-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, MCau7lcD8Bw4zH4b9tPhV6+BCezp2zWLkUwZ0kK7Tkh/zyMT7bBZZYqMA8ckNJuB 22+2njqSPq6713RmScIxlw== 0001002105-07-000262.txt : 20070807 0001002105-07-000262.hdr.sgml : 20070807 20070807170105 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001002105-07-000262 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 FILED AS OF DATE: 20070807 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20070807 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20070807 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000102037 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-FARM PRODUCT RAW MATERIALS [5150] IRS NUMBER: 540414210 STATE OF INCORPORATION: VA FISCAL YEAR END: 0331 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-145205 FILM NUMBER: 071032344 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1501 NORTH HAMILTON STREET STREET 2: PO BOX 25099 CITY: RICHMOND STATE: VA ZIP: 23230 BUSINESS PHONE: 8043599311 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 25099 CITY: RICHMOND STATE: VA ZIP: 23260 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO CO INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19880314 S-8 1 forms8.htm

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2007.

Registration No. 333-_____

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Virginia

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

54-0414210

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

 

1501 North Hamilton Street

Richmond, Virginia  

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

23230

(Zip Code)

__________________

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

2007 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

(Full title of the plan)

 

Preston D. Wigner, Esq.

General Counsel and Secretary

Universal Corporation

1501 North Hamilton Street

Richmond, Virginia 23230

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(804) 359-9311

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

___________

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of securities

to be registered

 

Amount to be

registered (1)

Proposed maximum offering price per share (2)

Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2)

Amount of registration fee

 

Common Stock, no par value

 

2,000,000

 

$55.155

 

 

$110,310,000

 

 

$3,387

 

Rights to Purchase Series A Junior

Participating Preferred Stock, no

par value

 

 

(3)

 

 

-----

 

 

-----

 

 

(3)

 

(1)

The amount of Common Stock registered hereunder shall be deemed to include any additional shares issuable as a result of any stock split, stock dividend or other change in the capitalization of the Registrant.

(2)

Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the offering price is based on the average of the high ($56.50) and low ($53.81) prices of a share of Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on August 3, 2007.

(3)

The Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock will be attached to and will trade with shares of Common Stock. The value attributable to such Rights, if any, will be reflected in the market price of the shares of Common Stock. No additional registration fee is required.

 


PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3.

Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents previously filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof, to the extent that such documents are considered filed with the Commission:

 

 

(1)

the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 (the “Form 10-K”);

 

 

(2)

the portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on August 7, 2007 that have been incorporated by reference into the Form 10-K;

 

 

(3)

the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 7, 2007; and

 

 

(4)

the description of the Registrant’s Common Stock and the associated preferred share purchase rights contained in the Registrant’s registration statement on Form 8-A, filed December 29, 1998 (the “Form 8-A”), Amendment No. 1 to the Form 8-A, filed May 7, 1999, and the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated February 25, 1993.

 

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents, to the extent that such documents are considered filed with the Commission. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4.

Description of Securities.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

II-2

 


Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Williams Mullen, counsel to the Registrant, has rendered its opinion that the Common Stock, when issued pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Universal Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Attorneys employed by Williams Mullen beneficially owned an aggregate of approximately 2,280 shares of Common Stock as of August 6, 2007.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Article 10 of Chapter 9 of Title 13.1 of the Code of Virginia, as amended (the “Code”), permits a Virginia corporation to indemnify any director or officer for reasonable expenses incurred in any legal proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding, if the director or officer furnishes the corporation a written statement of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct prescribed by the Code and furnishes the corporation with a written undertaking to repay any funds advanced if it is ultimately determined that the director has not met the relevant standard of conduct. In addition, a corporation is permitted to indemnify a director or officer against liability incurred in a proceeding if a determination has been made by the disinterested members of the board of directors, special legal counsel or shareholders that the director or officer conducted himself or herself in good faith and otherwise met the required standard of conduct. In a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made in respect of any matter as to which a director or officer is adjudged to be liable to the corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director or officer has met the relevant standard of conduct. In any other proceeding, no indemnification shall be made if the director or officer is adjudged liable to the corporation on the basis that he or she improperly received a personal benefit. Corporations are given the power to make any other or further indemnity, including advance of expenses, to any director or officer that may be authorized by the articles of incorporation or any bylaw made by the shareholders, or any resolution adopted, before or after the event, by the shareholders, except an indemnity against willful misconduct or a knowing violation of the criminal law. Unless limited by its articles of incorporation, indemnification against the reasonable expenses incurred by a director or officer is mandatory when he or she entirely prevails in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is a party because he or she is or was a director or officer.

