cost of goods sold decreased by about 2% to $1.7 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. The decline was consistent with a comparable percentage decline in revenues, mostly as a result of lower green leaf prices. Selling, general, and administrative costs decreased by $14.7 million, or 6%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, compared with fiscal year 2016. The decline in fiscal year 2017 was mainly due to the favorable comparison to costs incurred in fiscal year 2016 to settle challenges regarding property rights and valuation of forestry land in South America, the reversal of value-added tax reserves, and lower net foreign currency and exchange remeasurement losses compared to fiscal year 2016. The consolidated effective income tax rates were approximately 34% and 32% for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Income taxes in both fiscal years were lower than the 35% federal statutory rate on a combination of lower net effective tax rates on income from certain foreign subsidiaries, and effects of changes in local currency exchange rates on deferred income tax balances, mainly in Brazil. In December 2016, 111,072 shares of the Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock were converted into approximately 2.5 million shares of our common stock. In January 2017, we announced a mandatory conversion of all 107,418 remaining outstanding shares of the preferred stock after meeting the requirements to initiate the mandatory conversion under the original terms of the preferred shares. We chose to satisfy the conversion obligation for the mandatory conversion in cash. Although the conversions of the preferred stock into common stock or for cash did not impact net income, the shares converted for cash under the mandatory conversion in January 2017 resulted in a one-time reduction of retained earnings of approximately $74.4 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2017, representing the excess of the conversion cost over the carrying value of those shares. The reduction in retained earnings resulted in a corresponding one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017 for purposes of determining the amounts reported for basic and diluted earnings per share. The effect of the mandatory conversion on diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, was ($2.99). Results for the year ended March 31, 2017, also included restructuring and impairment costs of $4.4 million ($0.10 per diluted share). Results for the year ended March 31, 2016, included restructuring and impairment costs of $2.4 million ($0.06 per diluted share) and a gain of $3.4 million ($0.08 per diluted share) on remeasuring our interest in a tobacco processing joint venture to fair value upon acquiring our partner’s 50% ownership in the third fiscal quarter. Accounting Pronouncements See "Accounting Pronouncements" in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") that will become effective and be adopted by the Company in future reporting periods. 23 Overview LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Our working capital requirements in fiscal year 2018 were higher than those in fiscal year 2017 on higher green leaf purchase volumes in Brazil and increased wrapper tobacco purchases to meet strong demand. The larger Brazilian leaf volumes resulted from crop recoveries there following reduced crops in fiscal year 2017, largely from El Nino weather patterns. Similar to the last several years, our shipments were heavily weighted to the second half of the fiscal year. In fiscal year 2018, we generated $83.2 million in cash flows from our operating activities, and our liquidity was sufficient to meet our needs. We also continued our conservative financial policies, maintained our discipline on using our free cash flow, and returned funds to shareholders. Our liquidity and capital resource requirements are predominately 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 us to predict our general level of cash requirements, although crop sizes, prices paid to farmers, shipment and delivery timing, and currency fluctuations affect requirements each year. Peak working capital requirements are generally reached during the first and second fiscal quarters. Each geographic area follows a cycle of buying, processing, and shipping tobacco, and in many regions we also provide agricultural materials to farmers during the growing season. The timing of the elements of each cycle is influenced by such factors as local weather conditions and individual customer shipping requirements, which may change the level or the duration of crop financing. Despite a predominance of short-term needs, we maintain a portion of our total debt as long-term to reduce liquidity risk. We also periodically have large cash balances that we utilize to meet our working capital requirements. We believe that our financial resources are adequate to support our capital needs for at least the next twelve months. Our seasonal borrowing requirements primarily relate to purchasing crops in South America and Africa and can increase from March to September by more than $300 million. The funding required can vary significantly depending upon such factors as crop sizes, the price of leaf, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar, and the timing of shipments and customer payments. We deal with this uncertainty by maintaining substantial credit lines and cash balances. In addition to our operating requirements for working capital, we expect to spend around $35 to $45 million during fiscal year 2019 for capital expenditures to maintain our facilities and invest in opportunities to grow and improve our businesses. We also expect to provide about $15 million in funding to our pension plans. We have no long- term debt maturing before fiscal year 2020. Cash Flow Our operations generated about $83.2 million in operating cash flows in fiscal year 2018. That amount was about $167.1 million lower than the $250.3 million we generated in fiscal year 2017, largely due to higher working capital requirements in fiscal year 2018. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, we spent $34.0 million on capital projects and returned $76.3 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. At March 31, 2018, cash balances totaled $234.1 million. Working Capital Working capital at March 31, 2018, was about $1.3 billion, up $27.9 million from last fiscal year's level, largely due to increased purchase volumes in Brazil and in our dark tobacco operations due to strong demand for wrapper style tobacco, and decreased trade payables and accrued expenses in Brazil and Africa in fiscal year 2018 compared to fiscal year 2017. Tobacco inventories of $679.4 million at March 31, 2018, were up $113.5 million compared to inventory levels at the end of the prior fiscal year, largely on delayed North American shipments due to reduced transportation availability and increased wrapper inventories. We usually finance inventory with a mix of cash, notes payable, and customer deposits, depending on our borrowing capabilities, interest rates, and exchange rates, as well as those of our customers. We generally do not purchase material quantities of tobacco on a speculative basis. However, when we contract directly with farmers, we are obligated to buy all stalk positions, which may contain less marketable leaf styles. Our uncommitted tobacco inventories decreased by approximately $9.0 million to $107.2 million, or about 16% of tobacco inventory, at March 31, 2018. Uncommitted inventories at March 31, 2017, were $116.2 million, which represented 21% of tobacco inventory. The level of these uncommitted inventories is influenced by timing of farmer deliveries of new crops, as well as the receipt of customer orders. 24 Capital Allocation We announced a new capital allocation strategy on May 23, 2018, that reflects the strength of our balance sheet and demonstrates our focus on sustainable shareholder value creation. In connection with this newly announced strategy, and as part of our commitment to shareholder returns, our Board raised our quarterly dividend rate to $0.75 per share ($3.00 per share annual equivalent), a 36% increase from the prior quarterly dividend rate. The new quarterly dividend rate equates to about a $20 million annual increase in common dividend payments based on our shares outstanding as of May 21, 2018. Our enhanced capital allocation strategy focuses on four strategic priorities: Strengthening and investing for growth in our core tobacco business; Increasing our strong dividend; • • • Exploring growth opportunities in adjacent industries and markets that utilize our assets and capabilities; and • Returning excess capital through share repurchases. Our mission is to remain the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. By continuing to make disciplined investments within our core business and taking advantage of growth opportunities in tobacco as well as in adjacent industries and markets that utilize our assets and capabilities. Through these actions, we believe that will be able to deliver enhanced value for all shareholders through earnings growth and the generation of free cash flow despite operating in a mature industry. As we look ahead, we will continually evaluate opportunities to return capital to shareholders on an ongoing basis. At the same time, we remain committed to maintaining our investment grade credit rating and extending our 47-year history of dividend increases. Share Activity Our Board of Directors approved our current share repurchase program in November 2017. The program expires in November 2019 and authorizes the purchase of up to $100 million of our common stock. Under the current authorization, we may purchase shares from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at prices not exceeding prevailing market rates. Repurchases of shares under the repurchase program may vary based on management discretion, as well as changes in cash flow generation and availability. During fiscal year 2018, we purchased 403,224 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $21.6 million (average price per share of $53.55). At March 31, 2018, our available authorization under our current share repurchase program was approximately $91 million, and approximately 24.9 million common shares were outstanding. During December 2016, holders of 111,072 shares of our Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”) voluntarily exercised their conversion rights. These shares were converted into 2,487,118 shares of our common stock. The remaining outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock were mandatorily converted in January 2017. We elected to settle our conversion obligation in cash. Capital Spending Our capital expenditures are generally limited to those that add value, replace or maintain equipment, increase efficiency, or position us for future growth. In deciding where to invest capital resources, we look for opportunities where we believe we can earn an adequate return, leverage our assets and expertise, and enhance our farmer base. During fiscal years 2018 and 2017, we invested $34.0 million and $35.6 million, respectively, in our property, plant, and equipment. Depreciation expense was approximately $34.8 million and $35.9 million, respectively, in fiscal years 2018 and 2017. Generally, our capital spending on maintenance projects is at a level below depreciation expense in order to maintain strong cash flow. In addition, from time to time, we undertake projects that require capital expenditures when we identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, add value for our customers, and position ourselves for future growth. We currently plan to spend approximately $35 to $45 million in fiscal year 2019 on capital projects for maintenance of our facilities and other investments to grow and improve our businesses. We expect that about 25% of those capital expenditures will be for non-maintenance investments in our businesses. Outstanding Debt and Other Financing Arrangements We consider the sum of notes payable and overdrafts, long-term debt (including any current portion), and customer advances and deposits, less cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments on our balance sheet to be our net debt. We also consider our net debt plus shareholders' equity to be our net capitalization. Net debt increased by $32.5 million to $187.4 million during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. The increase primarily reflects lower cash balances. Net debt as a percentage of net capitalization was approximately 12% at March 31, 2018, up from 11% at March 31, 2017, and it remains lower than our target limit for peak seasonal borrowings of 30% to 40% of net capitalization. 25 As of March 31, 2018, we had $430 million available under a committed revolving credit facility that will mature in December 2019, and we, together with our consolidated affiliates, had approximately $294 million in uncommitted lines of credit, of which approximately $247 million were unused and available to support seasonal working capital needs. The financial covenants under our committed revolving credit facility require us to maintain certain levels of tangible net worth and observe restrictions on debt levels. As of March 31, 2018, we were in compliance with all covenants of our debt agreements. We also have an active, undenominated universal shelf registration filed with the SEC in November 2017 that provides for future issuance of additional debt or equity securities. We have no long-term debt maturing in fiscal year 2019. Derivatives From time to time, we use interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates. Currently, we have interest rate swap agreements that convert the variable benchmark LIBOR rate on our two outstanding term loans to fixed rates. With the swap agreements in place, the effective interest rates on our $150 million five-year term loan and $220 million seven- year term loan were 2.94% and 3.48%, respectively, as of March 31, 2018. These agreements were entered into to eliminate the variability of cash flows in the interest payments on our variable rate five- and seven-year term loans and are accounted for as cash flow hedges. Under the swap agreements, we receive variable rate interest and pay fixed rate interest. At March 31, 2018, the fair value of our open interest rate hedge swaps was a net asset of approximately $8 million. We also enter forward contracts from time to time to hedge certain foreign currency exposures, primarily related to forecast purchases of tobacco and related processing costs in Brazil, as well as our net monetary asset exposure in local currency there. We generally account for our hedges of forecast tobacco purchases as cash flow hedges. At March 31, 2018, the fair value of those open contracts was a net asset of approximately $8 million. We also had other forward contracts outstanding that were not designated as hedges, and the fair value of those contracts was an immaterial net asset at March 31, 2018. For additional information, see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Pension Funding Funds supporting our ERISA-regulated U.S. defined benefit pension plan increased by $8 million during fiscal year 2018 to $215 million, as contributions and asset returns exceeded benefit payments. The accumulated benefit obligation (“ABO”) and the projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) were both approximately $223 million as of March 31, 2018. The ABO and PBO are calculated on the basis of certain assumptions that are outlined in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. We expect to make contributions of about $15 million to our pension plans, including $6 million to our ERISA-regulated plan, during the next year. It is our policy to regularly monitor the performance of the funds and to review the adequacy of our funding and plan contributions. Contractual Obligations Our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2018, were as follows: (in thousands of dollars) Total 2019 2020-2021 2022-2023 After 2023 Notes payable and long-term debt (1) ........................................................................ $ 453,342 $ 59,001 $ 168,604 $ 225,737 $ — Operating lease obligations ........................................................................................ 51,500 13,473 17,925 9,848 10,254 Inventory purchase obligations: Tobacco .................................................................................................................... 758,152 644,207 113,945 Agricultural materials............................................................................................... Other purchase obligations......................................................................................... 47,958 4,528 47,958 4,528 — — — — — — — — Total.......................................................................................................................... $ 1,315,480 $ 769,167 $ 300,474 $ 235,585 $ 10,254 (1) Includes interest payments. Interest payments on $415.4 million of variable rate debt were estimated based on rates as of March 31, 2018. The Company has entered into interest rate swaps that effectively convert the interest payments on the $370.0 million outstanding balance of its two bank term loans from variable to fixed. The fixed rate has been used to determine the contractual interest payments for all periods. In addition to principal and interest payments on notes payable and long-term debt, our 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. About 40% of our crop year contracts to purchase tobacco are with farmers in Brazil. We have partially funded our tobacco purchases in Brazil and in other regions with short-term advances to farmers and other suppliers, which totaled approximately $123 million, net of allowances, at March 31, 2018. In addition, we have guaranteed bank loans to farmers in Brazil that relate to a portion of our tobacco purchase obligations there. At March 31, 2018, we were contingently liable under those guarantees for outstanding balances of approximately $20 million (including accrued interest), and we had recorded a liability of 26 approximately $1 million for the fair value of those guarantees. As tobacco is purchased and the related bank loans are repaid, our contingent liability is reduced. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS In preparing the financial statements in accordance with GAAP, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that have an impact on the assets, liabilities, revenue, and expense amounts reported. These estimates can also affect our supplemental information disclosures, including information about contingencies, risks, and financial condition. We believe, given current facts and circumstances, that our 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. Our critical accounting estimates and assumptions are in the following areas: Inventories Inventories of tobacco are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost determined under the specific cost method. Raw materials are clearly identified at the time of purchase. We track the costs associated with raw materials in the final product lots, and maintain this identification through the time of sale. We also capitalize 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. We write down inventory for changes in net realizable value based upon assumptions related to future demand and market conditions if the indicated value is below cost. Future demand assumptions can be impacted by changes in customer sales, changes in customers’ inventory positions and policies, competitors’ pricing policies and inventory positions, and varying crop sizes and qualities. Market conditions that differ significantly from those assumed by management could result in additional write-downs. We experience inventory write- downs routinely. Inventory write-downs in fiscal years 2018, 2017, and 2016 were $7.7 million, $10.9 million, and $11.9 million, respectively. Advances to Suppliers and Guarantees of Bank Loans to Suppliers In many sourcing origins, we provide tobacco growers with agronomy services and seasonal crop advances of, or for, seed, fertilizer, and other supplies. These advances are short term in nature and are customarily repaid upon delivery of tobacco to us. In several origins, we have also made long-term advances to tobacco farmers to finance curing barns and other farm infrastructure. In Brazil, we also guarantee bank loans made to farmers for seasonal crop financing. 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 those cases, we 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, we will incur losses whenever we are unable to recover the full amount of the loans and advances. At each reporting period, we must make estimates and assumptions in determining the valuation allowance for advances to farmers and the liability to accrue for our obligations under bank loan guarantees. At March 31, 2018, the gross balance of advances to suppliers totaled approximately $150 million, and the related valuation allowance totaled approximately $22 million. The fair value of the loan guarantees for farmers in Brazil was a liability of approximately $1 million at March 31, 2018. Recoverable Value-Added Tax Credits In many foreign countries, we pay significant amounts of value-added tax (“VAT”) on purchases of unprocessed and processed tobacco, crop inputs, packing materials, and various other goods and services. In some countries, VAT is a national tax, and in other countries it is assessed at the state level. Items subject to VAT vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as do the rates at which the tax is assessed. When we sell tobacco to customers in the country of origin, we generally collect VAT on those sales. We are normally permitted to offset our VAT payments against those collections and remit only the incremental VAT collections to the tax authorities. When tobacco is sold for export, VAT is normally not assessed. In countries where our tobacco sales are predominately for export markets, we often do not generate enough VAT collections on downstream sales to fully offset our VAT payments. In those situations, we can accumulate unused VAT credits. Some jurisdictions have procedures that allow companies to apply for refunds of unused VAT credits from the tax authorities, but the refund process often takes an extended period of time and it is not uncommon for refund applications to be challenged or rejected in part on technical grounds. Other jurisdictions may permit companies to sell or transfer unused VAT credits to third parties in private transactions, although approval for such transactions must normally be obtained from the tax authorities, limits on the amounts that can be transferred may be imposed, and the proceeds realized may be heavily discounted from the face value of the credits. Due to these factors, in some countries we can accumulate significant balances of VAT credits over time. We review these balances on a regular basis, and we record valuation allowances on the credits to reflect amounts that we do not expect to recover, as well as discounts anticipated on credits we expect to sell or transfer. In determining the appropriate valuation allowance to record in a given jurisdiction, we must make various estimates and assumptions about factors affecting the ultimate recovery of the VAT credits. At March 31, 2018, the gross balance of recoverable tax credits (primarily VAT) totaled approximately $49 million, and the related valuation allowance totaled approximately $15 million. 27 Goodwill We review the carrying value of goodwill for potential impairment on an annual basis and at any time that events or business conditions indicate that it may be impaired. As permitted under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350 (“ASC 350”), at March 31, 2018 and 2017, we elected to base our initial assessment of potential impairment on qualitative factors. Those factors did not indicate any impairment of our recorded goodwill. In fiscal years prior to basing our initial assessment on qualitative factors, we followed the quantitative approach in ASC 350 in assessing the fair value of our goodwill, which involved the use of discounted cash flow models (Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy under GAAP). Under our current qualitative assessment, we would also use those discounted cash flow models to measure any expected impairment indicated by the assessment. The calculations in these models are not based on observable market data from independent sources and therefore require significant management judgment with respect to operating earnings growth rates and the selection of an appropriate discount rate. Significant adverse changes in our operations or our estimates of future cash flows for a reporting unit with recorded goodwill, such as those caused by unforeseen events or changes in market conditions, could result in an impairment charge. Over 90% of our goodwill balance relates to our reporting unit in Brazil. Fair Value Measurements We hold various financial assets and financial liabilities that are required to be measured and reported at fair value in our financial statements, including money market funds, trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans, interest rate swaps, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, and guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers. We follow the relevant accounting guidance in determining the fair values of these financial assets and liabilities. Money market funds are valued based on net asset value (“NAV”), which is used as a practical expedient to measure the fair value of those funds (not classified within the fair value hierarchy). Quoted market prices (Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy) are used in most cases to determine the fair values of trading securities. Interest rate swaps and forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued based on dealer quotes using discounted cash flow models matched to the contractual terms of each instrument (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy). The fair value of the guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers, which was approximately $1 million at March 31, 2018, is derived using an internally-developed discounted cash flow model. The model requires various inputs, including historical loss percentages for comparable loans and a risk-adjusted interest rate. Because significant management judgment is required in determining and applying these inputs to the valuation model, our process for determining the fair value of these guarantees is classified as Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. At March 31, 2018, a 1% increase in the expected loss percentage for all guaranteed farmer loans would not have had a material effect on the fair value of the guarantee obligation. In addition, a 1% change in the risk-adjusted interest rate would not have had a material effect on the fair value of the guarantee obligation. We incorporate credit risk in determining the fair values of our financial assets and financial liabilities, but that risk did not materially affect the fair values of any of those assets or liabilities at March 31, 2018. Income Taxes Our consolidated effective income tax rate is based on our expected taxable income, tax laws and statutory tax rates, prevailing foreign currency exchange rates, and tax planning opportunities in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Significant judgment is required in determining the effective tax rate and evaluating our tax position. We are 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 our results, the tax attributed to that discrete item would be recorded at the same time as the item. With the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017, and the corresponding move of the United States system of corporate taxation for multinational companies from the taxation of worldwide income to a territorial tax system, our consolidated income tax expense and effective tax rate will be more heavily dependent on the tax rates of the individual countries in which we operate, the mix of our pretax earnings from those countries, and the prevailing rates of exchange of their local currencies with the U.S. dollar. The mix of pretax earnings and local currency exchange rates in particular can change significantly between annual and quarterly reporting periods based on crop sizes, market conditions, and economic factors. We expect these changes will make our effective tax rate more volatile from year-to-year and from quarter-to-quarter than it has been in the past. In addition, as permitted under guidance issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission following the enactment of the new law, the primary component effects of the new law on our tax position and consolidated financial statements have been accounted for on a provisional basis, allowing adjustments to the initial accounting for those effects to be made in future reporting periods for up to one year following the date of enactment of the law. We have made such adjustments, primarily arising from the continuing collection and analysis of data related to our tax position with respect to various foreign subsidiaries and from additional interpretive guidance issued with respect to the new law since it was enacted. We may record additional adjustments to the provisional accounting in subsequent quarters within the allowed one-year measurement period. We have no undistributed earnings of consolidated foreign subsidiaries that are classified as permanently or indefinitely reinvested. We assume that all undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries will be repatriated back to their parent entities in the U.S. where the funds are best placed to meet our cash flow requirements. In addition, we strive to mitigate economic, political, and currency risk by following a disciplined annual approach to the distribution of excess capital back to the U.S. Based on these 28 assumptions, in our income tax expense for each reporting period we fully provide for all applicable foreign country withholding taxes that are expected to be due on these distributions. Our accounting for uncertain tax positions requires that we review all significant tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, in income tax returns for all jurisdictions in which we operate. In this review, we must assume that all tax positions will ultimately be audited, and either accepted or rejected based on the applicable tax regulations by the tax authorities for those jurisdictions. We must recognize in our financial statements only the tax benefits associated with tax positions that are “more likely than not” to be accepted upon audit, at the greatest amount that is considered “more likely than not” to be accepted. These determinations require significant management judgment, and changes in any given quarterly or annual reporting period could affect our consolidated income tax rate. Tax regulations require items to be included in taxable income in the tax return at different times, and in some cases in different amounts, than the items are reflected in the financial statements. As a result, our effective tax rate reflected in the financial statements is different than that reported in our 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 liabilities generally represent tax expense recognized in our financial statements for which payment has been deferred or income taxes related to expenses that have not yet been recognized in the financial statements, but have been deducted in our tax return. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in future tax returns for which we have already recorded the tax benefit in our financial statements. We record valuation allowances for deferred tax assets when the amount of estimated future taxable income is not likely to support the use of the deduction or credit. Determining the amount of such valuation allowances requires significant management judgment, including estimates of future taxable income in multiple tax jurisdictions where we operate. Based on our periodic earnings forecasts, we project the upcoming year’s taxable income to help us evaluate our ability to realize deferred tax assets. For additional disclosures on income taxes, see Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans The measurement of our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations and costs at the end of each fiscal year requires that we make various assumptions that are used by our actuaries in estimating the present value of projected future benefit payments to all plan participants. Those assumptions take into consideration the likelihood of potential future events such as salary increases and demographic experience. The assumptions we use may have an effect on the amount and timing of future contributions to our plans. The plan trustee conducts an independent valuation of the fair value of pension plan assets. The significant assumptions used in the calculation of our pension and other postretirement benefit obligations are: • Discount rate – The discount rate is based on investment yields on a hypothetical portfolio of actual long-term corporate bonds rated AA that align with the cash flows for our benefit obligations. • Salary scale – The salary scale assumption is based on our long-term actual experience for salary increases, the near- term outlook, and expected inflation. • Expected long-term return on plan assets – The expected long-term return on plan assets reflects asset allocations and investment strategy adopted by the Pension Investment Committee of the Board of Directors. • Retirement and mortality rates – Retirement rates are based on actual plan experience along with our near-term outlook. Early retirement assumptions are based on our actual experience. Mortality rates are based on standard industry group annuity mortality tables which are updated to reflect projected improvements in life expectancy. • Healthcare cost trend rates – For postretirement medical plan obligations and costs, we make assumptions on future inflationary increases in medical costs. These assumptions are based on our actual experience, along with third-party forecasts of long-term medical cost trends. From one fiscal year to the next, the rates we use for each of the above assumptions may change based on market developments and other factors. The discount rate reflects prevailing market interest rates at the end of the fiscal year when the benefit obligations are actuarially measured and will increase or decrease based on market patterns. The expected long-term return on plan assets may change based on changes in investment strategy for plan assets or changes in indicated longer-term yields on specific classes of plan assets. In addition to the changes in actuarial assumptions from year to year, actual plan experience affecting our net benefit obligations, such as actual returns on plan assets and actual mortality experience, will differ from the assumptions used to measure the obligations. The effects of these changes and differences increase or decrease the obligation we record for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans, and they also create gains and losses that are accumulated and amortized over future periods, thus affecting the expense we recognize for these plans over those periods. Changes in the discount rate from year to year generally have the largest impact on our projected benefit obligation and annual expense, and the effects may be significant, particularly over successive years where the discount rate moves in the same direction. 