 

Article VIII of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provides for mandatory indemnification of any director or officer of the Registrant who is or was a party to any proceeding by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the Registrant against all liabilities and expenses incurred in the proceeding, except such liabilities and expenses as are incurred because of such director’s or officer’s willful misconduct or knowing violation of the criminal law.

 

The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation also provide that in every instance permitted under Virginia corporate law in effect from time to time, the liability of a director or officer of the Registrant to the Registrant or its shareholders shall not exceed one dollar.

 

The Registrant maintains a standard policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance.


II-3

 


Item 7.

Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.

Exhibits.

 

The following exhibits are filed on behalf of the Registrant as part of this Registration Statement:

 

 

4.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-A Registration Statement, dated December 22, 1998, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.2

Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation in the form of a Certificate of Designation with respect to Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws (as of March 10, 2006) (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.4

Rights Agreement, dated as of December 3, 1998, between the Registrant and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 3, 1998, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.5

First Amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 23, 1999, between the Registrant, Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent, and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Successor Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 7, 1999, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.6

Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A Registration Statement, dated May 7, 1999, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.7

Universal Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.*

 

 

5.1

Opinion of Williams Mullen.*

 

 

23.1

Consent of Williams Mullen (included in Exhibit 5.1).*

 

 

23.2

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.*

 

 

24

Powers of Attorney (included on Signature Page).*

____________

*Filed herewith.


II-4


Item 9.

Undertakings.

 

 

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

 

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);

 

 

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

 

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

 

(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new

 

II-5

 


registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

 

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered that remain unsold at the termination of the offering.      

 

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-6

 


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, on this 7th day of August 2007.

 

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Allen B. King

 

Allen B. King

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each of the undersigned hereby appoints each of Hartwell H. Roper and Preston D. Wigner as attorney-in-fact and agent for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any and all applications, instruments and other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to the registration of securities covered hereby, with full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things as may be necessary or desirable in furtherance of such registration.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

 

 

Title

Date

/s/ Allen B. King

Chairman and Chief Executive

August 7, 2007

Allen B. King

Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

/s/ Hartwell H. Roper

Vice President and

August 7, 2007

Hartwell H. Roper

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

/s/ Robert M. Peebles

Controller

August 7, 2007

Robert M. Peebles


(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

/s/ John B. Adams, Jr.

Director

August 7, 2007

John B. Adams, Jr.


 

 

/s/ Chester A. Crocker

Director

August 7, 2007

Chester A. Crocker

 

 

 

 

 


 

Signature

 

 

 

Title

Date

/s/ Joseph C. Farrell

Director

August 7, 2007

Joseph C. Farrell

 

 

 

/s/ Charles H. Foster, Jr.

Director

August 7, 2007

Charles H. Foster, Jr.

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas H. Johnson

Director

August 7, 2007

Thomas H. Johnson

 

 

 

 

/s/ Eddie N. Moore, Jr.

Director

August 7, 2007

Eddie N. Moore, Jr.

 

 

 

 

/s/ Jeremiah J. Sheehan

Director

August 7, 2007

Jeremiah J. Sheehan

 

 

 

 

/s/ Hubert R. Stallard

Director

August 7, 2007

Hubert R. Stallard

 

 

 

 

/s/ Walter A. Stosch

Director

August 7, 2007

Walter A. Stosch

 

 

 

 

/s/ Dr. Eugene P. Trani

Dirertor

August 7, 2007

Dr. Eugene P. Trani

 

 

 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

TO

FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

______________________

Exhibit

Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

4.1

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-A Registration Statement, dated December 22, 1998, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.2

Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation in the form of a Certificate of Designation with respect to Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.3

Amended and Restated Bylaws (as of March 10, 2006) (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.4

Rights Agreement, dated as of December 3, 1998, between the Registrant and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 3, 1998, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.5

First Amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 23, 1999, between the Registrant, Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent, and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Successor Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 7, 1999, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.6

Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A Registration Statement, dated May 7, 1999, File No. 1-652).