29 As of March 31, 2018, the effect of the indicated increase or decrease in the selected pension and other postretirement benefit valuation assumptions is shown below. The effect assumes no change in benefit levels. (in thousands of dollars) Changes in Assumptions for Pension Benefits Discount Rate: Effect on 2018 Projected Benefit Obligation Increase (Decrease) Effect on 2019 Annual Expense Increase (Decrease) 1% increase ...................................................................................................................................................................... $ (27,001) $ 1% decrease ..................................................................................................................................................................... 32,767 Expected Long-Term Return on Plan Assets: 1% increase ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1% decrease ..................................................................................................................................................................... Changes in Assumptions for Other Postretirement Benefits Discount Rate: 1% increase ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1% decrease ..................................................................................................................................................................... Healthcare Cost Trend Rate: 1% increase ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1% decrease ..................................................................................................................................................................... — — (2,716) 3,202 323 (296) (3,047) 3,293 (2,351) 2,351 (343) 389 24 (23) A 1% increase or decrease in the salary scale assumption would not have a material effect on the projected benefit obligation or on annual expense for the Company's pension benefits. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for additional information on pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Other Estimates and Assumptions Other management estimates and assumptions are routinely required in preparing our financial statements, including the determination of valuation allowances on accounts receivable and the fair value of long-lived assets. 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. 30 OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING TRENDS AND MANAGEMENT’S ACTIONS Our financial performance depends on our ability to obtain an appropriate price for our products and services, to secure the tobacco volumes and quality desired by our customers, and to maintain efficient, competitive operations. We continually monitor issues and opportunities that may impact the supply of and demand for leaf tobacco, the volumes of leaf tobacco that we handle, and the services we provide. We believe that a key factor in our ability to perform successfully in this industry is our ability to provide customers with the quality of leaf and the level of service they desire on a global basis at competitive prices, while maintaining stability of supply. As the leading global leaf tobacco supplier, we add significant value to the supply chain, providing expertise in dealing with large numbers of farmers, efficiently selling various qualities of leaf produced in each crop to a broad global customer base, and delivering products and services that meet stringent quality and regulatory specifications. We also help stabilize the tobacco markets and influence crop development at the farm level. Our key objective is to continually adapt our business model to meet our customers' evolving needs while continuing to provide stability of supply and the quality that distinguishes our products and services. In addition, we monitor new product developments in the industry to identify areas where we can provide additional value to our customers. Current Industry Trends Mature Leaf Tobacco Markets Leaf tobacco is sourced directly by product manufacturers, by global leaf suppliers such as ourselves, and by other smaller, mostly regional or local, leaf suppliers. We estimate that, of the flue-cured and burley tobacco grown outside of China, approximately one-third is purchased directly by major manufacturers, slightly over one-third is handled by the global leaf suppliers, and the remainder is sourced by the smaller regional or local suppliers. Although we operate in a mature industry, where demand for the end products has been declining at a compound annual rate of about 2% over the last five years, our mission is to remain the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. In recent years, we believe that we have been and will continue to be able to maintain relatively steady earnings, despite declines in demand for leaf tobacco from product manufacturers, by increasing our delivery of services, supply chain efficiencies, and our market share. In addition, we have enhanced the range of services we provide to certain customers, including direct buying, agronomic support, and specialized processing services. We intend to continue to work to expand our business while at the same time maintaining an appropriate return for the services we provide and believe that there are several longer term trends in the industry that could provide additional opportunities for us to both offer additional services to our customers and to increase our market share. We continually explore options to capitalize on the strengths of our core competencies and seek growth opportunities related to tobacco and our operations around the world. For example, we have recently expanded our offerings to meet demand for shisha (water pipe) style leaf tobacco for customers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and natural wrappers in the United States and Europe. By making disciplined investments within our core business and taking advantage of these growth opportunities in tobacco, as well as in adjacent industries and markets that utilize our assets and capabilities, we are confident that we will deliver enhanced value for all shareholders through earnings growth and the generation of free cash flow. As we look to adjacent industries and explore new growth opportunities within tobacco, Universal is dedicated to remaining the leading global leaf tobacco supplier and building on our strong 100-year history. Focus on Cost Management Manufacturers naturally seek to mitigate raw materials cost increases, and they are placing increased emphasis on cost containment as they address declining demand. While this is not a new trend, it continues to offer opportunities to us as we bring supply chain efficiencies to the leaf markets. We believe that global leaf suppliers add efficiencies to the markets through economies of scale, as well as through the vital role played in finding buyers for all styles and qualities of leaf tobacco, which achieves overall cost reductions. To understand our business, it is important to note that tobacco is not a commodity product. Flavor and smoking characteristics of tobacco vary based on the type of tobacco, the region where the tobacco is grown, and the position of the leaf on the stalk of the plant. Many different styles and grades of tobacco may be produced in a single tobacco crop. A particular manufacturer may only want and have use for certain leaves of a plant. The leaf tobacco supplier plays a vital role in the industry by finding buyers for all of the leaf grades and styles of tobacco produced in a farmer’s crop. This role helps to improve leaf utilization. In addition to leaf utilization, we bring operational efficiencies to the industry, which in turn help reduce costs. These efficiencies include economical utilization of processing capacity, an established and scalable global network of agronomists and technicians helping maintain a stable, productive, and sustainable farmer base, as well as agronomic and production improvements to optimize leaf yields and qualities. In addition, we are able to offer manufacturers a complete range of services from the field to the delivery of the packed product that benefit from our efficiencies. These services include such things as buying station optimization, processing to specific customer specifications or needs, storage of green or packed leaf tobacco, and logistical services. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the level of direct purchasing, processing, and other supply chain services that we provide our customers, notably in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. We believe these moves acknowledge the efficiencies and services that global leaf suppliers bring to the entire supply chain. 31 We have also seen some reductions in sourcing from lower-volume tobacco growing origins by both global leaf suppliers and major manufacturers. Flue-cured tobacco is produced in over 70 countries around the world, and burley tobacco is grown in over 45 countries. However, over 80% of both the flue-cured tobacco grown outside of China and the worldwide burley tobacco production is sourced from the top ten growing areas for each type of tobacco. We believe that these moves to reduce sourcing areas are another way for the industry to increase efficiency and to reduce costs. In recent years we have contributed to cost reduction and elimination of excess capacity in the supply chain through the closure or realignment of programs in Argentina, Canada, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Switzerland, and Zambia. We maintain a strong presence in all of the major tobacco sourcing areas and believe that any growth in these areas would favor global leaf suppliers such as ourselves. In the future, we expect that increased regulations requiring stringent monitoring and testing of leaf chemistry and compliant sourcing documentation will place greater emphasis on major sourcing areas. Importance of Compliant Leaf As we have said for a number of years, the production of compliant leaf for the tobacco industry continues to grow in importance. To be considered compliant, leaf tobacco must be grown utilizing Good Agricultural Practices. We have long invested significant resources in the programs and infrastructure needed to work with growers to produce compliant leaf and continue to enhance our ability to monitor and demonstrate this compliance for customers. Our Good Agricultural Practices support an approach to farming that is focused on sustainability, employing sound field production and labor management practices that meet our customers’ needs, promote farmer profitability and reflect environmental sensitivity. To assist them, Universal provides comprehensive training, technical support in the field, and crop analytics through ongoing research and development. We believe that compliant leaf will continue to grow in importance to our customers and will favor the two global suppliers who are able to deliver this product. Growth of Alternative Tobacco Products Most of the major tobacco product manufacturers have been developing next generation and modified risk products. These include electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”), liquid vaporizers, and heated tobacco products. ENDS and liquid vaporizers use liquid nicotine, which is predominately derived from leaf tobacco, and heated tobacco products use leaf tobacco. At this time it is unclear how these new products will affect demand for leaf tobacco. However, as our customers have been developing these products, we have been working with them for many years to make sure we are well-positioned to meet their needs for both their traditional and new products. We have expertise in tobacco seed development, crop production methods, crop sourcing, processing, and manufacturing of reconstituted sheet tobacco that enable us to efficiently and effectively meet our customers changing needs. We also are able to provide high quality liquid nicotine through our joint venture, AmeriNic. Currently, regulation of these products as well as consumer acceptance and their influence on smoking trends are unclear, and we continue to monitor industry developments. Supply Flue-cured tobacco crops grown outside of China increased in our fiscal year 2018 mainly due to a return to normal crop volumes in Brazil following smaller crops in the prior fiscal year due to adverse weather conditions there. Global burley tobacco production decreased in our fiscal year 2018, largely due to smaller crops in Africa. Less African burley leaf was grown in fiscal year 2018 due to unfavorable weather conditions as well as excess production and lower grower prices in fiscal year 2017. African burley volumes are on track to increase in our fiscal year 2019, and flue-cured tobacco crops grown outside of China are projected to be in line with fiscal year 2018 crop sizes. We believe that flue-cured tobacco may be in a slight oversupply position and burley tobacco production levels are largely in balance with anticipated demand. Production Worldwide flue-cured tobacco production outside of China increased by about 11% in fiscal year 2018 to 1.9 billion kilos, including an approximately 35% crop size recovery in Brazil. Worldwide burley crops decreased by about 11% in fiscal year 2018. We estimate that at March 31, 2018, industry uncommitted flue-cured and burley inventories, excluding China, totaled about 86 million kilos, an increase of about 4% from March 31, 2017 levels. In the near term, we expect that flue-cured production (excluding China) will be flat at about 1.9 billion kilos in fiscal year 2019, and worldwide burley production is forecast to increase by about 9% on recoveries in African burley crop sizes. We also forecast that oriental tobacco and dark air-cured production will increase by 8% and 4%, respectively, in fiscal year 2019. Over the long term, we believe that global tobacco production will continue a slight decline in line with slightly declining total demand. South America, Asia, Africa, and North America will remain key sourcing regions for flue-cured and burley tobaccos. China China is a significant cigarette market. However, most of the cigarettes consumed in China and the leaf tobacco used in those cigarettes are produced domestically. Therefore, we normally view the Chinese market independently when evaluating worldwide leaf tobacco supply and demand. We believe that China’s domestic leaf production exceeds their domestic needs for the local cigarette market, and there is a build-up of domestic leaf inventory there. China is currently demonstrating efforts to re-align their domestic leaf production and inventories to balance their needs, and these efforts could influence global supply/demand in the short term. 32 Pricing Factors that affect green tobacco prices include global supply and demand, market conditions, production costs, foreign exchange rates, and competition from other crops. We work with farmers to maintain tobacco production and to secure product at price levels that are attractive to both the farmers and our customers. Our objective is to secure compliant tobacco that is produced in a cost-effective manner under a sustainable business model with the desired quality for our customers. In some areas, tobacco competes with agricultural commodity products for farmer production. If prices for soybeans, wheat, rice, and seed oils rise in certain origins, green tobacco prices may have to rise to maintain tobacco production levels. In the past, leaf shortages in specific markets or on a worldwide basis have also led to green tobacco price increases. Demand Industry data shows that over the past five years, total world consumption of cigarettes fell at the compound annual rate of about 2%. We believe that growth in world consumption of cigarettes peaked several years ago and is declining. As a result, we expect that near term global demand for leaf tobacco will continue to slowly decline in line with declining cigarette consumption. Our sales consist primarily of flue-cured and burley tobaccos. Those types of tobacco, along with oriental tobaccos, are used in American-blend cigarettes which are primarily smoked in Western Europe and the United States. English-blend cigarettes which use flue-cured tobacco are mainly smoked in the United Kingdom and Asia and other emerging markets. Industry data shows that consumption of American-blend cigarettes has declined at a compound annual rate of about 2% for the five years ended in 2017. As cigarette consumption declines in developed markets and increases in the emerging markets, there may be less demand for burley and oriental tobaccos and more demand for flue-cured tobacco. However, demand is affected by many factors, including regulation, product taxation, illicit trade, alternative tobacco products, and Chinese imports. To the extent that domestic leaf production and inventory durations in China do not meet requirements for Chinese cigarette blends, that tobacco could be sourced from other origins where we have major market positions. On a year-to-year basis, we are also susceptible to fluctuations in leaf supply due to crop sizes and leaf demand as manufacturers adjust inventories or respond to changes in cigarette markets. We currently expect supply for flue-cured tobacco slightly exceeds and burley tobacco supply is largely in line with anticipated demand. However, inventories held by our customers may affect their near-term demand for leaf tobacco. We also sell oriental tobacco, which is used in American- blend cigarettes, and dark tobacco, which is used in cigars and other smokeless products. While we expect demand for oriental tobacco and dark tobacco used in cigar filler to be generally in line with supply, we are seeing strong demand for dark tobacco used for cigar wrappers. Regulation and Product Taxation Decreased social acceptance of smoking and increased pressure from anti-smoking groups have had an ongoing adverse effect on the percentage of the population using tobacco products, particularly in the United States and Western Europe. Many governments have additionally 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 (“FCTC”), which was negotiated under the auspices of the WHO and offers guidelines for discouraging or controlling tobacco use. The more than 180 countries that are signatories to the FCTC may choose the level of implementation of the guidelines that is most suitable with their approach to tobacco control. For example, in recent years China imposed a ban on smoking in public places, while in the United Kingdom and Australia, laws have been passed mandating plain packaging, the removal of branding on cigarette packages. We cannot predict the extent to which government efforts to reduce tobacco consumption might affect the business of our primary customers. However, a significant decrease in worldwide tobacco consumption, as well as shifts to modified risk tobacco products brought about by existing or future governmental laws and regulations, could reduce demand for leaf tobacco and services and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, certain recommendations by the WHO, through the FCTC, may cause shifts in customer usage of certain types and styles of tobacco. As seen in Canada, Brazil, and the European Union, efforts have been taken to eliminate flavorings from tobacco products. Additionally, discussions are intensifying about the possibility of reducing nicotine content in certain tobacco products to less than addictive levels. Such decisions could cause a change in requirements for certain leaf tobaccos in particular countries. Shifts in customer demand from one type of leaf tobacco to another could create sourcing issues as requirements move from one origin to another. Furthermore, instruction at the farm level may be required to produce the changing styles of leaf tobacco needed by tobacco product manufacturers. Given our strong global footprint and our established and well-developed programs and networks at the farm level worldwide, we are particularly well positioned to meet manufacturer requirements. In 2009, the U.S. Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“the Act”). This legislation authorizes the FDA to regulate the manufacturing and marketing of all tobacco products. The FDA has banned flavored cigarettes, restricted youth access to tobacco products, banned advertising claims regarding certain tobacco products, established new smokeless tobacco warnings, and issued new cigarette health warnings. In addition, the FDA established the Center for Tobacco Products (“CTP”). Over the past decade, the CTP has focused on establishing the scientific foundation and regulatory framework for regulating tobacco products in the United States. On May 10, 2016, the FDA released “deeming” regulations that extend FDA oversight to all tobacco products including electronic nicotine delivery systems, cigars, hookah tobacco, pipe tobacco, dissolvables, and “novel and future products.” The regulations require that tobacco product manufacturers register tobacco products that existed on February 15, 33 2007, and to seek FDA authorization to sell any products modified or introduced after such date. All such submissions require manufacturers to list ingredients in their products. On July 28, 2017, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced a new regulatory approach for the regulation of combustible and vapor products focusing on nicotine reduction and the continuum of risk. The agency issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (“ANPRM”) with the intention of developing a nicotine product standard for cigarettes that reduces the level of nicotine to below-addictive levels. Additional ANPRMs were issued: 1) to explore the science behind exempting premium cigars from premarket authorization requirements and 2) to address menthol in cigarettes, flavors in vapor and other ENDS products, and the future ENDS and vapor product standards. Comment periods remain open until June 14, 2018 for nicotine reduction, June 19, 2018 for flavors and June 25, 2018 for premium cigars. In other actions, the FDA is seeking public comment on the potential for development of illicit trade markets with a due date of June 14, 2018. Regulations impacting our customer base that change the requirements for leaf tobacco or restrict their ability to sell their products will inherently impact our business. As discussed, we have established programs that begin at the farm level to assist our customers with raw material information to support leaf traceability and customer testing requirements, including the detection of nicotine levels. Additionally, given our global presence, we also have the ability to source different types and styles of tobacco for our customers should their needs change due to regulation. A number of governments, particularly federal and local governments in the United States and the European Union, impose excise or similar taxes on tobacco products. There has been, and will likely continue to be, new legislation proposing new or increased taxes on tobacco products. In some cases, proposed legislation seeks to significantly increase existing taxes on tobacco products, or impose new taxes on products that to date have not been subject to tax. Increases in product taxation may reduce the affordability of, and demand for, cigarettes, which will affect requirements for leaf tobacco by tobacco product manufacturers. Illicit Trade Illicit trade is another factor which influences demand for leaf tobacco. Industry estimates of the illegal, unregulated black market for cigarettes are approximately 10% to 12% of global stick consumption, representing $40 to $50 billion in lost tax revenue globally. We support industry efforts to eradicate illicit trade. Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk Interest Rates We generally use both fixed and floating interest rate debt to finance our operations. Changes in market interest rates expose us to changes in cash flows for floating rate instruments and to changes in fair value for fixed-rate instruments. We normally maintain a proportion of our debt in both variable and fixed interest rates to manage this exposure, and from time to time we may enter hedge agreements to swap the interest rates. In addition, our customers may pay market rates of interest for inventory purchased on order, which could mitigate a portion of the floating interest rate exposure. We also periodically have large cash balances and may receive deposits from customers, both of which we use to fund seasonal purchases of tobacco, reducing our financing needs. Excluding our bank term loans, which have been converted to fixed-rate borrowings with interest rate swaps, debt carried at variable interest rates was approximately $45 million at March 31, 2018. Although a hypothetical 1% change in short-term interest rates would result in a change in annual interest expense of approximately $0.5 million, that amount would be at least partially mitigated by changes in charges to customers. In addition, changes in interest rates affect the calculation of our pension plan liabilities. As rates decrease, the liability for the present value of amounts expected to be paid under the plans increases. Rate changes also affect expense. As of the March 31, 2018 measurement date, a 1% decrease in the discount rate would have increased the projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) for pensions by $33 million and increased annual pension expense by $3 million. Conversely, a 1% increase in the discount rate would have reduced the PBO by $27 million and reduced annual pension expense by $3 million. Currency The international leaf tobacco trade generally is conducted in U.S. dollars, thereby limiting foreign exchange risk to that which is related to leaf purchase and production costs, overhead, and income taxes in the source country. We also provide farmer advances that are directly related to leaf purchases and are denominated in the local currency. Any currency gains or losses on those advances are usually offset by increases or decreases in the cost of tobacco, which is priced in the local currency. However, the effect of the offset may not occur until a subsequent quarter or fiscal year. Most of our 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 our major countries of tobacco origin, we often manage our foreign exchange risk by matching funding for inventory purchases with the currency of sale, which is usually the U.S. dollar, and by minimizing our net local currency monetary position in individual countries. We are vulnerable to currency remeasurement gains and losses to the extent that monetary assets and liabilities denominated in local currency do not offset each other. We recognized $0.2 million in net remeasurement gains in fiscal year 2018, compared to $9.3 million in net remeasurement losses in fiscal year 2017, and $22.5 million in net remeasurement losses in fiscal year 2016. We recognized $0.1 million in net foreign currency transaction losses in fiscal year 2018, compared to net transaction losses of $1.3 million in fiscal year 2017, and net transaction gains of $8.0 million in fiscal year 2016. In addition to foreign exchange gains and losses, we are 34 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. We have entered forward currency exchange contracts to hedge against the effects of currency movements on purchases of tobacco to reduce the volatility of costs. In addition, we periodically enter into forward contracts to hedge balance sheet exposures. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for additional information about our hedging activities. In certain tobacco markets that are primarily domestic, we use the local currency as the functional currency. Examples of these markets are Poland and the Philippines. In other markets, such as Western Europe, where export sales are primarily in local currencies, we also use the local currency as the functional currency. In each case, reported earnings are affected by the translation of the local currency into the U.S. dollar. Derivatives Policies Hedging interest rate exposure using swaps and hedging foreign currency exchange rate exposure using forward contracts are specifically contemplated to manage risk in keeping with management's policies. We may use derivative instruments, such as swaps, forwards, or futures, which are based directly or indirectly upon interest rates and currencies to manage and reduce the risks inherent in interest rate and currency fluctuations. When we use foreign currency derivatives to mitigate our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, we may choose not to designate them as hedges for accounting purposes, which may result in the effects of the derivatives being recognized in our earnings in periods different from the items that created the exposure. We do not utilize derivatives for speculative purposes, and we do not enter into market risk-sensitive instruments for trading purposes. Derivatives are transaction-specific so that a specific debt instrument, forecast purchase, contract, or invoice determines the amount, maturity, and other specifics of the hedge. We routinely review counterparty risk as part of our derivative program. 35 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (in thousands of dollars, except share and per share data) 2018 2017 2016 Sales and other operating revenues......................................................................................................... $ 2,033,947 $ 2,071,218 $ 2,120,373 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, Costs and expenses Cost of goods sold................................................................................................................................ 1,661,999 1,676,539 1,713,042 Selling, general and administrative expenses ...................................................................................... 200,461 211,969 226,685 Other income........................................................................................................................................ Restructuring and impairment costs..................................................................................................... — — — 4,359 (3,390) 2,389 Operating income.................................................................................................................................... 171,487 178,351 181,647 Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates......................................................................... Interest income..................................................................................................................................... Interest expense.................................................................................................................................... Income before income taxes ................................................................................................................... Income taxes ........................................................................................................................................ Net income .............................................................................................................................................. Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries .............................................. Net income attributable to Universal Corporation.................................................................................. Dividends on Universal Corporation convertible perpetual preferred stock .......................................... Cost in excess of carrying value on conversion/repurchase of convertible perpetual preferred stock ... 9,125 1,686 15,621 166,677 50,509 116,168 (10,506) 105,662 — — 5,774 1,397 16,284 169,238 56,732 112,506 (6,202) 106,304 5,422 1,178 15,669 172,578 54,430 118,148 (9,132) 109,016 (11,061) (14,748) (74,353) — Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders...................................................... $ 105,662 $ 20,890 $ 94,268 Earnings per share attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders: Basic..................................................................................................................................................... $ Diluted.................................................................................................................................................. $ 4.18 4.14 $ $ 0.89 0.88 $ $ 4.16 3.92 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic..................................................................................................................................................... 25,274,975 23,433,860 22,683,290 Diluted.................................................................................................................................................. 25,508,144 23,770,088 27,825,491 See accompanying notes. 36 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (in thousands of dollars) Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Net income .............................................................................................................................................. $ 116,168 $ 112,506 $ 118,148 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation, net of income taxes ............................................................................... Foreign currency hedge, net of income taxes ...................................................................................... Interest rate hedge, net of income taxes............................................................................................... Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes .................................................. Total other comprehensive income, net of income taxes ............................................................... Total comprehensive income ......................................................................................................... Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests.................................................... 14,162 223 4,498 2,613 21,496 137,664 (10,134) (6,899) (933) 8,395 1,475 2,038 114,544 (5,449) 3,934 2,509 (5,015) 1,004 2,432 120,580 (8,920) Comprehensive income attributable to Universal Corporation .............................................................. $ 127,530 $ 109,095 $ 111,660 See accompanying notes. 