 

 

4.7

Universal Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.*

 

 

5.1

Opinion of Williams Mullen.*

 

 

23.1

Consent of Williams Mullen (included in Exhibit 5.1).*

 

 

23.2

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.*

 

 

24

Powers of Attorney (included on Signature Page).*

 

 

*Filed herewith.

 

 


 

 

 

EX-4 2 ex4.htm

Exhibit 4.7

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

 

2007 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

Article I

 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1.          Affiliate means any “subsidiary” or “parent corporation” (within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code) of the Company.

 

1.2.          Agreement means a written agreement (including any amendment or supplement thereto) between the Company and a Participant specifying the terms and conditions of a Grant or an Award issued to such Participant.

 

 

1.3.

Award means an award of Stock Units, a Stock Award or an Incentive Award.

 

 

1.4.

Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

1.5.          Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. References to the Code shall include the valid and binding governmental regulations, court decisions and other regulatory and judicial authority issued or rendered thereunder.

 

 

1.6.

Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

 

1.7.          Committee means the Executive Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board.

 

 

1.8.

Common Stock means the Common Stock of the Company.

 

 

1.9.

Company means Universal Corporation.

 

1.10.        Disability, with respect to a Participant, means “disability” as defined from time to time under any long-term disability plan of the Company or Subsidiary with which the Participant is employed.

 

1.11.        Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

 

1.12.        Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of any given date means the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on such date, or if the Common Stock was not traded on such date, then the next succeeding date that the Common Stock was traded on such exchange, in either case as reported by such source as the Committee may select.

 

 

1.13.

Grant means the grant of an Option or an SAR, or both.

 

1.14.        Incentive Award means a cash-denominated Award which, subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Committee, entitles the Participant to receive a payment, in (i) cash, (ii) Common Stock, (iii) Stock Units or (iv) a combination of cash, Common Stock or Stock Units.

 

1.15.        Incentive Stock Option means an Option that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.

 

1.16.        Initial Value means, with respect to an SAR, the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant, as set forth in an Agreement.

 


 

1.17.

Non-Qualified Stock Option means an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.

 

1.18.        Option means a stock option that entitles the holder to purchase from the Company a stated number of shares of Common Stock at the price set forth in an Agreement.

 

1.19.        Option Price means the price per share for Common Stock purchased on the exercise of an Option as provided in Article VI.

 

1.20.        Participant means an officer, director or employee of the Company or of a Subsidiary who satisfies the requirements of Article IV and is selected by the Committee to receive a Grant or an Award.

 

1.21.        Performance Measure means one or more of the following selected by the Committee to measure Company and/or business unit performance: net income; basic or diluted earnings per share; net revenues; gross profit; income before income taxes; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; economic profit; free cash flow; operating income; return on assets; return on funds employed; return on equity; and the price of Common Stock; each as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, where applicable, as consistently applied by the Company and, if so determined by the Committee prior to the expiration of the performance period, adjusted, to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, to omit the effects of extraordinary items, the gain or loss on the disposal of a business segment, unusual or infrequently occurring events and transactions, and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles. Performance Measure may vary from performance period to performance period and from Participant to Participant and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative.

 

 

1.22.

Plan means the Universal Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

 

1.23.

Prior Plan means the Universal Corporation 2002 Executive Stock Plan.

 

1.24.        Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3, as promulgated by the Commission under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time.

 

1.25.        SAR means a stock appreciation right granted pursuant to this Plan that entitles the holder to receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the excess of the Fair Market Value at the time of exercise over the Initial Value of the SAR.

 

1.26.        Securities Broker means the registered securities broker acceptable to the Company who agrees to effect the cashless exercise of an Option pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof.

 

 

1.27.

Stock Award means Common Stock awarded to a Participant pursuant to Article IX.

 

1.28.        Stock Unit means an award stated with reference to a share of Common Stock that entitles the holder to receive a payment for each Stock Unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of payment. At the Committee’s discretion, the Participant’s rights in Stock Units may be forfeitable or otherwise restricted and may be paid in cash, Common Stock or a combination of cash or Common Stock.

 

1.29.        Subsidiary means any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity during any period in which at least a 50% voting or profits interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (or by any entity that is a successor to the Company), and any other business venture designated by the Committee in which the Company (or an entity that is a successor to the Company) has a significant interest, as determined in the discretion of the Committee.

 

 

Article II

 

 

PURPOSES

 

The Plan is intended to assist the Company in recruiting and retaining officers, directors and employees with ability and initiative by enabling such persons who contribute significantly to the Company or an Affiliate to

 


participate in its future success and to better align their interests with those of the Company and its shareholders. The Plan is intended to permit the award of Stock Awards, Stock Units and Incentive Awards, and the grant of Options qualifying as Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options as designated by the Committee at time of grant, and SARs. No Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, however, shall be invalid for failure to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code but shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

Article III

 

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. No Person shall be appointed to or serve as a member of the Committee unless at the time of such appointment and service he shall be a “non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3, an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, and an “independent director” within the meaning of any applicable listing requirement of the New York Stock Exchange applicable to the Committee. The Committee shall have authority to issue Grants and Awards upon such terms (not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan) as the Committee may consider appropriate. The terms of such Grants and Awards may include conditions (in addition to those contained in this Plan) on (i) the exercisability of all or any part of an Option or SAR and (ii) the transferability or forfeitability of a Stock Award, Incentive Award or award of Stock Units, including, by way of example and not of limitation, requirements that a Participant complete a specified period of employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary, requirements that the Company achieve a specified level of financial performance or financial return. Notwithstanding any such conditions, the Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the time at which any Option or SAR may be exercised or the time at which a Stock Award may become transferable or nonforfeitable or both; provided, however, that if an Award is subject to Code section 409A, any acceleration must satisfy the requirements of such Code section. In addition, the Committee shall have complete authority to interpret all provisions of this Plan; to prescribe the form of Agreements; to adopt, amend, and rescind rules and regulations pertaining to the administration of the Plan; and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan. To fulfill the purposes of the Plan without amending the Plan, the Committee may also modify any Grants or Awards issued to Participants who are nonresident aliens or employed outside of the United States to recognize differences in local law, tax policy or custom provided such modifications are permitted by Code section 409A, if applicable.

 

The express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Committee shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. Any decision made, or action taken, by the Committee or in connection with the administration of this Plan shall be final and conclusive. All expenses of administering this Plan shall be borne by the Company.

 

 

Article IV

 

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

4.1.          General. Any officer, director or employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary (including any corporation that becomes a Subsidiary after the adoption of this Plan) who, in the judgment of the Committee, has contributed significantly or can be expected to contribute significantly to the performance of the Company or a Subsidiary may receive one or more Awards or Grants, or any combination or type thereof. Employee and non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to participate in this Plan.

 

4.2.          Grants and Awards. The Committee will designate individuals to whom Grants and/or Awards are to be issued and will specify the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each such Grant or Award. An Option may be granted alone or in addition to other Grants and/or Awards under the Plan. The Committee shall have the authority to grant any Participant Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options or both types of Options (in each case with or without a related SAR); provided, however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code). An SAR may be granted with or without a related Option. All Grants or Awards issued under this Plan shall be evidenced by Agreements, which shall be subject to applicable provisions of this Plan and to such other provisions as the Committee may determine. No Participant may be granted Options that are Incentive Stock Options or related

 


SARs (under all Incentive Stock Option plans of the Company and Affiliates) which are first exercisable in any calendar year for stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date an Option is granted) exceeding $100,000. A Participant may not receive Grants and Awards under this Plan with respect to more than 200,000 shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.

 

4.3.          Designation of Option as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Committee will designate at the time an Option is granted whether the Option is to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. In the absence, however, of any such designation, such Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

4.4.          Qualification of Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code or, without the consent of the optionee affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock Option under such Section 422. No Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, however, shall be invalid for failure to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code but shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

 

Article V

 

 

STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

 

5.1.        Maximum Number of Shares to be Issued. Subject to the adjustment provisions of Article XII and the provisions of (a) and (b) of this Section 5.1, up to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock plus any shares remaining under the Prior Plan on the effective date may be issued under the Plan. In addition to such authorization, the following shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Plan:

 

(a)           Shares of Common Stock that are forfeited under the Prior Plan and shares of Common Stock that are not issued under the Prior Plan because of the cancellation, termination or expiration of Grants and Awards, and/or other similar events under the Prior Plan shall be available for issuance under this Plan.