37 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands of dollars) Current assets ASSETS March 31, 2018 2017 Cash and cash equivalents.................................................................................................................................................... $ 234,128 $ Accounts receivable, net....................................................................................................................................................... Advances to suppliers, net.................................................................................................................................................... Accounts receivable—unconsolidated affiliates .................................................................................................................. 377,119 122,786 2,040 283,993 439,288 103,750 2,373 Inventories—at lower of cost or net realizable value: Tobacco.............................................................................................................................................................................. 679,428 565,943 Other.................................................................................................................................................................................. Prepaid income taxes............................................................................................................................................................ Other current assets .............................................................................................................................................................. 69,301 16,032 88,209 68,087 16,713 81,252 Total current assets ............................................................................................................................................................ 1,589,043 1,561,399 Property, plant and equipment Land...................................................................................................................................................................................... Buildings .............................................................................................................................................................................. Machinery and equipment .................................................................................................................................................... 23,180 271,757 634,660 929,597 22,852 266,802 597,213 886,867 Less accumulated depreciation.......................................................................................................................................... (605,803) (569,527) Other assets Goodwill and other intangibles ............................................................................................................................................ Investments in unconsolidated affiliates .............................................................................................................................. Deferred income taxes.......................................................................................................................................................... Other noncurrent assets ........................................................................................................................................................ 323,794 317,340 98,927 89,302 17,118 50,448 98,888 78,457 25,422 41,899 255,795 244,666 Total assets......................................................................................................................................................................... $ 2,168,632 $ 2,123,405 38 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS—(Continued) (in thousands of dollars) Current liabilities LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY March 31, 2018 2017 Notes payable and overdrafts............................................................................................................................................... $ 45,421 $ Accounts payable and accrued expenses ............................................................................................................................. 163,763 Accounts payable—unconsolidated affiliates...................................................................................................................... Customer advances and deposits ......................................................................................................................................... Accrued compensation......................................................................................................................................................... Income taxes payable........................................................................................................................................................... Current portion of long-term debt........................................................................................................................................ 16,072 7,021 27,886 7,557 — 59,133 153,515 7,231 11,007 32,007 5,103 — Total current liabilities ................................................................................................................................................ 267,720 267,996 Long-term debt........................................................................................................................................................................ 369,086 368,733 Pensions and other postretirement benefits............................................................................................................................. Other long-term liabilities....................................................................................................................................................... Deferred income taxes ............................................................................................................................................................ 64,843 45,955 35,726 80,689 31,424 47,985 Total liabilities ............................................................................................................................................................ 783,330 796,827 Shareholders’ equity Universal Corporation: Preferred stock: Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, 500,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding............................................................................................................................................. Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 24,930,725 shares issued and outstanding (25,274,506 at March 31, 2017) ............................................................................................................. — — 321,559 321,207 Retained earnings.............................................................................................................................................................. 1,080,934 1,034,841 Accumulated other comprehensive loss............................................................................................................................ (60,064) (69,559) Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity....................................................................................................... 1,342,429 1,286,489 Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries.................................................................................................................................. 42,873 40,089 Total shareholders' equity ........................................................................................................................................... 1,385,302 1,326,578 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity..................................................................................................................... $ 2,168,632 $ 2,123,405 See accompanying notes. 39 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands of dollars) Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Net income .............................................................................................................................................. $ 116,168 $ 112,506 $ 118,148 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation ......................................................................................................................................... Provision for losses (recoveries) on advances and guaranteed loans to suppliers ............................... Inventory write-downs ......................................................................................................................... Stock-based compensation expense ..................................................................................................... Foreign currency remeasurement loss (gain), net ................................................................................ Deferred income taxes.......................................................................................................................... Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends .................................................... Fair value gain upon acquisition of partner's interest in joint venture ................................................. Restructuring and impairment costs ..................................................................................................... 34,836 3,730 7,687 7,610 (184) (11,132) (1,521) — — Other, net .............................................................................................................................................. (6,167) Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net: Accounts and notes receivable .......................................................................................................... Inventories and other assets............................................................................................................... Income taxes...................................................................................................................................... Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities ................................................................................. Customer advances and deposits....................................................................................................... Net cash provided by operating activities ....................................................................................... 38,264 (116,427) 1,239 13,082 (3,940) 83,245 35,911 (857) 10,866 6,475 9,269 16,626 396 — 4,359 (4,463) (14,346) 52,139 (1,719) 28,643 (5,490) 250,315 Cash Flows From Investing Activities: Purchase of property, plant and equipment .......................................................................................... (34,037) (35,630) Purchase of partner's interest in joint venture, net of cash held by the business.................................. Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment .......................................................................... Other..................................................................................................................................................... — 5,194 (550) — 2,174 (398) Net cash used by investing activities............................................................................................... (29,393) (33,854) Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Issuance (repayment) of short-term debt, net ....................................................................................... Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries................................................................... Conversion of convertible perpetual preferred stock ........................................................................... Repurchase of common stock............................................................................................................... Dividends paid on convertible perpetual preferred stock..................................................................... Dividends paid on common stock ........................................................................................................ Other..................................................................................................................................................... Net cash used by financing activities .............................................................................................. Effect of exchange rate changes on cash................................................................................................. Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents ............................................................................. Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year...................................................................................... (18,159) (7,350) — (21,610) — (54,699) (2,828) (104,646) 929 (49,865) 283,993 (5,349) (4,200) (178,365) — (11,061) (49,828) (2,441) (251,244) (671) (35,454) 319,447 Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year ........................................................................................ $ 234,128 $ 283,993 $ 36,754 815 11,899 5,206 22,517 15,046 156 (3,390) 2,389 13,204 (2,806) (7,370) 1,437 (13,678) (13,796) 186,531 (47,153) (5,964) 2,982 (796) (50,931) 4,880 (4,449) — — (14,748) (47,389) (2,940) (64,646) (290) 70,664 248,783 319,447 Supplemental information—cash paid for: Interest .................................................................................................................................................. $ Income taxes, net of refunds................................................................................................................. $ 15,621 58,339 $ $ 16,284 37,294 $ $ 15,704 38,732 Non-cash Financing Transaction - The consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 include a non-cash reclassification of $107.6 million from preferred stock to common stock to reflect the conversion of 111,072 shares of the Company's outstanding Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock into common stock. See Note 11 for additional information. See accompanying notes. 40 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (in thousands of dollars) Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 Universal Corporation Shareholders Common Stock Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Non- controlling Interests Total Shareholders' Equity Balance at beginning of year.................................................................................. $ 321,207 $ 1,034,841 $ (69,559) $ 40,089 $ 1,326,578 Changes in preferred and common stock Repurchase of common stock ....................................................................... Accrual of stock-based compensation .......................................................... Withholding of shares from stock-based compensation for grantee income taxes.......................................................................................................... Dividend equivalents on restricted stock units (RSUs) ................................ (5,142) 7,610 (2,828) 712 Changes in retained earnings Net income .................................................................................................... Cash dividends declared on common stock ($2.18 per share)...................... Repurchase of common stock ....................................................................... Dividend equivalents on restricted stock units (RSUs) ................................ Other comprehensive income (loss) Foreign currency translation, net of income taxes ........................................ Foreign currency hedge, net of income taxes ............................................... Interest rate hedge, net of income taxes........................................................ Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes ........... Other changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Reclassification of disproportionate tax effects related to changes in U.S. corporate income tax law to retained earnings (ASU 2018-02) (see Notes 1 and 4)........................................................................................... Other changes in noncontrolling interests Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders ............................................ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 105,662 (54,762) (16,468) (712) — — — — — — — — — — — — 14,534 223 4,498 2,613 12,373 (12,373) — — — — 10,506 — — — (5,142) 7,610 (2,828) 712 116,168 (54,762) (16,468) (712) (372) 14,162 — — — — 223 4,498 2,613 — — — (7,350) (7,350) Balance at end of year............................................................................................ $ 321,559 $ 1,080,934 $ (60,064) $ 42,873 $ 1,385,302 41 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY—(Continued) (in thousands of dollars) Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017 Universal Corporation Shareholders Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock Common Stock Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Non- controlling Interests Total Shareholders' Equity Balance at beginning of year............................................................ $ 211,562 $ 208,946 $ 1,066,064 $ (72,350) $ 38,840 $ 1,453,062 Changes in preferred and common stock Conversion of Series B 6.75% convertible perpetual preferred stock for common stock .......................................... (107,550) 107,550 Conversion of Series B 6.75% convertible perpetual preferred stock for cash........................................................... (104,012) Accrual of stock-based compensation .................................... Withholding of shares from stock-based compensation for grantee income taxes .......................................................... Dividend equivalents on restricted stock units (RSUs) .......... Changes in retained earnings Net income .............................................................................. Cash dividends declared Series B 6.75% convertible perpetual preferred stock ($50.63 per share).......................................................... Common stock ($2.14 per share)....................................... Conversion of Series B 6.75% convertible perpetual preferred stock for cash ...................................................... Dividend equivalents on restricted stock units (RSUs) .......... Other comprehensive income (loss) Foreign currency translation, net of income taxes .................. Foreign currency hedge, net of income taxes ......................... Interest rate hedge, net of income taxes.................................. Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes ....................................................................... Other changes in noncontrolling interests Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders ...................... — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 6,475 (2,440) 676 — 106,304 — — — — — — — — (11,061) (51,437) (74,353) (676) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — (6,146) (933) 8,395 1,475 — — — — — — (104,012) 6,475 (2,440) 676 6,202 112,506 — — — (753) — — — (11,061) (51,437) (74,353) (676) (6,899) (933) 8,395 1,475 — (4,200) (4,200) Balance at end of year...................................................................... $ — $ 321,207 $ 1,034,841 $ (69,559) $ 40,089 $ 1,326,578 42 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY—(Continued) (in thousands of dollars) Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2016 Universal Corporation Shareholders Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock Common Stock Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Non- controlling Interests Total Shareholders' Equity Balance at beginning of year............................................................ $ 211,562 $ 206,002 $ 1,020,155 $ (74,994) $ 34,369 $ 1,397,094 Changes in preferred and common stock Accrual of stock-based compensation .................................... Withholding of shares from stock-based compensation for grantee income taxes .......................................................... Dividend equivalents on restricted stock units (RSUs) .......... Changes in retained earnings Net income .............................................................................. Cash dividends declared Series B 6.75% convertible perpetual preferred stock ($67.50 per share).......................................................... Common stock ($2.10 per share)....................................... Dividend equivalents on restricted stock units (RSUs) .......... Other comprehensive income (loss) Foreign currency translation, net of income taxes .................. Foreign currency hedge, net of income taxes ......................... Interest rate hedge, net of income taxes.................................. Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net of income taxes ....................................................................... Other changes in noncontrolling interests Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders ...................... — — — — — — — — — — — — 5,206 (2,940) 678 — — — — 109,016 — — — — — — — — (14,748) (47,681) (678) — — — — — — — — — — — — 4,146 2,509 (5,015) 1,004 — — — 5,206 (2,940) 678 9,132 118,148 — — — (212) — — — (14,748) (47,681) (678) 3,934 2,509 (5,015) 1,004 — (4,449) (4,449) Balance at end of year...................................................................... $ 211,562 $ 208,946 $ 1,066,064 $ (72,350) $ 38,840 $ 1,453,062 43 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY—(Continued) Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Preferred Shares Outstanding: Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock: Balance at beginning of year................................................................................................................. Conversion of convertible perpetual preferred stock for common stock.............................................. Conversion of convertible perpetual preferred stock for cash .............................................................. Balance at end of year........................................................................................................................... — — — — 218,490 (111,072) (107,418) 218,490 — — — 218,490 Common Shares Outstanding: Balance at beginning of year................................................................................................................. 25,274,506 22,717,735 22,593,266 Issuance of common stock .................................................................................................................... 59,843 69,653 124,469 Conversion of convertible perpetual preferred stock for common stock.............................................. — 2,487,118 Repurchase of common stock ............................................................................................................... (403,624) — — — Balance at end of year........................................................................................................................... 24,930,725 25,274,506 22,717,735 See accompanying notes. 44 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (All dollar amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts or as otherwise noted.) NOTE 1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Nature of Operations Universal Corporation, which together with its subsidiaries is referred to herein as “Universal” or the “Company,” is the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. The Company conducts business in over 30 countries, primarily in major tobacco-producing regions of the world. Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Universal Corporation 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. The equity method of accounting is used for investments in companies where Universal Corporation has a voting interest of 20% to 50%. These investments are accounted for under the equity method because Universal exercises significant influence over those companies, but not control. The Company received dividends totaling $5.5 million in fiscal year 2018, $5.1 million in fiscal year 2017, and $3.4 million in fiscal year 2016, from companies accounted for under the equity method. 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 to the extent they represent a distribution of retained earnings. The Company's 49% ownership interest in Socotab L.L.C. (“Socotab”), a leading supplier of oriental tobaccos with operations located principally in Eastern Europe and Turkey, is the primary investment accounted for under the equity method. The investment in Socotab is an important part of the Company's overall product and service arrangements with its major customers. The Company reviews the carrying value of its investments in Socotab and its other unconsolidated affiliates on a regular basis and considers whether any factors exist that might indicate an impairment in value that is other than temporary. At March 31, 2018, the Company determined that no such factors existed with respect to those investments. The Company's operations in Zimbabwe are deconsolidated under accounting requirements that apply under certain conditions to foreign subsidiaries that are subject to foreign exchange controls and other government restrictions. Since deconsolidation, the investment has been accounted for using the cost method, as required under the accounting guidance. The investment in the Zimbabwe operations was zero at March 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company has a net foreign currency translation loss associated with the Zimbabwe operations of approximately $7.2 million, which remains a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. As a regular part of its reporting, the Company reviews the conditions that resulted in the deconsolidation of the Zimbabwe operations to confirm that such accounting treatment is still appropriate. Dividends from the Zimbabwe operations are recorded in income in the period received. The Company holds less than a 100% financial interest in certain consolidated subsidiaries. The net income and shareholders’ equity attributable to the noncontrolling interests in these subsidiaries are reported on the face of the consolidated financial statements. During fiscal year 2018, the Company purchased the noncontrolling interest of one subsidiary for $0.6 million. Other than this transaction, there were no changes in the Company’s ownership percentage in any of these subsidiaries during fiscal years 2016, 2017, or 2018. 45 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 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 review 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 follows the applicable accounting guidance in determining the fair value of the investments. In most cases, this involves the use of undiscounted and discounted cash flow models (Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy under the accounting guidance). If the fair value of an equity or cost method investee is determined to be lower than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized. The determination of fair value using discounted cash flow models is normally not based on observable market data from independent sources and therefore requires significant management judgment with respect to estimates of future operating earnings 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 related to these investments. In its consolidated statements of income, the Company reports its proportional share of the earnings of unconsolidated affiliates accounted for on the equity method based on the pretax earnings of those affiliates, as permitted under the applicable accounting guidance. All applicable foreign and U.S. income taxes are provided on these earnings and reported as a component of consolidated income tax expense. For unconsolidated affiliates located in foreign jurisdictions, repatriation of the Company’s share of the earnings through dividends is assumed in determining consolidated income tax expense. The following table provides a reconciliation of (1) equity in the pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, as reported in the consolidated statements of income to (2) equity in the net income of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends, as reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Equity in pretax earnings reported in the consolidated statements of income ..................... $ 9,125 $ 5,774 $ Less: Equity in income taxes ............................................................................................... Equity in net income............................................................................................................. Less: Dividends received on investments (1) ....................................................................... Equity in net income, net of dividends, reported in the consolidated statements of cash (2,063) 7,062 (5,541) (1,092) 4,682 (5,078) 5,422 (2,156) 3,266 (3,422) flows ................................................................................................................................. $ 1,521 $ (396) $ (156) (1) In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates accounted for on the equity method that represent a return on capital (i.e., a return of earnings on a cumulative basis) are presented as operating cash flows in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Earnings Per Share The Company calculates basic earnings per share based on earnings available to common shareholders. For fiscal years prior to 2018, dividends paid on the Company’s Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock prior to its conversion (see Note 11) were deducted in determining earnings available to common shareholders. The calculation uses the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is computed in a similar manner using the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding. Dilutive potential common shares include unvested restricted stock units and performance share awards that are assumed to be fully vested and paid out in shares of common stock, dilutive stock options and stock appreciation rights that were assumed to be exercised, and shares of convertible perpetual preferred stock that were assumed to be converted when the effect was dilutive (prior to their actual conversion). In periods when the effect of the convertible perpetual preferred stock was dilutive and those shares were assumed to be converted into common stock, dividends paid on the preferred stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share. Calculations of earnings per share for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, are provided in Note 3. Cash and Cash Equivalents All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. 46 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Advances to Suppliers In many sourcing origins where the Company operates, it provides agronomy services and seasonal advances of seed, fertilizer, and other supplies to tobacco farmers for crop production, or makes seasonal cash advances to farmers for the procurement of those inputs. These advances are short term, are repaid upon delivery of tobacco to the Company, and are reported in advances to suppliers in the consolidated balance sheets. In several origins, the Company has made long-term advances to tobacco farmers to finance curing barns and other farm infrastructure. In some years, due to low crop yields and other factors, 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 future crop years. The long-term portion of advances is included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Both the current and the long-term portions of advances to suppliers are reported net of allowances recorded when the Company determines that amounts outstanding are not likely to be collected. Short-term and long-term advances to suppliers totaled approximately $150 million at March 31, 2018 and $134 million at March 31, 2017. The related valuation allowances totaled $22 million at March 31, 2018, and $27 million at March 31, 2017, and were estimated based on the Company’s historical loss information and crop projections. The allowances were increased by net provisions for estimated uncollectible amounts of approximately $3.7 million in fiscal year 2018 and $0.8 million in fiscal year 2016, but reduced by net recoveries of approximately $0.9 million in fiscal year 2017. These net provisions and recoveries are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Interest on advances is recognized in earnings upon the farmers’ delivery of tobacco in payment of principal and interest. Advances on which interest accrual had been discontinued totaled approximately $8 million at March 31, 2018 and $11 million at March 31, 2017. Inventories Tobacco inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Raw materials primarily consist of unprocessed leaf tobacco, which is clearly identified by type and grade at the time of purchase. The Company tracks the costs associated with this tobacco in the final product lots, and maintains this identification through the time of sale. This method of cost accounting is referred to as the specific cost or specific identification method. The predominant cost component of the Company’s inventories is the cost of the unprocessed tobacco. 