 

(b)           Shares of Common Stock that are forfeited under the Plan and shares of Common Stock that are not issued under the Plan because of the cancellation, termination or expiration of Grants and Awards and/or other similar events under the Plan, shall be available for issuance under the Plan.

 

Subject to the adjustment provisions of Article XII, not more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock shall be issued under this Plan pursuant to Stock Awards, Stock Units or Incentive Awards.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.1, if a Grant or an Award may be paid only in shares of Common Stock, or in either cash or shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock shall be deemed to be issued hereunder only when and to the extent that payment is actually made in shares of Common Stock.

 

5.2.        Independent SARs. Upon the exercise of an SAR granted independently of an Option, the Company may deliver to the Participant authorized but previously unissued Common Stock, cash, or a combination thereof as provided in Section 8.6. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to SARs that are granted independently of Options is subject to the provisions of Section 5.1. hereof.

 

 

Article VI

 

OPTION PRICE

 

The price per share for Common Stock purchased on the exercise of an Option shall be fixed by the Committee, but shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

 


Article VII

 

 

EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND SARS

 

7.1.          Maximum Option Period or SAR Period. The period in which an Option or SAR may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee on the date of grant; provided, however that an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the date the Incentive Stock Option was granted and any SAR related to an Incentive Stock Option may not be exercised after the expiration of the underlying Incentive Stock Option. The term of exercisability of any Option may not be extended or renewed except as may be permitted by Code section 409A.

 

7.2.          Non-Transferability of Options and SARs. Non-Qualified Stock Options and SARs may be transferable by a Participant and exercisable by a person other than a Participant, but only to the extent such transfer is not made for value, specifically provided for in an Option or SAR Agreement and subject to applicable securities laws requirements. Incentive Stock Options and any related SARs, by their terms, shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant. No right or interest of a Participant in any Option or SAR shall be liable for, or subject to, any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant.

 

7.3.          Employee Status. For purposes of determining the applicability of Section 422 of the Code (relating to Incentive Stock Options), or in the event that the terms of any Grant provide that it may be exercised only during employment or within a specified period of time after termination of employment, the Committee may decide to what extent leaves of absence for governmental or military service, illness, temporary Disability, or other reasons shall not be deemed interruptions of continuous employment.

 

Article VIII

 

METHOD OF EXERCISE

 

8.1.        Exercise. Subject to the provisions of Articles VII and XIII, an Option or SAR may be exercised in whole at any time or in part from time to time at such times and in compliance with such requirements as the Committee shall determine; provided, however, that an SAR that is related to an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and when the Fair Market Value exceeds the Option Price of the related Option. An Option or SAR granted under this Plan may be exercised with respect to any number of whole shares less than the full number for which the Option or SAR could be exercised. Such partial exercise of an Option or SAR shall not affect the right to exercise the Option or SAR from time to time in accordance with this Plan with respect to remaining shares subject to the Option or SAR. The exercise of an Option shall result in the termination of any related SAR to the extent of the number of shares with respect to which the Option is exercised.

 

8.2.        Payment. Unless otherwise provided by the Agreement, payment of the Option Price shall be made in cash. If the Agreement provides, payment of all or part of the Option Price may be made by surrendering (by either actual delivery or attestation) already owned shares of Common Stock to the Company and the payment of applicable minimum statutory withholding taxes may be made by the Company withholding whole shares of Common Stock from the Participant upon exercise, provided the shares surrendered or withheld have a Fair Market Value (determined as of the day preceding the date of exercise) that is not less than such price or part thereof and any such minimum statutory withholding taxes. In addition, the Committee may establish such payment or other terms as it may deem to be appropriate and consistent with these purposes.

 

8.3.        Shareholder Rights. No Participant shall have any rights as to shareholder of the Company with respect to shares subject to his Option or SAR until the date he exercises his Option or SAR.

 

8.4.        Cashless Exercise. To the extent permitted under the applicable laws and regulations, at the request of the Participant and with the consent of the Committee, the Company agrees to cooperate in a “cashless exercise” of the Option. The cashless exercise shall be effected by the Participant delivering to the Securities Broker instructions to exercise all or part of the Option, including instructions to sell a sufficient number of shares of

 


Common Stock to cover the costs and expenses associated therewith. The Committee may permit a Participant to elect to pay any applicable withholding taxes by requesting that the Company withhold the number of shares of Common Stock equivalent at current Fair Market Value to the minimum statutory withholding taxes due.

 

8.5.        Cashing Out of Option. The Committee may elect to cash out all or part of the portion of any Option to be exercised by paying the optionee an amount, in cash or Common Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock that is the subject of the portion of the Option to be exercised over the Option Price times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the portion of the Option to be exercised on the effective date of such cash out.

 

8.6.        Determination of Payment of Cash and/or Common Stock Upon Exercise of SAR. At the Committee’s discretion, the amount payable as a result of the exercise of an SAR may be settled in cash, Common Stock, or a combination of cash and Common Stock. No fractional shares shall be delivered upon the exercise of an SAR.

 

Article IX

 

STOCK AWARDS

 

9.1.          Award. In accordance with the provisions of Article IV, the Committee will designate persons to whom a Stock Award is to be made and will specify the number of shares of Common Stock covered by such Award or Awards.

 

9.2.          Vesting. The Committee, on the date of the Award, may prescribe that the Participant’s rights in a Stock Award shall be forfeitable or otherwise restricted for a period of time or subject to the satisfaction of performance objectives, including performance objectives stated with reference to Performance Measures, or such other conditions as may be set forth in an Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Article XIII hereof, the Committee may award a Stock Award to a Participant which is not forfeitable and is free of any restrictions on transferability.

 

9.3.          Shareholder Rights. Prior to their forfeiture (in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to a Stock Award may be forfeited or are nontransferable), a Participant will have all rights of a shareholder with respect to a Stock Award, including the right to receive dividends and vote the shares; provided, however, that (i) a Participant may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of shares of Stock granted pursuant to a Stock Award, (ii) the Company shall retain custody of the certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to a Stock Award, and (iii) the Participant will deliver to the Company a stock power, endorsed in blank, with respect to each Stock Award.

 

Article X

 

STOCK UNITS

 

10.1       Award. Pursuant to this Plan or an Agreement establishing additional terms and conditions, the Committee may designate each individual to whom an awards of Stock Units is to be made and will specify the number of Stock Units covered by the Award.

 

10.2       Earning the Award. The Committee, on the date of grant of the Award, may prescribe that the Stock Units or a portion thereof, will be earned only upon, and the Participant will be entitled to receive a payment pursuant to the Award of Stock Units, only upon the satisfaction of performance objectives or such other criteria as may be prescribed by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement, including performance objectives stated with reference to Performance Measures.

 

10.3       Shareholder Rights. No Participant shall, as a result of receiving a Stock Unit Award, have any of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Stock Unit Award until and to the extent such Stock Units are earned and settled in shares of Common Stock.

 


10.4       Payment. At the Committee’s discretion, the amount payable when an award of Stock Units is earned may be settled in cash, Common Stock or a combination of cash and Common Stock. Fractional shares shall be deliverable when an Award of Stock Units is earned.

 

10.5       Nontransferability. A Participant may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of a Stock Unit Award other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and the Participant’s right or interest in a Stock Unit Award may not be liable for, or subject to, any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant.

 

Article XI

 

INCENTIVE AWARDS

 

11.1.      Award. The Committee shall designate Participants to whom Incentive Awards are made. All Incentive Awards shall be finally determined exclusively by the Committee under the procedures established by the Committee. With respect to an Incentive Award based on a performance period of one year, no Participant may receive an Incentive Award payment in any calendar year that exceeds $2,500,000. With respect to an Incentive Award based on a performance period of more than one year, no Participant may receive an Incentive Award payment in any calendar year that exceeds the product of (i) $200,000 and (ii) the number of months in the performance period.

 

11.2.      Terms and Conditions. The Committee, at the time an Incentive Award is made, shall specify the terms and conditions which govern the Award. The restrictions set forth in the Agreement must include the attainment of performance objectives, including performance objectives stated with reference to Performance Measures. By way of example and not of limitation, the performance objectives may provide that the Incentive Award will be earned only if the Company, a Subsidiary or the Company and its Subsidiaries or the Participant achieve stated objectives, including objectives stated with reference to Performance Measures.