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. Other inventories consist primarily of seed, fertilizer, packing materials, and other supplies, and are valued principally at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Recoverable Value-Added Tax Credits In many foreign countries, the Company’s local operating subsidiaries pay significant amounts of value-added tax (“VAT”) on purchases of unprocessed and processed tobacco, crop inputs, packing materials, and various other goods and services. In some countries, VAT is a national tax, and in other countries it is assessed at the state level. Items subject to VAT vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as do the rates at which the tax is assessed. When tobacco is sold to customers in the country of origin, the operating subsidiaries generally collect VAT on those sales. The subsidiaries are normally permitted to offset their VAT payments against the collections and remit only the incremental VAT collections to the tax authorities. When tobacco is sold for export, VAT is normally not assessed. In countries where tobacco sales are predominately for export markets, VAT collections generated on downstream sales are often not sufficient to fully offset the subsidiaries’ VAT payments. In those situations, unused VAT credits can accumulate. Some jurisdictions have procedures that allow companies to apply for refunds of unused VAT credits from the tax authorities, but the refund process often takes an extended period of time, and it is not uncommon for refund applications to be challenged or rejected in part on technical grounds. Other jurisdictions may permit companies to sell or transfer unused VAT credits to third parties in private transactions, although approval for such transactions must normally be obtained from the tax authorities, limits on the amounts that can be transferred may be imposed, and the proceeds realized may be heavily discounted from the face value of the credits. Due to these factors, local operating subsidiaries in some countries can accumulate significant balances of VAT credits over time. The Company reviews these balances on a regular basis and records valuation allowances on the credits to reflect amounts that are not expected to be recovered, as well as discounts anticipated on credits that are expected to be sold or transferred. At March 31, 2018 and 2017, the aggregate balances of recoverable tax credits held by the Company’s subsidiaries totaled approximately $49 million and $45 million, respectively, and the related valuation allowances totaled approximately $15 million and $13 million, respectively. The net balances are reported in other current assets and other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Property, Plant and Equipment Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is based upon historical cost and the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation is calculated primarily using the straight-line method. Buildings include tobacco processing and blending facilities, offices, and warehouses. Machinery and equipment consists of processing and packing machinery and transport, office, and computer equipment. Estimated useful lives range as follows: buildings - 15 to 40 years; processing and packing machinery - 3 to 11 years; transport equipment - 3 to 10 years; and office and computer equipment - 3 to 10 years. Where applicable and material in amount, 47 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) the Company capitalizes related interest costs during periods that property, plant and equipment are being constructed or made ready for service. No interest was capitalized in fiscal years 2018, 2017, or 2016. Goodwill and Other Intangibles Goodwill and other intangibles principally consist of the excess of the purchase price of acquired companies over the fair value of the net assets. Goodwill is carried at the lower of cost or fair value and is reviewed for potential impairment on an annual basis as of the end of the fiscal year. Accounting Standards Codification Topic 350 (“ASC 350”) permits companies to base their initial assessments of potential goodwill impairment on qualitative factors, and the Company elected to use that approach at March 31, 2018 and 2017. Those factors did not indicate any potential impairment of the Company's recorded goodwill. Reporting units are distinct operating subsidiaries or groups of subsidiaries that typically compose the Company’s business in a specific country or location. Goodwill is allocated to reporting units based on the country or location to which a specific acquisition relates, or by allocation based on expected future cash flows if the acquisition relates to more than one country or location. The majority of the Company’s goodwill relates to its reporting unit in Brazil. Significant adverse changes in the operations or estimated future cash flows for a reporting unit with recorded goodwill could result in an impairment charge. No charges for goodwill impairment were recorded in fiscal years 2018, 2017, or 2016. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events, changes in business conditions, or other circumstances provide an indication that such assets may be impaired. Potential impairment is initially assessed by comparing management’s undiscounted estimates of future cash flows from the use or disposition of the assets to their carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its fair value determined in accordance with the accounting guidance. In many cases, this involves the use of discounted cash flow models that are not based on observable market data from independent sources (Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy under the accounting guidance). In fiscal year 2017, impairment charges of $2.3 million were incurred on factory and equipment assets as a result of the Company's decision to close its tobacco processing facility in Hungary (see Note 2). No significant charges for the impairment of long-lived assets were recorded during fiscal years 2018 or 2016. 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, goodwill, and valuation allowances on farmer advances and value-added tax credits. Income taxes provided on pretax amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are released when the related pretax amounts are reclassified to earnings. Fair Values of Financial Instruments The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, disclosed in Note 6, approximates the carrying amount since the variable interest rates in the underlying credit agreement reflect the market interest rates that were available to the Company at March 31, 2018. In periods when fixed-rate obligations are outstanding, fair values are estimated using market prices where they are available or discounted cash flow models based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar classes of borrowers and borrowing arrangements. The fair values of interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges and used to fix the variable benchmark rate on outstanding long-term debt are determined separately and recorded in other long-term liabilities. Except for interest rate swaps and forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are discussed below, the fair values of all other assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments approximate their carrying amounts. 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 manage interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. The Company enters into such contracts only with counterparties of good standing. The credit exposure related to non-performance by the counterparties and the Company is considered in determining the fair values of the derivatives, and the effect has not been material to the financial statements or operations of the Company. Additional disclosures related to the Company’s derivatives and hedging activities are provided in Note 8. 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 applicable to each reporting period for results of operations. Adjustments resulting from translation of financial statements are reflected as a separate component of other comprehensive income or loss. The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries having the U.S. dollar as the functional 48 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) 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 gains and losses that are included in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expense. The Company recognized net remeasurement gains of $0.2 million in fiscal year 2018, and net remeasurement losses of $9.3 million in fiscal year 2017 and $22.5 million in fiscal year 2016. Foreign currency transactions and forward foreign currency exchange contracts that are not designated as hedges generate gains and losses when they are settled or when they are marked to market under the prescribed accounting guidance. These transaction gains and losses are also included in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses. The Company recognized net foreign currency transaction losses of $0.1 million in fiscal year 2018 and $1.3 million in fiscal year 2017, and net transaction gains of $8.0 million in fiscal year 2016. Revenue Recognition Revenue from the sale of tobacco is recognized when title and risk of loss is transferred to the customer and the earnings process is complete. Substantially all sales revenue is recorded based on the physical transfer of products to customers. A large percentage of the Company’s sales are to major multinational manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. The Company works closely with those customers to understand and plan for their requirements for volumes, styles, and grades of leaf tobacco from its various growing regions, and extensive coordination is maintained on an ongoing basis to determine and satisfy their requirements for physical shipment of processed tobacco. The customers typically specify, in sales contracts and in shipping documents, the precise terms for transfer of title and risk of loss for the tobacco. Customer returns and rejections are not significant, and the Company’s sales history indicates that customer-specific acceptance provisions are consistently met upon transfer of title and risk of loss. While most of the Company’s revenue consists of tobacco that is purchased from farmers, processed and packed in its factories, and then sold to customers, some revenue is earned from processing tobacco owned by customers. These arrangements usually exist in specific markets where the customers contract directly with farmers for leaf production, and they have accounted for less than 5% of total revenue on an annual basis through the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. Processing and packing of leaf tobacco is a short-duration process. Under normal operating conditions, raw tobacco that is placed into the production line exits as processed and packed tobacco within one hour, and is then later transported to customer-designated storage facilities. The revenue for these services is recognized when processing is completed, and the Company’s operating history indicates that customer requirements for processed tobacco are consistently met upon completion of processing. As discussed further under "Accounting Pronouncements" below, the Company will adopt updated comprehensive accounting guidance for revenue recognition at the beginning of fiscal year 2019. No material changes to the amount or timing of the Company's revenues are expected with the adoption of this guidance. Stock-Based Compensation Share-based payments, such as grants of restricted stock units, performance share awards, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, and stock options, are measured at fair value and reported as expense in the financial statements over the requisite service period. Additional disclosures related to stock-based compensation are included in Note 12. 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. Accounting Pronouncements Pronouncements Adopted in Fiscal Years 2016 through 2018 In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 effective for the quarter ending June 30, 2016, which was the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. The implementation of ASU 2015-03, which required retrospective application, resulted in the reclassification of unamortized debt issuance costs totaling less than $2 million from other noncurrent assets to long-term debt for comparative prior periods. In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-05, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software - Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement” (“ASU 2015-05”). ASU 2015-05 requires customers who enter into a cloud computing arrangement that includes a software license to account for the arrangement as an intangible asset. If the cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the arrangement is accounted for as a service contract. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, and allowed for retrospective or prospective 49 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) adoption. The Company prospectively adopted ASU 2015-05 effective as of April 1, 2016, the beginning of fiscal year 2017. The Company’s adoption of ASU 2015-05 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-07, "Fair Value Measurement, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share or its Equivalent" ("ASU 2015-07"). ASU 2015-07 removed the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient and eliminated certain disclosures for investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The Company adopted ASU 2015-07 effective as of April 1, 2016, the beginning of fiscal year 2017. Disclosures for all periods presented in Note 9 - Fair Value Measurements reflect the revised category presentation. In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” (“ASU 2015-11”). ASU 2015-11 requires that most inventory be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 defines net realizable value as the "estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonable predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation." ASU 2015-11 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2016, and was adopted by the Company effective April 1, 2017, the beginning of fiscal year 2018. As required under the guidance, ASU 2015-11 has been applied prospectively after the date of adoption, and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718)" ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 provides simplification for the accounting for employee stock-based payment transactions, including the related income tax consequences, the classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and the classification of transactions in the statement of cash flows. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early-adopt ASU 2016-09 effective April 1, 2016, which was the beginning of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. As required by the guidance, employee tax withholding payments and excess tax benefits resulting from stock-based compensation have been classified as financing activities and operating activities, respectively, in the consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented. In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815)" ("ASU 2017-12"). ASU 2017-12 expands derivative strategies that quality for hedge accounting and amends presentation and disclosure requirements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early-adopt ASU 2017-12 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018. As required under the guidance, ASU 2017-12 has been applied using the modified retrospective approach and its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" ("ASU 2018-02") to address the disproportionate income tax effects on pretax amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) resulting from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017. Under the existing accounting guidance, companies were required to record the impact of changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities from the enactment of the new law through income from continuing operations, including the impact related to pretax amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As a result, the income tax effects on amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were not reflective of the rates at which those amounts ultimately would be taxed. ASU 2018-02 permits companies to reclassify these disproportionate tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings. It is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company elected to early-adopt ASU 2018-02 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 and reclassify the disproportionate tax effects to retained earnings as allowed under the guidance. The reclassification increased accumulated other comprehensive loss and increased retained earnings by approximately $12.4 million. Pronouncements to be Adopted in Future Periods In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes substantially all of the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). ASU 2014-09 was developed under a joint project with the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) to improve and converge the existing revenue recognition accounting guidance in U.S. GAAP and International Accounting Standards. Under ASU 2014-09, the central underlying principle is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers at an amount determined by the consideration a company expects to receive for those goods or services. The guidance outlines a five-step process for determining the amount and timing of revenue to be recognized from those arrangements. It is more principles-based than the existing guidance under U.S. GAAP, and therefore requires more management judgment and involves more estimates than the current guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, 50 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) including all interim periods within the year of adoption. Companies are allowed to select between two transition methods: (1) a full retrospective transition method with the application of the new guidance to each prior reporting period presented, or (2) a modified retrospective transition method that recognizes the cumulative effect on prior periods at the date of adoption together with additional footnote disclosures. Since the issuance of ASU 2014-09, the FASB has issued several amendments to provide additional supplemental guidance on certain aspects of the original pronouncement. The Company formed a cross-functional implementation project team to review revenue accounting policies and control processes, to complete a comprehensive analysis of the new guidance, and to determine the effect adoption has on revenue recognition and financial statement disclosures for all customer contracts. The team classified its customer contracts into primary revenue streams, completed individual contract reviews, and made determinations with respect to provisions that impact the timing and amount of revenue recognition for certain customer arrangements. The implementation team reported the findings and progress of the project to management and the Audit Committee on a frequent basis over the past three fiscal years. The team is continuing to document internal controls related to the adoption of ASU 2014-09 and drafting the financial statement disclosures that will be required by the guidance. Universal will adopt ASU 2014-09 and the related supplemental amendments effective April 1, 2018, which is the beginning of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, and will use the modified retrospective transition method of adoption. Other than the additional required disclosures, the impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements from the adoption of ASC 2014-09 is not expected to be material. In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01 “Financial Instruments-Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” ("ASU 2016-01"). ASU 2016-01 requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and will be adopted effective April 1, 2018, which is the beginning of the Company's fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. As the Company does not have any significant equity investments that are not accounted for under the equity method, the adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize lease payment obligations as a lease liability and the corresponding right-of-use asset as a leased asset in the balance sheet for the term of the lease. This guidance supersedes Topic 840 “Leases” and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company will be required to adopt ASU 2016-02 effective April 1, 2019, which is the beginning of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, and is currently in the process of collecting and analyzing detailed information on all leasing arrangements across its global organization to meet the accounting and disclosure requirements of the new guidance. In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)" ("ASU 2017-04"). Under current accounting guidance, the fair value of a reporting unit to which a specific goodwill balance relates is first compared to its carrying value in the financial statements (Step 1). If that comparison indicates that the goodwill is impaired, an implied fair value for the goodwill must then be calculated by deducting the individual fair values of all other assets and liabilities, including any unrecognized intangible assets, from the total fair value of the reporting unit (Step 2). ASU 2017-04 simplifies the accounting guidance by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test and using the fair value of the reporting unit determined in Step 1 to measure the goodwill impairment loss. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company will be required to adopt ASU 2017-04 effective April 1, 2020, which is the beginning of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, and is currently evaluating the impact that the updated guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715)" ("ASU 2017-07"). ASU 2017-07 requires that an employer report the service cost component of pension or other postretirement benefits expense in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. If a separate line item or items are used to present the other components of net benefit cost, the line item or items must be appropriately described. If a separate line item or items are not used, the line item or items used in the income statement to present the other components of net benefit cost must be disclosed. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will be required to adopt ASU 2017-07 effective April 1, 2018, which is the beginning of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. The line item classification changes required by the new guidance will not impact the Company's pretax earnings or net income; however, operating income and other income/expense will increase by offsetting amounts that are not expected to be material to the Company's consolidated financial statements. Reclassifications Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. 51 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 2. RESTRUCTURING AND IMPAIRMENT COSTS During fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, Universal recorded restructuring and impairment costs related to various initiatives to adjust certain operations and reduce costs. Those costs primarily related to operations that are part of the Other Regions reportable segment of the Company's flue-cured and burley leaf tobacco operations. There were no restructuring or impairment costs recorded for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017 In fiscal year 2017, the Company recorded restructuring and impairment costs totaling $4.4 million, primarily related to the Company's decision to close its tobacco processing facility in Hungary. The Company now processes tobaccos sourced from Hungary in its factories in Italy. The costs incurred for the change in operations in Hungary included statutory employee termination benefits and impairment charges related to certain property and equipment. Restructuring costs were also incurred in connection with downsizing efforts at several other locations around the Company. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2016 In fiscal year 2016, the Company recorded restructuring and impairment costs totaling $2.4 million, related to a decision to significantly scale back its operations in Zambia. Those costs primarily included statutory employee termination benefits, impairment charges related to outstanding balances on loans to farmers whose contracts were terminated as a result of the decision, and impairment charges on certain property and equipment. A summary of the restructuring and impairment costs incurred during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, is as follows: Restructuring Costs: Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2017 2016 Employee termination benefits....................................................................................................................... $ 2,083 $ Other restructuring costs................................................................................................................................. Impairment Costs: Property and equipment and farmer loans...................................................................................................... — 2,083 2,276 Total restructuring and impairment costs ..................................................................................................... $ 4,359 $ 1,629 96 1,725 664 2,389 A reconciliation of the Company’s liability for employee termination benefits and other restructuring costs for fiscal years 2016 through 2018 is as follows: Employee Termination Benefits Other Costs Total Balance at April 1, 2015......................................................................................................... $ 696 $ 198 $ 894 Fiscal Year 2016 Activity: Costs charged to expense ................................................................................................... Payments ............................................................................................................................ Balance at March 31, 2016 .................................................................................................... Fiscal Year 2017 Activity: Costs charged to expense ................................................................................................... Payments ............................................................................................................................ Balance at March 31, 2017 .................................................................................................... Fiscal Year 2018 Activity: 1,629 (2,246) 79 2,083 (1,861) 301 Payments ............................................................................................................................ (272) Balance at March 31, 2018 .................................................................................................... $ 29 $ 96 (92) 202 — (159) 43 (43) — $ 1,725 (2,338) 281 2,083 (2,020) 344 (315) 29 The restructuring liability at March 31, 2018 is expected to be paid during fiscal year 2019. Universal continually reviews its business for opportunities to realize efficiencies, reduce costs, and realign its operations in response to business changes. The Company may incur additional restructuring and impairment costs in future periods as business changes occur and additional cost savings initiatives are implemented. 52 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 3. EARNINGS PER SHARE The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share: (in thousands, except share and per share data) Basic Earnings Per Share Numerator for basic earnings per share Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Net income attributable to Universal Corporation ........................................................................... $ 105,662 $ 106,304 $ 109,016 Less: Dividends on convertible perpetual preferred stock ............................................................... Less: Cost in excess of carrying value on conversion or repurchase of convertible perpetual preferred stock .............................................................................................................................. — — (11,061) (14,748) (74,353) — Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders for calculation of basic earnings per share ......................................................................................................................... 105,662 20,890 94,268 Denominator for basic earnings per share Weighted average shares outstanding............................................................................................... 25,274,975 23,433,860 22,683,290 Basic earnings per share .................................................................................................................. $ 4.18 $ 0.89 $ 4.16 Diluted Earnings Per Share Numerator for diluted earnings per share Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders ............................................... $ 105,662 $ 20,890 $ Add: Dividends on convertible perpetual preferred stock (if conversion assumed) ........................ — — 94,268 14,748 Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders for calculation of diluted earnings per share ......................................................................................................................... 105,662 20,890 109,016 Denominator for diluted earnings per share: Weighted average shares outstanding............................................................................................... 25,274,975 23,433,860 22,683,290 Effect of dilutive securities (if conversion or exercise assumed) Convertible perpetual preferred stock........................................................................................... — — 4,853,268 Employee and outside director share-based awards ..................................................................... 233,169 336,228 288,933 Denominator for diluted earnings per share ..................................................................................... 25,508,144 23,770,088 27,825,491 Diluted earnings per share................................................................................................................ $ 4.14 $ 0.88 $ 3.92 In December 2016, 111,072 shares of the Company’s Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock were converted into approximately 2.5 million shares of the Company's common stock. In January 2017, the Company announced a mandatory conversion of all 107,418 remaining outstanding shares of the preferred stock after meeting the requirements to initiate the mandatory conversion under the original terms of the preferred shares. The Company chose to satisfy the conversion obligation for the mandatory conversion in cash. Although the conversions of the preferred stock into common stock or for cash did not impact the Company’s net income, the shares converted for cash under the mandatory conversion in January 2017 resulted in a one-time reduction of retained earnings of approximately $74.4 million during the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2017, representing the excess of the conversion cost over the carrying value of those shares. The reduction in retained earnings resulted in a corresponding one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 for purposes of determining the amounts reported for basic and diluted earnings per share. The effects of the conversions on the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, are included in the table above. See Note 11 for additional information. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016, the Company had 133,600 of potentially dilutive common shares (stock appreciation rights) outstanding that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive. The weighted-average exercise price of those shares was $62.66. There were no potentially dilutive common shares outstanding at March 31, 2017 or 2018. 53 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 4. INCOME TAXES The Company operates in the United States and many foreign countries and is subject to the tax laws of many jurisdictions. Changes in tax laws or the interpretation of tax laws can affect the Company’s earnings, as can the resolution of pending and contested tax issues. The Company's consolidated effective income tax rate is affected by a number of factors, including the mix of domestic and foreign earnings and the effect of exchange rate changes on deferred taxes. In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by the President. This new law made significant changes to income taxation at the federal level for individuals, pass-through entities, and corporations. For corporations, the changes include a reduction in the statutory rate on taxable income from 35% to 21%, and a move from a worldwide tax system to a territorial tax system for companies with foreign operations. Under the territorial system, except in limited situations or for limited types of income, earnings from foreign operations will generally no longer be subject to U.S. taxation. The law accommodates the move from the previous worldwide tax system by providing for a one-time transition tax on the undistributed post-1986 earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of either November 2, 2017 or December 31, 2017, whichever undistributed earnings amount is greater. Other provisions of the new law allow for immediate expensing of investments in property, plant, and equipment, and impose limitations on the deductibility of interest, executive compensation, and meals and entertainment expense. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, the Company's U.S. federal statutory tax rate was 31.5%, reflecting a portion of the year at the 35% rate under the old law and a portion at the 21% rate under the new law. Under the applicable accounting guidance, corporations are required to account for the effects of changes in income tax law on their financial statements as a component of taxes provided on income from continuing operations in the period those changes are enacted, which for Universal was the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. Due to the complexities associated with understanding and applying various aspects of the new law and quantifying or estimating amounts upon which calculations required to account for new law are based, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recognized that it may be difficult for many companies to complete the determination of all accounting effects of the new law within the available time frame for issuing their financial statements for the period of enactment. As a result, the SEC provided guidance permitting corporations to record and report specific items impacted by the new law on the basis of reasonable estimates where final amounts had not been determined and designate them as provisional amounts, or to continue to account for specific items under the previous law if it was not possible to develop reasonable estimates within the time frame for issuance of the financial statements for the period of enactment. As the accounting for provisional amounts is refined or finalized in subsequent reporting periods, companies are expected to record appropriate adjustments to the initial accounting, removing the provisional designation on an item in the period that the accounting for that item is completed. A measurement period of no more than one year from the date of enactment of the new law is provided under the SEC guidance to complete all such adjustments. The most significant effects on Universal’s financial statements for fiscal year 2018 from the enactment of the new law were: (1) the reduction in the federal income tax rate on U.S. pretax earnings for fiscal year 2018 from 35% to 31.5%. (2) an adjustment of recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities to the tax rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future. (3) a reduction of the liability previously recorded for U.S. income taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries to the amounts expected to be paid under the one-time transition tax provisions of the new law. The net impact of accounting for these and other less significant effects of the new law was a reduction in consolidated income tax expense for fiscal year 2018 of approximately $4.5 million. Upon enactment of the new law in the third quarter of the year, the Company recorded an initial reduction in income tax expense of approximately $10.5 million under the provisional accounting guidance; however, that amount was lowered by approximately $6.0 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting the collection and analysis of additional information for certain foreign subsidiaries, as well as subsequent clarifying guidance issued with respect to the new law. Included in the effect of the new law is a $7.8 million net increase in income tax expense from remeasuring net deferred tax assets to the lower rates at which they are now expected to reverse, generally the new 21% U.S. federal statutory tax rate. That net increase includes approximately $12.4 million of net tax expense from remeasuring net deferred tax assets attributable to pension and other postretirement benefit plans, foreign currency translation adjustments, and other amounts that were recorded through other comprehensive income to the new lower rates, which initially left disproportionate tax effects recorded on the pretax amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As discussed in Note 1, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02 "Income Statement - 54 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" to address this issue by allowing companies to reclassify the disproportionate tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to retained earnings. The Company elected to early-adopt ASU 2018-02 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 and chose to reclassify the disproportionate tax effects. The reclassification increased accumulated other comprehensive loss and increased retained earnings by approximately $12.4 million. Also included in the $4.5 million net reduction in fiscal year 2018 income tax expense for the effect of the new law is a $10 million reduction of income tax expense primarily related to the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Prior to the enactment of the new law, under its accounting for income taxes, the Company had no undistributed earnings of consolidated foreign subsidiaries that were classified as permanently reinvested, and accordingly had recorded the full tax liability on those earnings, including both local country taxes and the U.S. taxes expected to be paid on their future distribution. The new law replaces the U.S. income tax that would have been paid on those earnings in the future with the one-time transition tax, which is allowed to be paid over an eight- year period. The total liability recorded by the Company for this transition tax, net of available foreign tax credits, is approximately $15.8 million, and the $10 million reduction of income tax expense primarily related to undistributed foreign earnings reflects the adjustment of the U.S. tax liability previously recorded on those earnings to the transition tax amount. The Company continues to assume repatriation of all undistributed earnings of its consolidated foreign subsidiaries and has therefore provided for expected foreign withholding taxes on the distribution of those earnings where applicable, net of the U.S. tax credit attributable those withholding taxes. While the Company has not continued to account for any specific items under the previous tax law as permitted by the SEC guidance, the Company is continuing to review the primary component effects of the new law on its financial statements. In addition, the Company continues to analyze certain aspects of the new law, and future treasury regulations, tax law technical corrections, notices, rulings, and other guidance issued by the government could result in changes or refinements to the amounts currently recorded. These include potential refinements of the Company's calculations of the adjustments to deferred tax assets and liabilities and the U.S. tax liability for undistributed foreign earnings, which could be adjusted based on continuing review of the Company's calculation of the one-time transition tax, including further analysis of the undistributed earnings amounts represented by cash and other specified assets held by its foreign subsidiaries. As a result, those amounts continue to be classified as provisional, and additional adjustments, which could be material, may be recorded in future reporting periods within the allowed one-year measurement period as the final accounting is completed. Income Tax Expense Income taxes for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 consisted of the following: Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Current United States....................................................................................................................... $ 1,110 $ 3,422 $ State and local .................................................................................................................... Foreign................................................................................................................................ 175 60,356 61,641 Deferred United States....................................................................................................................... (20,052) State and local .................................................................................................................... Foreign................................................................................................................................ 68 8,852 (11,132) 147 36,537 40,106 5,434 561 10,631 16,626 Total ................................................................................................................................. $ 50,509 $ 56,732 $ Foreign taxes include any applicable U.S. tax expense on the earnings of foreign subsidiaries. 5,371 1,116 32,897 39,384 5,780 (445) 9,711 15,046 54,430 55 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Consolidated Effective Income Tax Rate A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows: Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 U.S. federal statutory tax rate................................................................................................ 31.5% 35.0% 35.0% State income taxes, net of federal benefit ............................................................................. Dividends received from deconsolidated operations ............................................................ Effect of exchange rate changes on deferred income taxes .................................................. Effects of new tax law: Foreign earnings taxed at rates above the U.S. federal statutory tax rate ......................... Adjustment of deferred tax assets and liabilities .............................................................. Reduction of U.S. tax liability on undistributed foreign earnings to estimate of one- time transition tax.......................................................................................................... Other, including changes in liabilities recorded for uncertain tax positions......................... Effective income tax rate ...................................................................................................... 0.1 (1.4) — 2.8 4.6 (8.3) 1.0 30.3% 0.3 (2.3) 0.4 — — — 0.1 33.5% 0.3 (1.5) (1.6) — — — (0.7) 31.5% Components of Income Before Income Taxes The U.S. and foreign components of income before income taxes were as follows: United States ......................................................................................................................... $ 10,442 $ 31,468 $ 37,877 Foreign .................................................................................................................................. 156,235 137,770 134,701 Total.................................................................................................................................... $ 166,677 $ 169,238 $ 172,578 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 56 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Deferred Income Tax Liabilities and Assets Significant components of deferred tax liabilities and assets were as follows: March 31, 2018 2017 Liabilities Foreign withholding taxes.................................................................................................................................. $ 25,987 $ Undistributed earnings ....................................................................................................................................... Goodwill ............................................................................................................................................................ All other ............................................................................................................................................................. 8,636 19,529 9,039 44,702 24,629 30,851 11,015 Total deferred tax liabilities.......................................................................................................................... $ 63,191 $ 111,197 Assets Employee benefit plans...................................................................................................................................... $ 21,714 $ Reserves and accruals ........................................................................................................................................ Deferred income................................................................................................................................................. 9,673 4,878 Currency translation losses of foreign subsidiaries ........................................................................................... 1,993 Local currency exchange losses of foreign subsidiaries .................................................................................... Foreign tax credit carryforward ......................................................................................................................... 843 — All other ............................................................................................................................................................. 6,522 Total deferred tax assets ............................................................................................................................... Valuation allowance........................................................................................................................................... 45,623 (1,040) 38,804 11,756 4,672 13,244 3,669 2,799 14,327 89,271 (636) Net deferred tax assets.................................................................................................................................. $ 44,583 $ 88,635 At March 31, 2018, the Company had no material net operating loss carryforwards in either its domestic or foreign operations. Combined Income Tax Expense (Benefit) The combined income tax expense (benefit) allocable to continuing operations, other comprehensive income, and direct adjustments to shareholders' equity was as follows: Continuing operations ........................................................................................................... $ 50,509 $ 56,732 $ Other comprehensive income................................................................................................ 23,471 Direct adjustments to shareholders' equity ........................................................................... — 1,503 — 54,430 1,423 (805) Total ................................................................................................................................ $ 73,980 $ 58,235 $ 55,048 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 57 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Uncertain Tax Positions A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the gross liability for uncertain tax positions for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, is as follows: Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Liability for uncertain tax positions, beginning of year........................................................ $ 2,426 $ 2,407 $ 2,894 Additions: Related to tax positions for the current year....................................................................... Related to tax positions for prior years .............................................................................. Reductions: Due to lapses of statutes of limitations............................................................................... Related to tax positions for prior years .............................................................................. Effect of currency rate movement ...................................................................................... 107 1,310 (104) — (66) 94 — (112) (3) 40 Liability for uncertain tax positions, end of year .................................................................. $ 3,673 $ 2,426 $ 98 — (215) — (370) 2,407 Of the total liability for uncertain tax positions at March 31, 2018, approximately $3.6 million could have an effect on the consolidated effective tax rate if the tax benefits are recognized. The liability for uncertain tax positions includes $0.1 million related to tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the amounts could change significantly before March 31, 2019. This amount reflects a possible decrease in the liability for uncertain tax positions that could result from the completion and resolution of tax audits and the expiration of open tax years in various tax jurisdictions. The Company recognizes accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions as interest expense, and it recognizes penalties as a component of income tax expense. Amounts accrued or reversed for interest and penalties were not material for any of the fiscal years 2016 through 2018, and liabilities recorded for interest and penalties at March 31, 2018 and 2017 also were not material. Universal and its subsidiaries file a U.S. federal consolidated income tax return, as well as returns in several U.S. states and a number of foreign jurisdictions. As of March 31, 2018, the Company's earliest open tax year for U.S. federal income tax purposes was its fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. Open tax years in state and foreign jurisdictions generally range from 3 to 6 years. 58 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 5. CREDIT FACILITIES Bank Credit Agreement The Company has in place a senior unsecured bank credit agreement that includes a $430 million five-year revolving credit facility, along with a $150 million five-year term loan and a $220 million seven-year term loan. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at a variable rate based on either (1) LIBOR plus a margin that is based on the Company's credit measures or (2) the higher of the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, prime rate, or one-month LIBOR plus 1.0%, each plus a margin. In addition to interest, the Company pays a facility fee on the revolving credit facility. No amounts were outstanding under the revolving credit facility at March 31, 2018. The credit agreement provides for an expansion of the facility under certain conditions to allow additional borrowings of up to $100 million. Additional information related to the term loans is provided in Note 6. The credit agreement includes financial covenants that require the Company to maintain a minimum level of tangible net worth and observe limits on debt levels. The Company was in compliance with those covenants at March 31, 2018. Short-Term Credit Facilities The Company maintains short-term uncommitted 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. As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, approximately $45 million and $59 million, respectively, were outstanding under these uncommitted lines of credit. The weighted-average interest rates on short-term borrowings outstanding as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, were approximately 3.4% and 3.1%, respectively. At March 31, 2018, the Company and its consolidated affiliates had unused uncommitted lines of credit totaling approximately $248 million. NOTE 6. LONG-TERM DEBT The Company's long-term debt at March 31, 2018 and 2017 consisted of the following: March 31, 2018 2017 Senior bank term loans ....................................................................................................................................... $ 370,000 $ Total outstanding ............................................................................................................................................ 370,000 Less: current portion........................................................................................................................................... Less: unamortized debt issuance costs ............................................................................................................... — (914) 370,000 370,000 — (1,267) Long-term debt ............................................................................................................................................... $ 369,086 $ 368,733 As discussed in Note 5, the Company has in place a bank credit agreement that includes a $150 million five-year term loan and a $220 million seven-year term loan. The loans require no amortization and are prepayable without penalty prior to maturity. Under the credit agreement, both term loans bear interest at variable rates plus a margin based on the Company's credit measures. However, following closing on the loans, the Company entered into receive-floating / pay-fixed interest rate swap agreements that convert the variable benchmark rate on both loans to a fixed rate over their full terms to maturity. With the swap agreements in place, the effective interest rate on the $150 million five-year loan and the $220 million seven-year loan were 2.94% and 3.48%, respectively, at March 31, 2018 and 2017. The effective rates will change only if a change in the Company's credit measures results in adjustments to the applicable credit spreads specified in the underlying loan agreement. The $150 million five-year term loan matures in fiscal year 2020, and the $220 million seven-year term loan matures in fiscal year 2022. In November 2017, the Company filed an undenominated universal shelf registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to provide for the future issuance of an undefined amount of additional debt or equity securities as determined by the Company and offered in one or more prospectus supplements prior to issuance. Disclosures about the fair value of long-term debt are provided in Note 9. 59 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 7. 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 $16.0 million in fiscal year 2018, $15.3 million in fiscal year 2017, and $14.7 million in fiscal year 2016. Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases total $13.5 million in 2019, $9.7 million in 2020, $8.2 million in 2021, $5.3 million in 2022, $4.5 million in 2023, and $10.3 million after 2023. NOTE 8. DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES Universal is exposed to various risks in its worldwide operations and uses derivative financial instruments to manage two specific types of risks – interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. Interest rate risk has been managed by entering into interest rate swap agreements, and foreign currency exchange rate risk has been managed by entering into forward foreign currency exchange contracts. However, the Company’s policy also permits other types of derivative instruments. In addition, foreign currency exchange rate risk is also managed through strategies that do not involve derivative instruments, such as using local borrowings and other approaches to minimize net monetary positions in non-functional currencies. The disclosures below provide additional information about the Company’s hedging strategies, the derivative instruments used, and the effects of these activities on the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and the consolidated balance sheets. In the consolidated statements of cash flows, the cash flows associated with all of these activities are reported in net cash provided by operating activities. Cash Flow Hedging Strategy for Interest Rate Risk In January 2015, the Company entered into receive-floating/pay-fixed interest rate swap agreements that were designated and qualified as hedges of the exposure to changes in interest payment cash flows created by fluctuations in variable interest rates on its two outstanding non-amortizing bank term loans (see Notes 5 and 6). Although no significant ineffectiveness is expected with this hedging strategy, the effectiveness of the interest rate swaps is evaluated on a quarterly basis. At March 31, 2018, the total notional amount of the interest rate swaps was $370 million, which corresponded with the aggregate outstanding balance of the term loans. Cash Flow Hedging Strategy for Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Related to Forecast Purchases of Tobacco and Related Processing Costs The majority of the tobacco production in most countries outside the United States where Universal operates is sold in export markets at prices denominated in U.S. dollars. However, purchases of tobacco from farmers and most processing costs (such as labor and energy) in those countries are usually denominated in the local currency. Changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the local currencies where tobacco is grown and processed affect the ultimate U.S. dollar cost of the processed tobacco. From time to time, the Company enters into forward contracts to sell U.S. dollars and buy the local currency at future dates that coincide with the expected timing of a portion of the tobacco purchases and processing costs. This strategy offsets the variability of future U.S. dollar cash flows for tobacco purchases and processing costs for the foreign currency notional amount hedged. This hedging strategy has been used mainly for tobacco purchases and processing costs in Brazil. The aggregate U.S. dollar notional amount of forward contracts entered for these purposes during fiscal years 2018, 2017, and 2016 was as follows: (in millions) Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Tobacco purchases ................................................................................................................. $ 43.3 $ 70.7 $ Processing costs ..................................................................................................................... 17.1 24.0 Total ................................................................................................................................... $ 60.4 $ 94.7 $ 43.1 13.2 56.3 The increased U.S. dollar notional amounts for tobacco purchases and processing costs hedged during fiscal year 2017 in part reflected an increase in the size of the 2017 Brazilian crop over the 2016 crop. In addition, variations in the amount and timing of fixed-price orders from customers for their purchases from individual crop years routinely cause variations in the U.S. dollar notional amount of forward contracts entered into from one fiscal year to the next. All contracts related to tobacco purchases were designated and qualified as hedges of the future cash flows associated with the forecast purchases of tobacco. As a result, except for amounts related to any ineffective portion of the hedging strategy or any early de-designation of the hedge arrangement, changes in fair values of the forward contracts have been recognized in comprehensive income as they occurred, but only recognized in earnings upon sale of the related tobacco to third-party customers. Forward contracts related to processing costs have not been designated as hedges, and gains and losses on those contracts have been recognized in earnings on a mark-to-market basis. 60 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) For substantially all hedge gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 31, 2018, the Company expects to complete the sale of the tobacco and recognize the amounts in earnings during fiscal year 2019. At March 31, 2018, all hedged forecast purchases of tobacco not yet completed remained probable of occurring within the originally designated time period and, as a result, no hedges had been discontinued. Purchases of the 2018 Brazilian crops are expected to be completed by July 2018, and all forward contracts to hedge those purchases will mature and be settled by that time. As discussed in Note 1, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company elected to early adopt recently-issued changes to the accounting guidance for derivatives and hedging activities (ASU 2017-12) to allow the application of the updated guidance to all forward foreign currency exchange contracts that will be entered to hedge exchange rate risk on the 2018 Brazilian crop purchases. The updated guidance simplifies the designation of those contracts as hedges, as well as the ongoing assessment of hedge effectiveness, but did not otherwise materially impact the Company's accounting for those contracts. Hedging Strategy for Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Related to Net Local Currency Monetary Assets and Liabilities of Foreign Subsidiaries Most of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries transact the majority of their sales in U.S. dollars and finance the majority of their operating requirements with U.S. dollar borrowings, and therefore use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. These subsidiaries normally have certain monetary assets and liabilities on their balance sheets that are denominated in the local currency. Those assets and liabilities can include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, advances to farmers and suppliers, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, recoverable value-added taxes, and other items. Net monetary assets and liabilities denominated in the local currency are remeasured into U.S. dollars each reporting period, generating gains and losses that the Company records in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses. The level of net monetary assets or liabilities denominated in the local currency normally fluctuates throughout the year based on the operating cycle, but it is most common for monetary assets to exceed monetary liabilities, sometimes by a significant amount. When this situation exists and the local currency weakens against the U.S. dollar, remeasurement losses are generated. Conversely, remeasurement gains are generated on a net monetary asset position when the local currency strengthens against the U.S. dollar. To manage a portion of its exposure to currency remeasurement gains and losses, the Company enters into forward contracts to buy or sell the local currency at future dates coinciding with expected changes in the overall net local currency monetary asset or liability position of the subsidiary. Gains and losses on the forward contracts are recorded in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses for each reporting period as they occur, and thus directly offset the related remeasurement losses or gains in the consolidated statements of income for the notional amount hedged. The Company does not designate these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes. The contracts are generally arranged to hedge the subsidiary's projected exposure to currency remeasurement risk for specified periods of time, and new contracts are entered as necessary throughout the year to replace previous contracts as they mature. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, the Company used forward currency contracts to manage its exposure to currency remeasurement risk in Brazil. The total notional amounts of contracts outstanding at March 31, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $27.3 million and $33.0 million, respectively. At March 31, 2016 , the net local monetary asset position in Brazil was not significant, and there were no foreign currency contracts outstanding. To further mitigate currency remeasurement exposure, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries may utilize short-term local currency financing during certain periods. This strategy, while not involving the use of derivative instruments, is intended to minimize the subsidiary’s net monetary position by financing a portion of the local currency monetary assets with local currency monetary liabilities and thus hedging a portion of the overall position. Several of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries transact the majority of their sales and finance the majority of their operating requirements in their local currency, and therefore use their respective local currencies as the functional currency for reporting purposes. From time to time, these subsidiaries sell tobacco to customers in transactions that are not denominated in the functional currency. In those situations, the subsidiaries routinely enter into forward exchange contracts to offset currency risk for the period of time that a fixed-price order and the related trade account receivable are outstanding with the customer. The contracts are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. 61 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Income The table below outlines the effects of the Company’s use of derivative financial instruments on the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Cash Flow Hedges - Interest Rate Swap Agreements Derivative Effective Portion of Hedge Gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss............................................ Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings ............. $ $ 4,869 $ 8,999 $ (12,824) (1,244) $ (3,916) $ (5,108) Location of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings .............................................................................................................................. Interest expense Ineffective Portion of Hedge Gain (loss) recognized in earnings......................................................................................... $ — $ — $ — Location of gain (loss) recognized in earnings ...................................................................... Selling, general and administrative expenses Hedged Item Description of hedged item....................................................................................................... Floating rate interest payments on term loans Cash Flow Hedges - Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts Derivative Effective Portion of Hedge Gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss............................................ Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings ............. Location of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings ................................................................................................................................ $ $ (1,204) $ (1,099) $ 454 945 $ $ 1,774 993 Cost of goods sold Ineffective Portion and Early De-designation of Hedges Gain (loss) recognized in earnings......................................................................................... $ (5) $ 246 $ 685 Location of gain (loss) recognized in earnings ...................................................................... Selling, general and administrative expenses Hedged Item Description of hedged item...................................................................................................... Forecast purchases of tobacco in Brazil Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges - Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts Gain (loss) recognized in earnings......................................................................................... $ (234) $ (2,591) $ 5,973 Location of gain (loss) recognized in earnings ...................................................................... Selling, general and administrative expenses For the interest rate swap agreements, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and any ineffective portion is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. For the forward foreign currency exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges of tobacco purchases in Brazil, a $0.1 million net hedge loss, representing unrealized losses on contracts related to the 2018 crop, remained in accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 31, 2018. No hedge gain or loss had been reclassified to earnings at March 31, 2018 since shipments of those tobaccos had not yet started. The majority of the balance in accumulated other comprehensive loss will be recognized in earnings as a component of cost of goods sold in fiscal year 2019 as the 2018 Brazilian crop tobacco is sold to customers. Based on the hedging strategy, as the gain or loss is recognized in earnings, it is expected to be offset by a change in the direct cost for the tobacco or by a change in sales prices if the strategy has been mandated by the customer. Generally, margins on the sale of the tobacco will not be significantly affected. 62 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets The table below outlines the effects of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2018 and 2017: Derivatives in a Fair Value Asset Position Derivatives in a Fair Value Liability Position Balance Sheet Location Fair Value as of March 31, 2018 2017 Balance Sheet Location Fair Value as of March 31, 2018 2017 Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments Interest rate swap agreements Forward foreign currency exchange contracts Other non-current assets Other current assets $ 8,262 $ 2,149 19 56 Other long-term liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses Total $ 8,281 $ 2,205 $ 123 $ $ — $ — 123 55 55 Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments Forward foreign currency exchange contracts Total Other current assets $ $ 341 341 $ $ 917 917 Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ $ 269 269 $ $ 120 120 Substantially all of the Company's forward foreign currency exchange contracts are subject to master netting arrangements, whereby the right to offset occurs in the event of default by a participating party. The Company has elected to present these contracts on a gross basis in the consolidated balance sheets. NOTE 9. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Universal measures certain financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities at fair value based on applicable accounting guidance. The financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value include money market funds, trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans, interest rate swap agreements, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, and guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers. The application of the fair value guidance to nonfinancial assets and liabilities primarily includes the determination of fair values for goodwill and long-lived assets when indicators of potential impairment are present. Under the accounting guidance, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The framework for measuring fair value is based on a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between observable inputs and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs require the Company to make its own assumptions about the value placed on an asset or liability by market participants because little or no market data exists. There are three levels within the fair value hierarchy. Level 1 2 3 Description quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the reporting date; quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. 63 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) As permitted under the accounting guidance, the Company uses net asset value per share ("NAV") as a practical expedient to measure the fair value of its money market funds. The fair values for those funds are presented under the heading "NAV" in the tables that follow in this disclosure. In measuring the fair value of liabilities, the Company considers the risk of non-performance in determining fair value. Universal has not elected to report at fair value any financial instruments or any other assets or liabilities that are not required to be reported at fair value under current accounting guidance. At March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had certain financial assets and financial liabilities that were required to be measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis. These assets and liabilities are listed in the tables below and are classified based on how their values were determined under the fair value hierarchy or the NAV practical expedient: March 31, 2018 Fair Value Hierarchy NAV Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Money market funds............................................................................................. $ 89,767 $ — $ — $ — $ 89,767 Trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans ......................... Interest rate swap agreements............................................................................... Forward foreign currency exchange contracts...................................................... — — — 17,519 — — — 8,262 360 — — — 17,519 8,262 360 Total financial assets measured and reported at fair value ................................ $ 89,767 $ 17,519 $ 8,622 $ — $ 115,908 Liabilities Guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers ...................................................... $ — $ — $ — $ 974 $ Forward foreign currency exchange contracts...................................................... — — 392 — 974 392 Total financial liabilities measured and reported at fair value........................... $ — $ — $ 392 $ 974 $ 1,366 March 31, 2017 Fair Value Hierarchy NAV Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Money market funds .............................................................................................. $ 137,145 $ — $ — $ — $ 137,145 Trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans .......................... Interest rate swaps.................................................................................................. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts....................................................... — — — 17,726 — — — 2,149 973 — — — 17,726 2,149 973 Total financial assets measured and reported at fair value................................ $ 137,145 $ 17,726 $ 3,122 $ — $ 157,993 Liabilities Guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers........................................................ $ — $ — $ — $ 1,177 $ 1,177 Forward foreign currency exchange contracts....................................................... — — 175 — 175 Total financial liabilities measured and reported at fair value .......................... $ — $ — $ 175 $ 1,177 $ 1,352 64 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Money market funds The fair value of money market funds, which are reported in cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets, is based on NAV, which is the amount at which the funds are redeemable and is used as a practical expedient for fair value. These funds are not classified in the fair value hierarchy, but are disclosed as part of the fair value table above. Trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans Trading securities represent mutual fund investments that are matched to employee deferred compensation obligations. These investments are bought and sold as employees defer compensation, receive distributions, or make changes in the funds underlying their accounts. Quoted market prices (Level 1) are used to determine the fair values of the mutual funds. Interest rate swap agreements The fair values of interest rate swap agreements are determined based on dealer quotes using a discounted cash flow model matched to the contractual terms of each instrument. Since inputs to the model are observable and significant judgment is not required in determining the fair values, interest rate swaps are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts The fair values of forward foreign currency exchange contracts are also determined based on dealer quotes using a discounted cash flow model matched to the contractual terms of each instrument. Since inputs to the model are observable and significant judgment is not required in determining the fair values, forward foreign currency exchange contracts are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers The Company guarantees bank loans to tobacco growers in Brazil for crop financing. In the event that the farmers default on their payments to the banks, the Company would be required to perform under the guarantees. The Company regularly evaluates the likelihood of farmer defaults based on an expected loss analysis and records the fair value of its guarantees as an obligation in its consolidated financial statements. The fair value of the guarantees is determined using the expected loss data for all loans outstanding at each measurement date. The present value of the cash flows associated with the estimated losses is then calculated at a risk-adjusted interest rate that is aligned with the expected duration of the liability and includes an adjustment for nonperformance risk. This approach is sometimes referred to as the “contingent claims valuation method.” Although historical loss data is an observable input, significant judgment is required in applying this information to the portfolio of guaranteed loans outstanding at each measurement date and in selecting a risk-adjusted interest rate. Significant increases or decreases in the risk-adjusted interest rate may result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. The guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers are therefore classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. A reconciliation of the change in the balance of the financial liability for guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers (Level 3) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is provided below. Balance at beginning of year ............................................................................................................................... Payments under the guarantees and transfers to allowance for loss on direct loans to farmers (removal of prior crop year loans from the portfolio) ......................................................................................................... Provision for loss or transfers from allowance for loss on direct loans to farmers (addition of current crop year loans)........................................................................................................................................................ Change in discount rate and estimated collection period .................................................................................... Currency remeasurement ..................................................................................................................................... Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 $ 1,177 $ 1,628 (1,210) (2,550) 1,044 28 (65) 1,854 59 186 Balance at end of year.......................................................................................................................................... $ 974 $ 1,177 Long-term Debt The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was approximately $370 million at each of the balance sheet dates March 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term debt using Level 2 inputs which are based upon quoted market prices for the same or similar obligations or on calculations that are based on the current interest rates available to the Company for debt of similar terms and maturities. 65 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 10. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS Defined Benefit Plans Description of Plans The Company sponsors several defined benefit pension plans covering salaried and certain hourly employees in the U.S., as well as certain foreign and other employee groups. These plans provide retirement benefits based primarily on employee compensation and years of service. Plan assets consist primarily of equity and fixed income investments. The Company also sponsors defined benefit plans that provide postretirement health and life insurance benefits for eligible U.S. employees and retirees who have attained specific age and service levels, although postretirement life insurance benefits were discontinued several years ago for all employees who were not already retired. The health benefits are funded by the Company as the costs of those benefits are incurred. The plan design includes cost-sharing features such as deductibles and coinsurance. The life insurance benefits are funded with deposits to a reserve account held by an insurance company. The Company has the right to amend or discontinue its pension and other postretirement benefit plans at any time. In the following disclosures, the term “accumulated benefit obligation” (“ABO”) represents the actuarial present value of estimated future benefit payments earned by participants in the Company's defined benefit pension plans as of the balance sheet date without regard to the estimated effect of future compensation increases on those benefits. The term does not apply to other postretirement benefits. “Projected benefit obligation” refers to the projected benefit obligation (“PBO”) for pension benefits and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (“APBO”) for other postretirement benefits. These amounts represent the actuarial present value of estimated future benefit payments earned by participants in the benefit plans as of the balance sheet date. For pension benefits, the projected benefit obligation includes the estimated effect of future compensation increases on those benefits. Actuarial Assumptions Assumptions used for financial reporting purposes to compute net periodic benefit cost and benefit obligations for the Company's primary defined benefit plans were as follows: Pension Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 Discount rates: Benefit cost for plan year ........................... Benefit obligation at end of plan year ........ 4.10% 4.10% 4.10% 4.10% 3.80% 4.10% 3.90% 3.90% 3.80% 3.90% 3.70% 3.80% Expected long-term return on plan assets: Benefit cost for plan year ........................... 7.00% 7.00% 7.25% 3.00% 3.00% 3.00% Salary scale: Benefit cost for plan year ........................... Benefit obligation at end of plan year ........ 4.00% 4.00% 4.00% 4.00% Healthcare cost trend rate.............................. N/A N/A 4.50% 4.00% N/A 4.00% 4.00% 4.00% 4.00% 8.10% 6.70% 4.50% 4.00% 7.00% Changes in the discount rates in the above table reflect prevailing market interest rates at the end of each fiscal year when the benefit obligations are actuarially measured. The expected long-term return on plan assets is developed from financial models used to project future returns on the underlying assets of the funded plans and is reviewed on an annual basis. The healthcare cost trend rate used by the Company is based on a study of medical cost inflation rates that is reviewed and updated annually for continued applicability. The revised trend assumption of 8.10% in 2018 declines gradually to 4.50% in 2026. The Company has caps in place on postretirement medical benefits that limit its cost for a large segment of the retiree population. As a result, changes to the healthcare cost trend rate have a limited impact on the postretirement medical plan liability and expense. 66 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Benefit Obligations, Plan Assets, and Funded Status The following table reflects the changes in benefit obligations and plan assets in 2018 and 2017, as well as the funded status of the plans at March 31, 2018 and 2017: Pension Benefits March 31, Other Postretirement Benefits March 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Actuarial present value of benefit obligation: Accumulated benefit obligation ...................................................................... $ 270,666 $ 266,764 Projected benefit obligation ............................................................................ 273,658 269,250 $ 32,945 $ 36,786 Change in projected benefit obligation: Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year .............................................. $ 269,250 $ 275,505 $ 36,786 $ 37,225 Service cost ..................................................................................................... Interest cost ..................................................................................................... Effect of discount rate change......................................................................... Foreign currency exchange rate changes ........................................................ Settlements ...................................................................................................... Other................................................................................................................ 5,177 10,801 1,209 1,268 — 781 5,382 10,441 489 (1,111) (10,955) 4,108 Benefit payments............................................................................................. (14,828) (14,609) 229 1,471 612 (151) — (3,212) (2,790) 247 1,535 (191) 286 — 766 (3,082) Projected benefit obligation, end of year ........................................................ $ 273,658 $ 269,250 $ 32,945 $ 36,786 Change in plan assets: Plan assets at fair value, beginning of year ..................................................... $ 220,151 $ 217,859 $ 3,054 $ 1,565 Actual return on plan assets ............................................................................ Employer contributions ................................................................................... Settlements ...................................................................................................... Foreign currency exchange rate changes ........................................................ 15,902 7,891 — 452 16,450 10,676 (10,322) 97 105 3,098 — — 71 4,500 — — Benefit payments............................................................................................. (14,828) (14,609) (2,790) (3,082) Plan assets at fair value, end of year ............................................................... $ 229,568 $ 220,151 $ 3,467 $ 3,054 Funded status: Funded status of the plans, end of year ........................................................... $ (44,090) $ (49,099) $ (29,478) $ (33,732) The settlements for pension benefits in fiscal year 2017 were attributable to the termination of a foreign pension plan during the year and the transfer of assets in settlement of the participants' benefit obligations to defined contribution plans. The Company funds its non-regulated U.S. pension plan, one of its foreign pension plans, and its postretirement medical plans on a pay-as-you-go basis as the benefit payments are incurred. Those plans account for approximately 87% of the $44.1 million unfunded pension obligation and approximately 95% of the $29.5 million unfunded postretirement benefit obligation shown on the funded status line in the above table at March 31, 2018. 67 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) The funded status of the Company’s plans at the end of fiscal years 2018 and 2017 was reported in the consolidated balance sheets as follows: Pension Benefits March 31, Other Postretirement Benefits March 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Non-current asset (included in other noncurrent assets).................................... $ 2,308 $ 1,710 $ — $ — Current liability (included in accounts payable and accrued expenses) ............ Non-current liability (reported as pensions and other postretirement benefits) (8,599) (37,796) (1,106) (49,703) (2,431) (27,047) (2,746) (30,986) Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets ................................... $ (44,087) $ (49,099) $ (29,478) $ (33,732) Additional information on the funded status of the Company’s plans as of the respective measurement dates for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, is as follows: Pension Benefits March 31, Other Postretirement Benefits March 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 For plans with a projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets: Aggregate projected benefit obligation (PBO)................................................ $ 261,581 $ 260,826 $ 32,945 $ 36,786 Aggregate fair value of plan assets ................................................................. 215,182 210,017 3,467 3,054 For plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets: Aggregate accumulated benefit obligation (ABO).......................................... Aggregate fair value of plan assets ................................................................. 258,708 215,182 258,424 210,017 N/A N/A N/A N/A Net Periodic Benefit Cost The components of the Company’s net periodic benefit cost were as follows: Pension Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits Fiscal Year Ended March 31, Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 Components of net periodic benefit cost: Service cost ................................................ $ 5,177 $ 5,382 $ 5,953 $ 229 $ 247 $ Interest cost ................................................ 10,801 10,441 10,037 Expected return on plan assets................... (15,962) (15,154) (15,110) Settlement gain........................................... Net amortization and deferral .................... — 3,735 (912) 4,576 — 4,394 1,471 (87) — (620) 1,535 (42) — (394) Net periodic benefit cost ............................ $ 3,751 $ 4,333 $ 5,274 $ 993 $ 1,346 $ 286 1,539 (58) — (431) 1,336 A one-percentage-point increase or decrease in the assumed healthcare cost trend rate would not result in a significant change to the March 31, 2018 accumulated postretirement benefit obligation or the aggregate service and interest cost components of the net periodic postretirement benefit expense for fiscal year 2019. 68 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Amounts Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at the beginning of the year are amortized as a component of net periodic benefit cost during the year. The amounts recognized in other comprehensive income or loss for fiscal years 2018 and 2017 and the amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at the end of those fiscal years are shown below. All amounts shown are before allocated income taxes. Pension Benefits March 31, Other Postretirement Benefits March 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Change in net actuarial loss (gain): Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of year..................................................... $ 74,045 $ 79,299 $ (6,286) $ (7,234) Losses (gains) arising during the year ............................................................. Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost during the year ................ Net actuarial loss (gain), end of year ............................................................... 1,390 (6,102) 69,333 2,313 (7,567) 74,045 Change in prior service cost (benefit): Prior service cost (benefit), beginning of year................................................. (12,070) (15,061) Prior service cost (benefit) arising during the year ......................................... Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost during the year ................ Prior service cost (benefit), end of year........................................................... — 2,367 (9,703) — 2,991 (12,070) (1,580) 619 (7,247) (112) (867) 14 (965) 554 394 (6,286) (108) (4) — (112) Total amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of year, before income taxes ............................................................. $ 59,630 $ 61,975 $ (8,212) $ (6,398) Amounts in the above table reflect the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. The accumulated other comprehensive loss reported in the consolidated balance sheets also includes pension and other postretirement benefit amounts related to ownership interests in unconsolidated affiliates. The Company expects to recognize approximately $5.2 million of the March 31, 2018 net actuarial loss and $2.4 million of the March 31, 2018 prior service benefit in net periodic benefit cost during fiscal year 2019. Allocation of Pension Plan Assets The Company has established, and periodically adjusts, target asset allocations for its investments in its U.S. ERISA- regulated defined benefit pension plan, which represents 94% of consolidated plan assets and 82% of consolidated PBO at March 31, 2018, to balance the needs of 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 targeted weights. The Company reviews the expected long-term returns of the asset allocation each year to help determine whether changes are needed. The return is evaluated on a weighted-average basis in relation to inflation. The assumed long-term rate of return used to calculate annual benefit expense is based on the asset allocation and expected market returns for the respective asset classes. 69 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) The weighted–average target pension asset allocation and target ranges at the March 31, 2018 measurement date and the actual asset allocations at the March 31, 2018 and 2017 measurement dates by major asset category were as follows: Major Asset Category Target Allocation Actual Allocation March 31, Range 2018 2017 Fixed income securities Equity securities...................................................................................... (1) ..................................................................... Alternative investments .......................................................................... 29.0% 19% - 39% 66.0% 56% - 76% 5.0% 0% - 10% 27.4% 65.9% 6.7% 31.9% 61.7% 6.4% Total................................................................................................... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% (1) Actual amounts include high yield securities and cash balances held for the payment of benefits. Universal makes regular contributions to its pension and other postretirement benefit plans. As previously noted, for postretirement health benefits, contributions reflect funding of those benefits as they are incurred. The Company expects to make contributions of approximately $15.3 million to its defined benefit pension plans in fiscal year 2019, including $6.0 million to its ERISA-regulated U.S. plan and $9.3 million to its non-ERISA regulated and other plans. Estimated future benefit payments to be made from the Company’s plans are as follows: Fiscal Year Pension Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits 2019.................................................................................................................................................................... $ 22,601 $ 2020.................................................................................................................................................................... 2021.................................................................................................................................................................... 2022.................................................................................................................................................................... 2023.................................................................................................................................................................... 2024 - 2028 ........................................................................................................................................................ 16,117 17,622 17,235 17,497 91,433 2,819 2,726 2,639 2,536 2,458 10,971 Fair Values of Pension Plan Assets Assets held by the Company's defined benefit pension plans primarily consist of equity securities, fixed income securities, and alternative investments. Equity securities are primarily invested in actively-traded mutual funds with underlying common stock investments in U.S. and foreign companies ranging in size from small to large corporations. Fixed income securities are also held primarily through actively-traded mutual funds with the underlying investments in both U.S. and foreign securities. The methodologies for determining the fair values of the plan assets are outlined below. Where the values are based on quoted prices for the securities in an active market, they are classified as Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Where secondary pricing sources are used, they are classified as Level 2 of the hierarchy. Pricing models that use significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3. • Equity securities: Investments in equity securities through actively-traded mutual funds are valued based on the net asset values of the units held in the respective funds, which are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges. These securities are classified as Level 1. • Fixed income securities: Fixed income investments that are held through mutual funds are valued based on the net asset values of the units held in the respective funds, which are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges. These securities are classified as Level 1. Other fixed income investments are valued at an estimated price that a dealer would pay for a similar security on the valuation date using observable market inputs and are classified as Level 2. These market inputs may include yield curves for similarly rated securities. Small amounts of cash are held in common collective trusts. Fixed income securities also include insurance assets, which are valued based on an actuarial calculation. Those securities are classified as Level 3. 70 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) • Alternative investments: Real estate assets are valued using valuation models that incorporate income and market approaches, including external appraisals, to derive fair values. The hedge fund allocation is a fund of hedge funds and is valued by the manager based on the net asset value of each fund. These models use significant unobservable inputs and are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. Fair values of the assets of the Company’s pension plans as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, classified based on how their values were determined under the fair value hierarchy are as follows: March 31, 2018 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Equity securities.......................................................................................... $ Fixed income securities (1) .......................................................................... Alternative investments .............................................................................. 58,667 $ — $ — $ 58,667 142,329 — 10,836 — 3,550 14,186 156,715 14,186 Total investments................................................................................... $ 200,996 $ 10,836 $ 17,736 $ 229,568 March 31, 2017 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Equity securities.......................................................................................... $ Fixed income securities (1) .......................................................................... Alternative investments .............................................................................. 65,637 $ — $ — $ 65,637 128,214 — 10,134 — 3,072 13,094 141,420 13,094 Total investments................................................................................... $ 193,851 $ 10,134 $ 16,166 $ 220,151 (1) Includes high yield securities and cash and cash equivalent balances. Other Benefit Plans Universal and several subsidiaries offer employer defined contribution savings plans. Amounts charged to expense for these plans were approximately $2.3 million for fiscal year 2018, $2.6 million for fiscal year 2017, and $2.4 million for fiscal year 2016. NOTE 11. COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK Common Stock At March 31, 2018, the Company’s shareholders had authorized 100,000,000 shares of its common stock, and 24,930,725 shares were 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 of Directors. The Board of Directors 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. Preferred Stock Authorized and Outstanding Shares The Company is also authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, 500,000 shares of which are reserved for Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and 220,000 of which were reserved for Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock. No Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock has been issued. In 2006, 220,000 shares of Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock were issued under this authorization. As discussed below, all of those shares were converted during fiscal year 2017, and none were outstanding at March 31, 2018. Conversion of Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock In December 2016, holders of 111,072 shares of the Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock voluntarily exercised their conversion rights under the original issuance terms of the preferred shares. The Company chose to satisfy the full conversion obligation for those preferred shares with shares of its common stock, issuing 2,487,118 common shares at the applicable conversion rate in exchange for the preferred shares tendered. The consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2017 reflected a non- cash reclassification of $107.6 million from preferred stock to common stock to reflect the conversion of those preferred shares. 71 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) On January 9, 2017, the Company announced a mandatory conversion of all 107,418 remaining outstanding shares of the preferred stock after meeting the requirements to initiate the mandatory conversion under the original terms of the preferred shares. The Company chose to satisfy the conversion obligation for the mandatory conversion in cash, paying approximately $178.4 million for those preferred shares on January 31, 2017 to complete the conversion. With the completion of the mandatory conversion in January 2017, the Company’s outstanding equity securities consist only of its common stock. Dividend payments on the preferred shares, which previously totaled approximately $15 million annually, have been discontinued. Although the conversions of the preferred stock into common stock or for cash did not impact the Company’s net income, the shares converted for cash under the mandatory conversion in January 2017 resulted in a one-time reduction of retained earnings of approximately $74.4 million during the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2017, representing the excess of the conversion cost over the carrying value of those shares. The reduction in retained earnings resulted in a corresponding one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 for purposes of determining the amounts reported for basic and diluted earnings per share. Share Repurchase Programs Universal’s Board of Directors has authorized programs to repurchase outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock (common and preferred stock). Under these programs, the Company has made and may continue to make share repurchases from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at prices not exceeding prevailing market rates. Programs have been in place continuously throughout fiscal years 2016 through 2018. The current program, which replaced an expiring program, was authorized and became effective on November 7, 2017. It authorizes the purchase of up to $100 million of the Company's outstanding common stock and expires on the earlier of November 15, 2019, or when the funds authorized for the program have been exhausted. At March 31, 2018, $91 million of the authorization remained available for share repurchases under the current program. There were no share repurchases for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. Repurchases of common stock under the programs for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 were as follows: Number of shares repurchased......................................................................................................................................... Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands of dollars) ...................................................................................................... $ Weighted-average cost per share ..................................................................................................................................... $ 403,624 21,610 53.54 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 NOTE 12. EXECUTIVE STOCK PLANS AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION Executive Stock Plans The Company’s shareholders have approved executive stock plans under which officers, directors, and employees of the Company may receive grants and awards of common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance share awards (“PSAs”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), incentive stock options, and non-qualified stock options. Currently, grants are outstanding under the 1997 Executive Stock Plan, the 2002 Executive Stock Plan, the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, and the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan. Together, these plans are referred to in this disclosure as the “Plans.” Up to 1,000,000 shares may be issued under the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, with no specific share limit for any of the award types. New awards may no longer be issued under the 1997, 2002, and 2007 Plans. The Company’s practice is to award grants of stock-based compensation to officers at the first regularly-scheduled meeting of the Executive Compensation, Nominating, and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) in the fiscal year following the public release of the Company’s financial results for the prior year. In recent years, the Compensation Committee has awarded only grants of RSUs and PSAs. All stock options granted in previous years were either exercised or had expired before fiscal year 2016, and all SARs were either exercised or had expired by the end of fiscal year 2017. Outside directors automatically receive restricted stock units following each annual meeting of shareholders. 72 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Non-qualified stock options and SARs previously granted under the Plans had an exercise price equal to the market price of a share of common stock on the date of grant. SARs granted under the Plans vested in equal one-third tranches one, two, and three years after the grant date and expired 10 years after the grant date, except that SARs granted after fiscal year 2007 expired on the earlier of 3 years after the grantee’s retirement date or 10 years after the grant date. RSUs awarded under the Plans vest 5 years from the grant date and are then paid out in shares of common stock. Under the terms of the RSU awards, grantees receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional RSUs that vest and are paid out on the same date as the original RSU grant. The PSAs vest 3 years from the grant date, are paid out in shares of common stock at the vesting date, and do not carry rights to dividends or dividend equivalents prior to vesting. Shares ultimately paid out under PSA grants are dependent on the achievement of predetermined performance measures established by the Compensation Committee and can range from zero to 150% of the stated award. RSUs awarded to outside directors vest 3 years after the grant date, and restricted stock vests upon the individual’s retirement from service as a director. SARs The following tables summarize the Company’s SAR activity and related information for fiscal years 2016 and 2017: Weighted- Average Exercise Price Shares Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2016: Outstanding at beginning of year ......................................................................................................................... 169,601 $ Exercised .............................................................................................................................................................. Cancelled/expired................................................................................................................................................. (6,200) (11,200) Outstanding at end of year ................................................................................................................................... 152,201 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017: Exercised .............................................................................................................................................................. (135,334) Cancelled/expired................................................................................................................................................. (16,867) Outstanding at end of year ................................................................................................................................... — $ 59.82 51.32 62.66 59.96 61.72 45.82 — Total intrinsic value of awards exercised............................................................................................................. $ Total fair value of awards vested ......................................................................................................................... $ 555 $ — $ 26 — Intrinsic value in the above table is based on the difference between the market price of the underlying shares at the exercise date and the exercise price of the SARs. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017 2016 73 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) RSUs, Restricted Stock, and PSAs The following table summarizes the Company’s RSU, restricted stock, and PSA activity for fiscal years 2016 through 2018: RSUs Restricted Stock PSAs Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value Shares Shares Shares Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2016: Unvested at beginning of year ................... 264,397 $ Granted....................................................... Vested......................................................... Unvested at end of year.............................. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017: Granted....................................................... Vested......................................................... Forfeited..................................................... 80,932 (42,384) 302,945 74,776 (51,544) (539) Unvested at end of year.............................. 325,638 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018: Granted....................................................... Vested......................................................... Forfeited..................................................... 72,032 (60,751) — Unvested at end of year.............................. 336,919 $ 48.10 51.62 41.64 49.95 55.27 44.57 55.63 52.01 64.13 45.51 — 55.77 48,100 $ 42.33 153,475 $ — — — — 48,100 42.33 — (17,900) — 30,200 — — — — 42.26 — 42.37 — — — 86,212 (85,387) 154,300 58,805 (52,230) (525) 160,350 39,100 (41,667) (6,783) 30,200 $ 42.37 151,000 $ 45.58 45.06 38.14 48.13 49.17 53.56 49.17 46.86 60.37 46.41 46.41 50.50 Shares granted and vested in the above table include dividend equivalents on RSUs and any shares awarded above the base grant under the performance provisions of PSAs. Shares forfeited or canceled include any reductions from the base PSA grant under those same performance provisions. The fair values of RSUs, restricted stock, and PSAs are based on the market price of the common stock on the grant date. Stock-Based Compensation Expense Fair value expense for stock-based compensation is recognized ratably over the period from grant date to the earlier of (1) the vesting date of the award, or (2) the date the grantee is eligible to retire without forfeiting the award. For employees who are already eligible to retire at the date an award is granted, the total fair value of the award is recognized as expense at the date of grant. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, total stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit recognized were as follows: Total stock-based compensation expense ................................................................................ $ Income tax benefit recorded on stock-based compensation expense ...................................... $ 7,610 2,397 $ $ 6,475 2,266 $ $ 5,206 1,822 At March 31, 2018, the Company had $5.6 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-based awards, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.1 years. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 74 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 13. COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES, AND OTHER MATTERS Commitments The Company enters into contracts to purchase tobacco from farmers in a number of the countries where it operates. Contracts in most countries cover one annual growing season. Primarily with the farmer contracts in Brazil, Malawi, Mozambique, the Philippines, Guatemala, and Mexico, the Company provides seasonal financing to support the farmers’ production of their crops or guarantees their financing from third-party banks. At March 31, 2018, the Company had contracts to purchase approximately $644 million of tobacco to be delivered during the coming fiscal year and $114 million of tobacco to be delivered in subsequent years. These amounts are estimates since actual quantities purchased will depend on crop yields, and prices will depend on the quality of the tobacco delivered and other market factors. Tobacco purchase obligations have been partially funded by short-term advances to farmers and other suppliers, which totaled approximately $123 million, net of allowances, at March 31, 2018. The Company withholds payments due to farmers on delivery of the tobacco to satisfy repayment of the financing it provided to the farmers. As noted above and discussed in more detail below, the Company also has arrangements to guarantee bank loans to farmers in Brazil, and payments are also withheld on delivery of tobacco to satisfy repayment of those loans. In addition to its contractual obligations to purchase tobacco, the Company had commitments related to agricultural materials, approved capital expenditures, and various other requirements that approximated $52 million at March 31, 2018. Guarantees and Other Contingent Liabilities Guarantees of Bank Loans and Other Contingent Liabilities Guarantees of bank loans to growers for crop financing have long been industry practice in Brazil and support the farmers’ production of tobacco there. The Company's operating subsidiary in Brazil had guarantees outstanding at March 31, 2018, all of which expire within one year. As noted above, the subsidiary withholds payments due to the farmers on delivery of tobacco and forwards those payments to the third-party banks. Failure of farmers to deliver sufficient quantities of tobacco to the subsidiary to cover their obligations to the third-party banks could result in a liability for the subsidiary under the related guarantees; however, in that case, the subsidiary would have recourse against the farmers. The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company’s subsidiary could be required to make at March 31, 2018, was the face amount, $20 million including unpaid accrued interest ($17 million as of March 31, 2017). The fair value of the guarantees was a liability of approximately $1 million at March 31, 2018 ($1 million at March 31, 2017). In addition to these guarantees, the Company has other contingent liabilities totaling approximately $2 million at March 31, 2018, primarily under outstanding letters of credit. Value-Added Tax Assessments in Brazil As discussed in Note 1, the Company's local operating subsidiaries pay significant amounts of value-added tax ("VAT") in connection with their normal operations. In Brazil, VAT is assessed at the state level when green tobacco is transferred between states. The Company's operating subsidiary there pays VAT when tobaccos grown in the states of Santa Catarina and Parana are transferred to its factory in the state of Rio Grande do Sul for processing. The subsidiary has received assessments for additional VAT plus interest and penalties from the tax authorities for the states of Santa Catarina and Parana based on audits of the subsidiary's VAT filings for specified periods. In June 2011, tax authorities for the state of Santa Catarina issued assessments for tax, interest, and penalties for periods from 2006 through 2009 totaling approximately $14 million. In September 2014, tax authorities for the state of Parana issued an assessment for tax, interest, and penalties for periods from 2009 through 2014 totaling approximately $17 million. These amounts are based on the exchange rate for the Brazilian currency at March 31, 2018. Management of the operating subsidiary and outside counsel believe that errors were made by the tax authorities for both states in determining all or significant portions of these assessments and that various defenses support the subsidiary's positions. With respect to the Santa Catarina assessments, the subsidiary took appropriate steps to contest the full amount of the claims. As of March 31, 2018, a portion of the subsidiary's arguments had been accepted, and the outstanding assessment had been reduced, although interest on the remaining assessment has continued to accumulate. The reduced assessment, together with the related accumulated interest through the end of the current reporting period, totaled approximately $15 million at the March 31, 2018 exchange rate. The subsidiary is continuing to contest the full remaining amount of the assessment. While the range of reasonably possible loss is zero up to the full $15 million remaining assessment, based on the strength of the subsidiary's defenses, no loss within that range is considered probable at this time and no liability has been recorded at March 31, 2018. With respect to the Parana assessment, management of the subsidiary and outside counsel challenged the full amount of the claim. A significant portion of the Parana assessment was based on positions taken by the tax authorities that management and outside counsel believe deviate significantly from the underlying statutes and relevant case law. In addition, under the law, the subsidiary's tax filings for certain periods covered in the assessment were no longer open to any challenge by the tax authorities. In December 2015, the Parana tax authorities withdrew the initial claim and subsequently issued a new assessment covering the same tax periods. The new assessment totaled approximately $5 million at the March 31, 2018 exchange rate, reflecting a substantial reduction from the original $17 million assessment. Notwithstanding the reduction, management and outside counsel continue to 75 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) believe that the new assessment is not supported by the underlying statutes and relevant case law and have taken the necessary steps to challenge the full amount of the claim. The range of reasonably possible loss is considered to be zero up to the full $5 million assessment. However, based on the strength of the subsidiary's defenses, no loss within that range is considered probable at this time and no liability has been recorded at March 31, 2018. In both states, the process for reaching a final resolution to the assessments is expected to be lengthy, and management is not currently able to predict when either case will be concluded. Should the subsidiary ultimately be required to pay any tax, interest, or penalties in either case, the portion paid for tax would generate value-added tax credits that the subsidiary may be able to recover. Tanzania Fair Competition Commission Proceeding In June 2012, the Company’s Tanzanian subsidiary, Tanzania Leaf Tobacco Company Ltd. (“TLTC”), entered into a two crop-year supply agreement for unprocessed “green” tobacco with a newly-formed Tanzanian subsidiary of one of the Company’s major customers. The agreement involved green tobacco purchases from four of the approximately 400 grower cooperatives in Tanzania, which allowed the customer and its Tanzanian subsidiary on a small test basis to evaluate whether it would be a viable alternative for the customer to establish its own vertically integrated supply operations in that market. Prior to that time, the customer’s subsidiary did not exist, and it only purchased processed Tanzanian tobacco from tobacco dealers in specified amounts and only for certain grades and stalk positions. In contrast, the agreement with TLTC required the customer’s subsidiary to purchase green tobacco on a “run of crop” basis. “Run of crop” requires the purchase of all green tobacco produced on the tobacco plant, regardless of grade or stalk position. The agreement, therefore, enabled the customer’s subsidiary on a small test basis to evaluate the quality of green tobacco purchased on a “run of crop” basis and to assess how such tobacco would be suited to the customer's tobacco requirements. The customer unilaterally elected to establish its own vertically integrated supply operations in Tanzania after the expiration of the agreement, and its subsidiary began purchasing green tobacco directly from Tanzanian grower cooperatives during the second crop year thereafter. Despite the pro-competitive object and effect of the agreement between TLTC and the customer’s subsidiary, in October 2016, the Tanzania Fair Competition Commission (“FCC”) notified TLTC and the customer’s subsidiary that it reviewed the agreement and provisionally concluded that it infringed Tanzania antitrust law by having the object and effect of preventing competition in the purchase of unprocessed green tobacco in the area in which the four grower cooperatives were located. The FCC also provisionally concluded that the Company’s U.S. subsidiary, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. (“ULT”), and additional subsidiaries of the customer, were jointly and severally liable for the actions of TLTC and the customer’s Tanzanian subsidiary, respectively. TLTC and ULT submitted a written response contesting the FCC’s allegations, and on February 27, 2018, the FCC issued its decision to TLTC and ULT which confirmed its initial conclusion that the agreement infringed Tanzanian antitrust law. In its decision, the FCC concluded incorrectly that the parties to the agreement unfairly benefited in the amount of $105 thousand. The FCC arbitrarily assessed a fine jointly against TLTC and ULT of approximately $197 million and a fine jointly against the customer’s Tanzanian subsidiary and another subsidiary of the customer exceeding $1 billion. TLTC and ULT have worked closely with expert legal advisors and economists on this matter. Based on these engagements and consultations, the Company firmly believes the FCC’s allegations are frivolous and clearly without merit or support from the facts, law or economic analysis. The Company further believes the FCC’s proceedings were rife with irregularities and did not comply with applicable legal and regulatory procedures with respect to this matter, including failing to establish jurisdiction over ULT or to offer a legal justification for including ULT in the proceeding. To the contrary, the Company believes the facts, law and economic analysis clearly support the legality and pro-competitive nature of the agreement and support a proper conclusion that there was no infringement of Tanzania antitrust law, and the agreement had no negative impact on the Tanzania tobacco market. The Company further believes the FCC’s proposed fine is ludicrous, unwarranted and contrary to Tanzania law. TLTC and ULT immediately appealed the FCC findings to the Tanzania Fair Competition Tribunal, which immediately stayed the execution of any FCC fines. The Company is unable to predict how long the appeal process will take; however, the Company believes it could last several years. At this time, the Company believes that the likelihood of incurring any material liability in this matter is remote, and no amount has been recorded. Other Contingent Liabilities Various subsidiaries of the Company are involved in other litigation and tax examinations incidental to their business activities. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management is vigorously defending the matters and does not currently expect that any of them will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business or 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. 76 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Major Customers A material part of the Company’s business is dependent upon a few customers. The Company's six largest customers are Altria Group, Inc, British American Tobacco plc, China Tobacco International, Inc., Imperial Brands plc, Japan Tobacco, Inc., and Philip Morris International, Inc. In the aggregate, these customers have accounted for approximately 70% of consolidated revenue for each of the past three fiscal years. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, revenue from Philip Morris International, Inc. was approximately $520 million, $590 million, and $640 million, respectively. For the same periods, Imperial Brands plc accounted for revenue of approximately $270 million, $230 million, and $210 million, respectively, and British American Tobacco plc accounted for revenue of approximately $230 million, $220 million, and $230 million, respectively. These customers primarily do business with various affiliates in the Company’s flue-cured and burley leaf tobacco operations. The loss of, or substantial reduction in business from, any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Accounts Receivable The Company’s operating subsidiaries perform credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition prior to the extension of credit. Generally, accounts 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 historically such amounts have not been material. The allowance for doubtful accounts was approximately $2 million and $4 million at March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At March 31, 2018 and 2017, net accounts receivable by reportable operating segment were as follows: March 31, 2018 2017 Flue-Cured and Burley Leaf Tobacco Operations: North America.................................................................................................................................................. $ 44,726 $ 111,520 Other Regions................................................................................................................................................... Subtotal ........................................................................................................................................................ Other Tobacco Operations.................................................................................................................................... 296,213 340,939 36,180 294,799 406,319 32,969 Consolidated accounts receivable, net ................................................................................................................. $ 377,119 $ 439,288 Acquisition of Partner's Interest in Tobacco Processing Joint Venture For a number of years, the Company held a 50% joint venture ownership interest in Procesadora Unitab, S.A., a tobacco processing entity in Guatemala. In December 2015, the Company acquired the 50% interest held by its joint venture partner for $6 million in cash. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805, "Business Combinations" (“ASC 805”), the transaction was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, which required the Company to record all underlying assets and liabilities of the entity at their fair values as of the transaction date and to consolidate the financial statements of the entity. Based on those fair values, the Company recorded a pretax gain of $3.4 million on the transaction during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. The gain is reported in Other Income in the consolidated statements of income. The purchase price of the newly-acquired 50% interest approximated fair value, and the gain resulted from remeasuring the Company’s original 50% ownership interest in the entity to fair value. No goodwill or identifiable intangible assets were recorded as part of the transaction, and acquisition-related costs were not significant. The allocation of the fair values to the net assets acquired was complete at the time the transaction was recorded. Based on the nature of its operations, the net assets of the acquired entity are comprised primarily of property, plant, and equipment, and the fair values recorded for those assets totaled approximately $12 million based primarily on a third-party appraisal. The acquired entity is included in the Company’s North America operating segment. NOTE 14. OPERATING SEGMENTS Universal’s operations involve selecting, procuring, processing, packing, storing, shipping, and financing leaf tobacco for sale to, or for the account of, manufacturers of consumer tobacco products throughout the world. Through various operating subsidiaries located in tobacco-growing countries around the world and significant ownership interests in unconsolidated affiliates, the Company processes and/or sells flue-cured and burley tobaccos, dark air-cured tobaccos, and oriental tobaccos. Flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobaccos are used principally in the manufacture of cigarettes, and dark air-cured tobaccos are used mainly in the manufacture of cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products. Some of these tobacco types are also increasingly used in the manufacture of non-combustible tobacco products that are intended to provide consumers with an alternative to traditional combustible products. A substantial portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from sales to a limited number of large, multinational cigarette manufacturers. 77 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) The principal approach used by management to evaluate the Company’s performance is by geographic region, although the dark air-cured and oriental tobacco businesses are each evaluated on the basis of their worldwide operations. Oriental tobacco operations consist principally of a 49% interest in an affiliate, and the performance of those operations is evaluated based on the Company’s equity in the pretax earnings of that affiliate. Under this structure, the Company has the following primary operating segments: North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Dark Air-Cured, Oriental, and Special Services. North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia are primarily involved in flue-cured and/or burley leaf tobacco operations for supply to cigarette manufacturers. The Dark Air-Cured group supplies dark air-cured tobacco principally to manufacturers of cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products, and the Oriental business supplies oriental tobacco to cigarette manufacturers. From time to time, the segments may trade in tobaccos that differ from their main varieties, but those activities are not significant to their overall results. Special Services includes the Company's laboratory services business, which provides physical and chemical product testing and smoke testing for customers, its food ingredients business, and its liquid nicotine joint venture. The five regional operating segments serving the Company’s cigarette manufacturer customer base share similar characteristics in the nature of their products and services, production processes, class of customer, product distribution methods, and regulatory environment. Based on the applicable accounting guidance, four of the regions – South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia – are aggregated into a single reporting segment, “Other Regions”, because they also have similar economic characteristics. North America is reported as an individual operating segment because its economic characteristics differ from the other regions, generally because its operations require lower working capital investments for crop financing and inventory. The Dark Air-Cured, Oriental and Special Services segments, which have dissimilar characteristics in some of the categories mentioned above, are reported together as “Other Tobacco Operations” because each is below the measurement threshold for separate reporting. Universal incurs overhead expenses related to senior management, sales, finance, legal, and other functions that are centralized at its corporate headquarters, as well as functions performed at several sales and administrative offices around the world. These overhead expenses are allocated to the various operating segments, generally on the basis of tobacco volumes planned to be purchased and/or processed. Management believes this method of allocation is representative of the value of the related services provided to the operating segments. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on operating income after allocated overhead expenses, plus equity in the pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. 78 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Reportable segment data as of, or for, the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, is as follows: Sales and Other Operating Revenues Operating Income Fiscal Year Ended March 31, Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 Flue-Cured and Burley Leaf Tobacco Operations: North America ......................................................... $ 308,691 $ 416,438 $ 361,827 $ 23,220 $ 35,151 $ 31,147 Other Regions (1) .................................................... 1,482,188 1,422,991 1,538,971 Subtotal ............................................................... 1,790,879 1,839,429 1,900,798 Other Tobacco Operations (2) ...................................... Segment total ............................................................... Deduct: Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (3) ................................................ (4) ......... Restructuring and impairment costs Add: Other income (5) ............................................. 243,068 2,033,947 231,789 2,071,218 219,575 2,120,373 147,263 170,483 10,129 180,612 (9,125) — — 143,349 178,500 9,984 188,484 (5,774) (4,359) — 143,596 174,743 11,325 186,068 (5,422) (2,389) 3,390 Consolidated total ........................................................ $ 2,033,947 $ 2,071,218 $ 2,120,373 $ 171,487 $ 178,351 $ 181,647 Segment Assets March 31, Goodwill March 31, 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 Flue-Cured and Burley Leaf Tobacco Operations: North America ...................................................... $ 368,672 $ 357,406 $ 364,003 $ — $ — $ Other Regions (1) ................................................. 1,460,961 1,465,109 1,548,517 Subtotal ......................................................... (2) ...................................... Other Tobacco Operations 1,829,633 1,822,515 1,912,520 338,999 300,890 318,657 97,094 97,094 1,713 97,159 97,159 1,644 — 97,318 97,318 1,713 Segment and consolidated totals.................................. $ 2,168,632 $ 2,123,405 $ 2,231,177 $ 98,807 $ 98,803 $ 99,031 Depreciation and Amortization Capital Expenditures Fiscal Year Ended March 31, Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 2018 2017 2016 Flue-Cured and Burley Leaf Tobacco Operations: North America ...................................................... $ 4,772 $ 4,626 $ 4,314 $ 3,316 $ 4,202 $ 2,282 Other Regions (1) ................................................. Subtotal ......................................................... Other Tobacco Operations (2) ...................................... 24,547 29,319 5,574 26,106 30,732 5,238 29,187 33,501 4,143 21,820 25,136 8,901 21,619 25,821 9,809 Segment and consolidated totals.................................. $ 34,893 $ 35,970 $ 37,644 $ 34,037 $ 35,630 $ 25,122 27,404 19,749 47,153 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Includes South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia regions, as well as inter-region eliminations. Includes Dark Air-Cured, Oriental, and Special Services, as well as intercompany eliminations. Sales and other operating revenues, goodwill, depreciation and amortization, and capital expenditures include limited amounts or no amounts for Oriental because the business is accounted for on the equity method and its financial results consist principally of equity in the pretax earnings of the unconsolidated affiliate. The investment in the unconsolidated affiliate is included in segment assets and was approximately $89.3 million, $78.1 million, and $81.8 million, at March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates is included in segment operating income (Other Tobacco Operations segment), but is reported below consolidated operating income and excluded from that total in the consolidated statements of income. Restructuring and impairment costs are excluded from segment operating income, but are included in consolidated operating income in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 2). Other income in fiscal year 2016 represents a gain from remeasuring to fair value the Company's original 50% ownership in Procesadora Unitab, S.A., a tobacco processing joint venture in Guatemala, upon acquiring the 50% interest held by the Company's joint venture partner (See Note 13). 79 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Geographic data as of, or for, the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, is presented below. Sales and other operating revenues are attributed to individual countries based on the final destination of the shipment. Long-lived assets generally consist of net property, plant, and equipment, goodwill, and other intangibles. Geographic Data Sales and Other Operating Revenues Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Belgium ..................................................................................................................................................... $ 339,391 $ 320,735 $ 371,580 United States.............................................................................................................................................. China ......................................................................................................................................................... Germany .................................................................................................................................................... Poland........................................................................................................................................................ Russia ........................................................................................................................................................ Netherlands................................................................................................................................................ 249,281 120,859 114,386 110,445 49,619 45,698 320,731 137,855 123,649 94,681 84,784 91,266 All other countries ..................................................................................................................................... 1,004,268 897,517 275,147 135,032 155,180 85,057 109,559 121,767 867,051 Consolidated total...................................................................................................................................... $ 2,033,947 $ 2,071,218 $ 2,120,373 Long-Lived Assets March 31, 2018 2017 2016 United States.............................................................................................................................................. $ 88,196 $ 85,145 $ 84,072 Brazil ......................................................................................................................................................... Mozambique.............................................................................................................................................. All other countries ..................................................................................................................................... 