 

11.3.      Payment. In the discretion of the Committee, the Award payable when an Incentive Award is earned, may be settled in cash, by the issuance of Common Stock, grant of Stock Units, or a combination of cash, Common Stock and/or Stock Units.

 

11.4.      Nontransferability. Incentive Awards granted under this Plan shall be nontransferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. No right or interest of a Participant in an Incentive Award shall be liable for, or subject to, any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant.

 

11.5.      Employee Status. If the terms of an Incentive Award provide that a payment will be made thereunder only if the Participant completes a stated period of employment or service, the Committee may decide to what extent leaves of absence for governmental or military service, illness, temporary disability or other reasons shall not be deemed interruptions of continuous employment or service.

 

11.6.      Shareholder Rights. No Participant shall, as a result of receiving an Incentive Award, have any rights as to shareholder of the Company or any Subsidiary on account of such Award until, and except to the extent that, the Incentive Award is earned and settled in shares of Common Stock.

 

Article XII

 

 

ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGE IN COMMON STOCK

 

Should the Company effect one or more (x) stock dividends, stock split-ups, subdivisions or consolidations of shares or other similar changes in capitalization; (y) spin-offs, spin-outs, split-ups, split-offs, or other such distribution of assets to shareholders; or (z) direct or indirect assumptions and/or conversions of outstanding Options due to an acquisition of the Company, then the maximum number of shares as to which Grants and Awards may be issued under this Plan shall be proportionately adjusted and their terms shall be adjusted as the Committee shall determine to be equitably required, provided that the number of shares subject to any Grant or Award shall always be a whole number. Any determination made under this Article XII by the Committee shall be final and conclusive.

 


 

The issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or property or for labor or services, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to any Grant or Award.

 

Article XIII

 

 

COMPLIANCE WITH LAW AND APPROVAL OF REGULATORY BODIES

 

No Grant shall be exercisable, no Common Stock shall be issued, no certificates for shares of Common Stock shall be delivered, and no payment shall be made under this Plan except in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations (including, without limitation, withholding tax requirements) and the rules of all domestic stock exchanges on which the Company’s shares may be listed. The Company may rely on an opinion of its counsel as to such compliance. Any share certificate issued to evidence Common Stock for which a Grant is exercised or an Award is issued may bear such legends and statements as the Committee may deem advisable to assure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. No Grant shall be exercisable, no Common Stock shall be issued, no certificate for shares shall be delivered, and no payment shall be made under this Plan until the Company has obtained such consent or approval as the Committee may deem advisable from regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over such matters.

 

 

Article XIV

 

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

14.1       Effect on Employment. Neither the adoption of this Plan, its operation, nor any documents describing or referring to this Plan (or any part thereof) shall confer upon any employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary or in any way affect any right and power of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any employee at any time with or without assigning a reason therefor.

 

14.2       Unfunded Plan. The Plan, insofar as it provides for a Grant or an Award, is not required to be funded, and the Company shall not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by a Grant or an Award under this Plan.

 

14.3       Rules of Construction. Headings are given to the articles and sections of this Plan solely for ease of reference and are not to be considered in construing the terms and conditions of the Plan. The reference to any statute, regulation, or other provision of law shall be construed to refer to any amendment to or successor of such provision of law.

 

14.4       Rule 16b-3 Requirements. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the Committee may impose such conditions on any Grant or Award, and the Board may amend the Plan in any such respects, as they may determine, on the advice of counsel, are necessary or desirable to satisfy the provisions of Rule 16b-3. Any provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, and except to the extent that the Committee determines otherwise: (a) transactions by and with respect to officers and directors of the Company who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act shall comply with any applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3; and (b) every provision of the Plan shall be administered, interpreted, and construed to carry out the foregoing provisions of this sentence.

 

14.5       Amendment, Modification, and Termination. At any time and from time to time, the Board may terminate, amend, or modify the Plan. Such amendment or modification may be without shareholder approval except to the extent that such approval is required by the Code, pursuant to the rules under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, by any national securities exchange or system on which the Common Stock is then listed or reported, by any regulatory body having jurisdiction with respect thereto, or under any other applicable laws, rules, or regulations. No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan, other than pursuant to Section 14.4 herein, shall in any manner adversely affect any Grant or Award theretofore issued under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant. The Committee may amend the terms of any Grant or Award theretofore issued under

 


this Plan, prospectively or retrospectively, but no such amendment shall impair the rights of any Participant without the Participant’s written consent except an amendment provided for or contemplated in the terms of the Grant or Award, an amendment made to cause the Plan, or Grant or Award, to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3, or an amendment to make an adjustment under Article XII.