141,087 47,800 145,638 134,074 50,311 146,698 133,727 53,069 154,090 Consolidated total...................................................................................................................................... $ 422,721 $ 416,228 $ 424,958 80 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 15. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) The following table summarizes the changes in the balances for each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016: (in thousands of dollars) Foreign currency translation: Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 2017 2016 Balance at beginning of year........................................................................................................................ $ (33,138) $ (26,992) $ (31,138) Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation: Net gain (loss) on foreign currency translation (net of tax (expense) benefit of $(5,806), $3,715, and $(2,119)) ................................................................................................................................................ 14,162 (6,899) Less: Net loss on foreign currency translation attributable to noncontrolling interests ............................ 372 753 Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes............. 14,534 (6,146) 3,934 212 4,146 Other changes: Reclassification to retained earnings (5) ................................................................................................. Balance at end of year .................................................................................................................................. (5,338) — — $ (23,942) $ (33,138) $ (26,992) Foreign currency hedge: Balance at beginning of year........................................................................................................................ $ (258) $ 675 $ (1,834) Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation: Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments (net of tax (expense) benefit of $(944), $991, and $(1,060)) .. Reclassification of net (gain) loss to earnings (net of tax expense (benefit) of $827, $(489), and (1) ................................................................................................................................................................. $(291)) 1,416 (1,841) 1,969 (1,193) 908 540 Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes............. 223 (933) 2,509 Balance at end of year .................................................................................................................................. $ (35) $ (258) $ 675 Interest rate hedge: Balance at beginning of year........................................................................................................................ $ 1,398 $ (6,997) $ (1,982) Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation: Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments (net of tax (expense) benefit of $(1,182), $(3,150), and $4,489)................................................................................................................................................... (2) .............. Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes............. Reclassification of net loss to earnings (net of tax benefit of $(433), $(1,370), and $(1,787)) 3,687 811 4,498 5,849 2,546 8,395 (8,335) 3,320 (5,015) Other changes: Reclassification to retained earnings (5) ................................................................................................. Balance at end of year .................................................................................................................................. 632 — — $ 6,528 $ 1,398 $ (6,997) Pension and other postretirement benefit plans: Balance at beginning of year........................................................................................................................ $ (37,561) $ (39,036) $ (40,040) Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation: Net gain (loss) arising during the year (net of tax (expense) benefit of $(527), $751, and $1,035) (3) ..... (4) ...................... Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes............. Amortization included in earnings (net of tax benefit of $(933), $(1,546), and $(1,576)) 295 (1,395) (1,921) 2,318 2,613 2,870 1,475 2,925 1,004 Other changes: Reclassification to retained earnings (5) ................................................................................................. Balance at end of year .................................................................................................................................. (7,667) — — $ (42,615) $ (37,561) $ (39,036) Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at end of year ........................................................... $ (60,064) $ (69,559) $ (72,350) 81 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) (1) Gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedges related to forecast purchases of tobacco is reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to cost of goods sold when the tobacco is sold to customers. See Note 8 for additional information. (2) Gain (loss) on interest rate cash flow hedges is reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense when the related interest payments are made on the debt or upon termination of the interest rate swap agreements prior to their scheduled maturity dates. See Note 8 for additional information. (3) These items arise from the remeasurement of the assets and liabilities of the Company's defined benefit pension plans. Those remeasurements are made on an annual basis at the end of the fiscal year. See Note 10 for additional information. (4) This accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) component is included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See Note 10 for additional information. (5) In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update 2018-02, which addressed the disproportionate income tax effects on pretax amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) arising from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. With the adoption of ASU 2018-02, the disproportionate tax effects were reclassified to retained earnings, and the resulting tax effects remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are reflective of the rates which those amounts will ultimately be taxed. 82 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) NOTE 16. UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA Unaudited quarterly financial data for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is provided in the table below. Due to the seasonal nature of the Company's business, 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, 2018 Operating Results: Sales and other operating revenues ...................................................................... $ 284,622 $ 488,248 $ 653,581 $ 607,496 Gross profit........................................................................................................... Net income ........................................................................................................... Net income attributable to Universal Corporation ............................................... Earnings per common share: Basic................................................................................................................. Diluted.............................................................................................................. 53,857 3,321 3,577 0.14 0.14 93,076 28,306 26,167 1.03 1.02 108,518 116,497 50,219 45,400 1.80 1.78 34,322 30,518 1.21 1.20 Cash Dividends Declared: Per share of common stock .................................................................................. 0.54 0.54 0.55 0.55 Market Price Range of Common Stock: High ...................................................................................................................... Low....................................................................................................................... 75.70 63.15 65.90 55.00 60.45 52.05 53.85 45.95 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017 Operating Results: Sales and other operating revenues ...................................................................... $ 295,475 $ 456,942 $ 668,771 $ 650,030 Gross profit........................................................................................................... Net income (loss).................................................................................................. Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation ..................................... Earnings (loss) available to Universal Corporation common shareholders after dividends on convertible perpetual preferred stock ......................................... Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders: Basic................................................................................................................. Diluted.............................................................................................................. Cash Dividends Declared: Per share of convertible perpetual preferred stock ............................................... Per share of common stock .................................................................................. Market Price Range of Common Stock: High ...................................................................................................................... Low....................................................................................................................... 52,197 (7,504) (5,476) 87,844 26,498 25,264 135,453 119,185 57,062 53,647 36,450 32,869 (9,163) 21,577 49,960 (41,484) (0.40) (0.40) 16.88 0.53 57.75 52.26 0.95 0.90 16.87 0.53 61.69 55.29 2.17 1.92 16.88 0.54 64.20 52.40 (1.64) (1.64) — 0.54 83.35 63.30 Note: Earnings (loss) per share amounts for each fiscal year may not equal the total of the four quarterly amounts due to differences in weighted-average outstanding shares for the respective periods and to the fact that the Company’s convertible perpetual preferred stock was antidilutive for some periods in fiscal year 2017. 83 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued) Significant items included in the quarterly results were as follows: Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 • Third Quarter – Net income attributable to Universal Corporation included a $10.5 million reduction of income tax expense from the initial provisional accounting for the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017, which increased diluted earnings per share for the quarter by $0.41. • Fourth Quarter – Net income attributable to Universal Corporation included a $6.0 million adjustment to the initial provisional accounting for the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered the net reduction in income tax expense recorded in the third quarter from $10.5 million to $4.5 million and reduced diluted earnings per share for the quarter by $0.24. Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017 • • Second Quarter – Results included restructuring and impairment costs totaling $3.7 million, primarily related to the Company's decision to close its tobacco processing facility in Hungary. The Company is now processing tobaccos sourced from Hungary in its factories in Italy. The costs incurred for the change in operations in Hungary included statutory employee termination benefits and impairment charges related to certain property and equipment. Those costs reduced net income attributable to Universal Corporation by $2.4 million and diluted earnings per share by $0.09. Fourth Quarter – The conversion of 107,418 shares of the Company's Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock for cash resulted in a one-time reduction of retained earnings of approximately $74.4 million during the quarter ending March 31, 2018, representing the excess of the conversion cost over the carrying value of those preferred shares. The reduction in retained earnings resulted in a corresponding one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders for purposes of determining the amounts reported for basic and diluted earnings per share for those periods. The reduction in earnings available to common shareholders decreased diluted earnings per share for the quarter by $2.90. 84 Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Universal Corporation Opinion on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Universal Corporation (the Company) as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2018, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2018, 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) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control- Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated May 25, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. Basis for Opinion These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. /s/ Ernst & Young LLP We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1971. Richmond, Virginia May 25, 2018 85  Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Universal Corporation Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting We have audited Universal Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Universal Corporation, (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2018, based on the COSO criteria. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2018, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) and our report dated May 25, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. Basis for Opinion The Company’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 included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Definitions and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 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. /s/ Ernst & Young LLP Richmond, Virginia May 25, 2018 86 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure For the three years ended March 31, 2018, there were no changes in independent auditors, nor were there any 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 Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC 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. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, 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 Exchange Act. 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, 2018. 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 (2013 framework) (“the COSO criteria”). Based on this assessment, the Company’s management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2018. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2018. Their report on this audit appears on page 86 of this Annual Report. 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. 87 Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance PART III Except as to the matters set forth below, information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s 2018 Proxy Statement. The following are executive officers of the Company as of May 25, 2018: Name and Age G. C. Freeman, III (54) Chairman, President, and Position Chief Executive Officer A. L. Hentschke (48) Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer D. C. Moore (62) Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer T. G. Broome (64) Executive Vice President and Sales Director, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. P. D. Wigner (49) Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary J.C. Kroner (50) Senior Vice President J. A. Huffman (56) Senior Vice President, Information and Planning, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. C. H. Claiborne (57) Vice President and Assistant Secretary Business Experience During Past The Five Years Mr. Freeman was elected Chairman of the Board in August 2008, Chief Executive Officer effective April 2008, President in December 2006, and Vice President in November 2005. Mr. Freeman served as General Counsel and Secretary from February 2001 until November 2005 and has been employed with the Company since 1997. Mr. Hentschke was elected Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2015. From January 2013 to April 2015, he served as Executive Vice President of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated ("Universal Leaf"). From November 2009 to January 2013, Mr. Hentschke served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Leaf Tabacos, Limitada, the Company's operating subsidiary in Brazil. He has been employed with the Company and its affiliates since 1991. Mr. Moore was elected Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective September 2008. Mr. Moore served as Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer from April 2006 until September 2008, as Senior Vice President of Universal Leaf from September 2005 until April 2006, and as Managing Director of Universal Leaf International SA from April 2002 until September 2005. He has been employed with the Company since 1978. Mr. Broome was elected Executive Vice President and Sales Director, Universal Leaf, in October 2012. From April 2011 through October 2012, Mr. Broome served as Executive Vice President. From September 1998 through March 2011, Mr. Broome served as Senior Vice President- Sales. He has been employed with the Company since 1994. Mr. Wigner was elected Vice President in August 2007, and General Counsel and Secretary in November 2005 and also served as Chief Compliance Officer from November 2007 until September 2012. Mr. Wigner served as Senior Counsel of Universal Leaf from November 2004 until November 2005. He has been employed with the Company since 2003. Mr. Kroner was elected Senior Vice President in February 2018. He has served as Senior Vice President of Universal Leaf from September 2014 to the present, and Vice President from October 2011 to September 2014. He has been employed with the Company since July 1993. Mr. Huffman was elected Senior Vice President, Information and Planning, Universal Leaf, in August 2007. From September 2003 to August 2007, Mr. Huffman served as Senior Vice President. From September 2002 to September 2003, Mr. Huffman served as Vice President and Controller. He has been employed with the Company since 1996. Mrs. Claiborne was elected Vice President and Assistant Secretary in February 2018. She served as Assistant Secretary from 2001 to February 2018. From October 2004 to February 2018, Mrs. Claiborne served as Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Secretary of Universal Leaf. She has been employed with the Company since December 1999. 88 Name and Age C. C. Formacek (58) R. M. Peebles (60) Business Experience During Past The Five Years Position Vice President and Treasurer Ms. Formacek was elected Vice President and Treasurer effective April 2012. Ms. Formacek served as Treasurer of Universal Leaf from April 2011 through March 2012. She joined the Company in September 2009 and served as Assistant Treasurer of Universal Leaf from that time through March 2011. Vice President and Controller Mr. Peebles was elected Vice President and Controller in April 2011. Mr. Peebles joined the Company in September 2003 and served as Controller from that time through March 2011. There are no family relationships between any of the above officers. The Company has a Code of Conduct that includes the NYSE requirements for a “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” and the SEC requirements for a “Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers.” The Code of Conduct is applicable to all officers, employees, and outside directors of the Company, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer. A copy of the Code of Conduct is available through the “Corporate Governance-Overview” section of the Company’s website at www.universalcorp.com. If the Company amends a provision of the Code of Conduct, 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 www.universalcorp.com to the extent required by the SEC or the NYSE. The information required by Items 407(c)(3), (d)(4) and (d)(5) of Regulation S-K is contained under the captions “Corporate Governance and Committees—Committees of the Board—Compensation Committee,” “Corporate Governance and Committees— Committees of the Board—Audit Committee” of the Company’s 2018 Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated by reference herein. Item 11. Executive Compensation Refer to the captions “Executive Compensation” and “Directors’ Compensation” in the Company’s 2018 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters Refer to the caption “Stock Ownership” in the Company’s 2018 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence Refer to the caption “Certain Transactions” in the Company’s 2018 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. The information required by Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K is contained under the caption “Corporate Governance and Committees—Director Independence” of the Company’s 2018 Proxy Statement and such information is incorporated by reference herein. Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services Refer to the captions “Audit Information – Fees of Independent Auditors” and “Audit Information – Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” in the Company’s 2018 Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. 89  Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules (a) The following are filed as part of this Annual Report: 1. Financial Statements. PART IV Consolidated Statements of Income for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 and 2017 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 2. Financial Statement Schedules. Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 3. Exhibits. The exhibits are listed in the Exhibit Index immediately following the signature pages to this Annual Report. (b) Exhibits The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted as a separate section to this Annual Report. (c) Financial Statement Schedules Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts appears on the following page of this Annual Report. All other schedules are not required under the related instructions or are not applicable and therefore have been omitted. Item 16. Form 10-K Summary None. 90 Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Universal Corporation Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 Description (in thousands of dollars) Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2016: Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from accounts receivable) ........................................................................... $ Balance at Beginning of Year Net Additions (Reversals) Charged to Expense Additions Charged to Other Accounts Deductions (1) Balance at End of Year 5,482 $ 6,970 $ — $ (3,353) $ 9,099 Allowance for supplier accounts (deducted from advances to suppliers and other noncurrent assets)............................. 34,673 815 Allowance for recoverable taxes (deducted from other current assets and other noncurrent assets).......................... 23,218 1,755 — — (6,623) 28,865 (6,221) 18,752 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017: Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from accounts receivable) ........................................................................... $ 9,099 $ (5,071) $ — $ (81) $ 3,947 Allowance for supplier accounts (deducted from advances to suppliers and other noncurrent assets)............................. 28,865 (857) Allowance for recoverable taxes (deducted from other current assets and other noncurrent assets).......................... 18,752 (3,392) — — (934) 27,074 (2,808) 12,552 Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018: Allowance for doubtful accounts (deducted from accounts receivable) ........................................................................... $ 3,947 $ (2,006) $ — $ (158) $ 1,783 Allowance for supplier accounts (deducted from advances to suppliers and other noncurrent assets)............................. 27,074 3,730 Allowance for recoverable taxes (deducted from other current assets and other noncurrent assets).......................... 12,552 1,732 — — (9,084) 21,720 395 14,679 (1) Includes direct write-offs of assets and currency remeasurement. 91 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 May 25, 2018 UNIVERSAL CORPORATION By: /s/ GEORGE C. FREEMAN, III George C. Freeman, III 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. Date May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 May 25, 2018 Signature /s/ GEORGE C. FREEMAN, III George C. Freeman, III Title Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ DAVID C. MOORE David C. Moore Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) /s/ ROBERT M. PEEBLES Robert M. Peebles Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) /s/ JOHN B. ADAMS, JR. John B. Adams, Jr. /s/ DIANA F. CANTOR Diana F. Cantor /s/ LENNART R. FREEMAN Lennart R. Freeman /s/ THOMAS H. JOHNSON Thomas H. Johnson /s/ MICHAEL T. LAWTON Michael T. Lawton /s/ EDDIE N. MOORE, JR. Eddie N. Moore, Jr. /s/ ROBERT C. SLEDD Robert C. Sledd Director Director Director Director Director Director Director 92 EXHIBIT INDEX 3.1 Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, effective August 9, 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K Registration Statement filed August 9, 2011, File No. 001-00652). 3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws (as of August 3, 2010) (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 3, 2010, File No. 001-00652). 4.1 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. 001-00652). 4.2 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. 001-00652). 10.1 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. 001-00652). 10.2 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated Deferred Income Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K, dated February 8, 1991, File No. 001-00652). 10.3 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated Benefit Replacement Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K, dated February 8, 1991, File No. 001-00652). 10.4 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. 001-00652). 10.5 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, 1996, File No. 001-00652). 10.6 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated 1994 Deferred Income Plan, amended and restated as of July 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. 001-00652). 10.7 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. 001-00652). 10.8 Revised Form of Universal Corporation Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 9, 2010, File No. 001-00652). 10.9 Form Change of Control Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8- K filed November 10, 2008, File No. 001-00652). 10.10 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. 001-00652). 10.11 Universal Corporation 1997 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. 001-00652). 10.12 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. 001-00652). 10.13 Form of Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 10, 2008, File No. 001-00652). 10.14 Universal Corporation 2007 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan effective August 7, 2012 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement filed June 28, 2012, File No. 001-00652). 93 10.15 Universal Corporation Executive Officer Annual Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's definitive proxy statement filed June 25, 2014, File No. 001-00652). 10.16 Universal Corporation 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's definitive proxy statement filed June 26, 2017 (File No. 001-00652). 10.17 Form of Universal Corporation 2010 Restricted Stock Units Agreement with Schedule of Awards to named executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, File No. 001-00652). 10.18 Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated Deferred Income Plan III, amended and restated as of December 31, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, File No. 001-00652). 10.19 Universal Corporation Outside Directors' Deferred Income Plan III, amended and restated as of December 31, 2008, and amended as of February 1, 2010 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10- K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, File No. 001-00652). 10.20 Form of Universal Corporation 2011 Restricted Stock Units Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, File No. 001-00652). 10.21 Form of Universal Corporation Performance Share Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, File No. 001-00652). 10.22 Credit Agreement dated December 30, 2014 among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, SunTrust Bank and AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, as Co-Syndication Agents and Keybank National Association and Capital One, National Association, as Co-Documentation Agents (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 30, 2014 (December 23, 2014), File No. 001-00652). 12 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preference Dividends.* 21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.* 23 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, 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.* 32.2 Statement of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.* 101 Interactive Data File (Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, furnished in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)).* Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the three years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018 and 2017, (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for each of the three years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, (v) the Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and (vii) Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts. _________ * Filed herewith. 94 Early depiction of tobacco being loaded onto ships using hogsheads. Jaquelin P. Taylor, Portrait Universal Corporation Headquarters Universal facility during the early twentieth century. Transporting tobacco in Richmond, Virginia (circa late 1800s). IN THE BEGINNING In 1918 Virginia tobacconist Jaquelin P. Taylor, pursuing a bold vision to build the largest tobacco leaf dealer organization in the world, led the consolidation of six prominent leaf merchants to form Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated (“Universal”). Universal’s original charter stated that the Company’s business was “to buy, sell and deal in leaf tobacco whether for its own account or on commission.” Today, 100 years later, we have vastly enlarged our scope of operations from a U.S. company to a global enterprise. We have also expanded our activities to provide services beyond simply buying tobacco. COMPANY ORIGINS Universal Corporation traces its origins back to the late nineteenth century and the efforts of Jaquelin Plummer Taylor of Orange County, Virginia. 1886 J.P. Taylor & Company formed. It was known as “the great shipping and exporting establishment, the largest in the South.” 1911 U.S. Supreme Court orders breakup of American Tobacco Company under the terms of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, paving the way for the formation of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company. 1917 “Doughboys”popularize American cigarette brands in Europe during World War I. Cigarette sales increase dramatically. 1910s 1918 The Virginia State Corporation Commission issued a Charter of Incorporation for Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated. 1918 Universal purchased about 10 percent of the U.S. market during the 1918 and 1919 crop years. 1918 Universal has administrative offices in New York City and Richmond, Virginia. New York was considered the world wide center in tobacco trade. SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at the offices of the Company, 9201 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday, August 2, 2018. A proxy statement and request for proxies are included in this mailing to 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 & REGISTRAR & DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN AGENT Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions P.O. Box 1342 Brentwood, New York 11717 Toll-Free: (866) 804-4445 Outside U.S.: (702) 414-6868 Email: shareholder@broadridge.com or Universal Corporation Investor Relations (804) 254-3789 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Ernst & Young LLP The Edgeworth Building 2100 East Cary Street, Suite 201 Richmond, Virginia 23223 INVESTOR RELATIONS Contact: Candace C. Formacek Vice President and Treasurer Jennifer S. Rowe Assistant Vice President, Capital Markets (804) 254-3789 Information Requests: (804) 254-3789 or Email: investor@universalleaf.com DIVIDEND PAYMENTS Dividend declarations are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors. Dividends on the Company’s common stock 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 annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on its website or by writing to the Treasurer of the Company. ABOUT US For 100 years, Universal Corporation has been finding innovative solutions to serve our customers and meet their leaf tobacco needs. We built a global presence, solidified long-term relationships with customers and suppliers, adapted to changing agricultural practices, embraced state of the art technology and emerged as the recognized industry leader. Today, we conduct business in over 30 countries on five continents, employ more than 24,000 permanent and seasonal workers, and are the leading global leaf supplier. Universal Corporation has a long history of operating with integrity, honesty, and a focus on quality. We are a vital link in the leaf tobacco supply chain, providing expertise in working with large numbers of farmers, efficiently selling various qualities of leaf to a broad global customer base, adapting to meet evolving customer needs, and delivering products that meet stringent quality and regulatory specifications. As we move into our next 100 years, we will build on our history by seeking opportunities to leverage both our assets and expertise. We will continue our commitment to leadership in setting industry standards, operating with transparency, providing products that are responsibly‐sourced, and investing in and strengthening the communities where we operate. ANNUAL REPORT C E N T E N N I A L E D I T I O N EST 2018 1918 P.O. Box 25099 Richmond, Virginia 23260 USA WWW.UNIVERSALCORP.COM 

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