 

14.6         Repricing of Options and SARs. An Option or SAR may not be repriced without the approval of the shareholders of the Company after the date of grant of such Option or SAR. For this purpose, a repricing means any of the following (or such other action that has the same effect as any of the following): (a) amending the terms of an Option or SAR to reduce the exercise price of such Option or the grant price of an SAR; (b) taking any action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles; and (c) repurchasing for cash or canceling an Option or SAR in exchange for another Award at a time when the exercise price of such Option or grant price of such SAR is greater than the Fair Market Value of Common Stock, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with an event set forth in Article XII. Such cancellation and exchange is considered a repricing regardless of whether it is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles and regardless of whether it is voluntary on the part of the Participant.

 

14.7       Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any actions taken or related to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and applicable federal law.

 

14.8       Successors and Assigns. All obligations of the Company under the Plan, with respect to Grants and Awards issued hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company. The Plan shall be binding on all successors and permitted assigns of a Participant, including, but not limited to, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, and the guardians or legal representative of the Participant.

 

14.9       Effect on Prior Plans and Other Compensation Arrangements. The adoption of this Plan shall have no effect on Grants and Awards made or to be made pursuant to the Prior Plans and the Company’s other compensation arrangements. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Company from adopting other or additional compensation plans or arrangements for its officers, directors or employees.

 

14.10     Limitation of Implied Rights. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of participation in the Plan, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary whatsoever, including, without limitation, any specific funds, assets, or other property which the Company or any Subsidiary, in its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the Plan. Except for those rights in Stock Awards specifically set forth in subsection 9.3 hereof, a Participant shall have only a contractual right to the Stock or amounts if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person. The Plan does not constitute a contract of employment, and selection as a Participant will not give any participating employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary, nor any right or claim to any benefit under the Plan, unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the terms of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award or Grant under the Plan shall confer upon the holder thereof any rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions for receipt of such rights.

 

14.11     Duration of Plan. No Grant or Award may be issued under this Plan before August 7, 2007, or after August 6, 2017. Grants and Awards issued on or after August 7, 2007, but on or before August 6, 2017, shall remain valid in accordance with their terms.

 

14.12     Effective Date. This Plan has been approved by the Board, effective as of August 7, 2007, and by the shareholders of the Company entitled to vote at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders.

 

 

 

 

EX-5 3 ex5.htm Exhibit 5.1 and 23.1

Exhibit 5.1 and 23.1

 

 

[WILLIAMS MULLEN LETTERHEAD]

 

August 7, 2007

 

Board of Directors

Universal Corporation

1501 North Hamilton Street

Richmond, Virginia 23230

 

 

Re:

2007 Stock Incentive Plan

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter is delivered to you in connection with the actions taken and proposed to be taken by Universal Corporation, a Virginia corporation (the “Company”), with respect to the offer and sale from time to time of shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value (“Common Stock”) pursuant to the Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). As counsel to the Company, we have reviewed the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission to effect the registration of the 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, and attached Rights to Purchase Cumulative Participating Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Shares”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

In this regard, we have examined such corporate proceedings, records and documents as we have deemed necessary or advisable in connection with the opinions set forth herein.

 

Based upon such examination, it is our opinion that the Shares, when issued pursuant to the Registration Statement and the terms and conditions of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm as counsel to the Company in the Registration Statement.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

WILLIAMS MULLEN

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John M. Oakey, III

 

John M. Oakey, III, a Shareholder

 

A Professional Corporation

NORTH CAROLINA  VIRGINIA  WASHINGTON, D.C.   LONDON

Two James Center 1021 East Cary Street (23219) P.O. Box 1320 Richmond, VA 23218-1320 Tel: 804.643.1991 Fax: 804.783.6507 www.williamsmullen.com

 

EX-23 4 ex23.htm

Exhibit 23.2

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-00000) pertaining to the Universal Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan of our report dated May 25, 2007, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Universal Corporation, Universal Corporation management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Universal Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended March 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Richmond, Virginia

August 6, 2007

 

 

 

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