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Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2011
Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies  
Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies
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 merchant and processor.  The Company conducts business in more than 30 countries, primarily in major tobacco-growing 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.  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 received dividends totaling $12.0 million in fiscal year 2010 and $8.7 million in fiscal year 2009, from companies accounted for under the equity method.  No dividends were received from those companies in fiscal year 2011.

One of Universal's operating subsidiaries has an ownership interest in a joint venture formed for the purpose of buying and processing tobacco in one of its primary markets.  The venture is classified as a variable interest entity and is included in the Company's consolidated financial statements because the subsidiary is the primary beneficiary of the venture.  The venture is not material to the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position, and the Company had no other investments that were considered variable interest entities for any period in the accompanying financial statements.

In fiscal year 2006, the Company deconsolidated its operations in Zimbabwe under accounting requirements that apply under certain conditions to foreign subsidiaries that are subject to foreign exchange controls and other government restrictions. Since that time, the investment has been accounted for using the cost method, as required under the accounting guidance.  The investment is reported in investments in unconsolidated affiliates in the consolidated balance sheets.  The investment in the Zimbabwe operations was zero at March 31, 2011, and $1.3 million at March 31, 2010.  The investment at March 31, 2010, is included in segment assets for flue-cured and burley leaf tobacco operations – Other Regions in Note 15.  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 years 2009, 2010, and 2011, there were no changes in the Company's ownership percentage in any of these subsidiaries.
 
Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

The Company's equity method investments and its cost method investments, which include its Zimbabwe operations, are non-marketable securities.  Universal reviews such investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an investment may not be recovered.  For example, the Company would test such an investment for impairment if the investee were to lose a significant customer, suffer a large reduction in sales margins, experience a major change in its business environment, or undergo any other significant change in its normal business.  In assessing the recoverability of equity or cost method investments, the Company follows the applicable accounting guidance in determining the fair value of the investments. In most cases, this involves the use of 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 proportionate share of 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 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, 2011, 2010 and 2009:

   
Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
 
Unconsolidated Affiliates
 
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Equity in pretax earnings reported in the consolidated statements of income
  $ 8,634     $ 22,376     $ 20,543  
Equity in income taxes
    3,651       7,356       5,284  
Equity in net income
    4,983       15,020       15,259  
Less:  Dividends received on investments (1)
    (1,252 )     (11,983 )     (8,680 )
Equity in net income, net of dividends, reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows
  $ 3,731     $ 3,037     $ 6,579  

(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 after payment of dividends on the Company's Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock.  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 are outstanding dilutive stock options and stock appreciation rights that are assumed to be exercised, unvested restricted share units and performance share awards that are assumed to be fully vested and paid out in shares of common stock, and shares of convertible perpetual preferred stock that are assumed to be converted when the effect is dilutive.  In periods when the effect of the convertible perpetual preferred stock is dilutive and these shares are assumed to be converted into common stock, dividends paid on the preferred stock are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

Calculations of earnings per share for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, are provided in Note 4.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments

 All highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase are classified as cash equivalents.  Short-term investments represent securities with a maturity exceeding three months at the time of purchase.  The Company did not hold any short-term investments at March 31, 2011 or 2010.

Advances to Suppliers

In some regions 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 sheet.  Primarily in Brazil, the Company has made long-term advances to tobacco farmers to finance curing barns and other farm infrastructure.  In addition, due to low crop yields and other factors, in some years individual farmers may not deliver sufficient volumes of tobacco to fully repay their seasonal advances, and the Company may extend repayment of those advances into the following crop year.  The long-term portion of advances is included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheet.  Both the current and the long-term portions of advances to suppliers are reported net of allowances recorded when the Company determines that amounts outstanding are not likely to be collected. Total allowances were $74.9 million at March 31, 2011, and $56.2 million at March 31, 2010, and were estimated based on the Company's historical loss information and crop projections.  The allowances were increased by provisions for estimated uncollectible amounts of approximately $18.7 million in fiscal year 2011, $18.5 million in fiscal year 2010, and $26.9 million in fiscal year 2009. These provisions 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. Recognition of interest is discontinued when an advance is not expected to be fully collected. Advances on which interest accrual had been discontinued totaled approximately $76 million at March 31, 2011, and $64.2 million at March 31, 2010.

Inventories

Tobacco inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market.  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 market.

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 those 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 are usually 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, 2011, the aggregate balance of recoverable tax credits held by the Company's subsidiaries totaled approximately $75 million, and the related valuation allowance totaled approximately $22 million.

Property, Plant and Equipment
 
Depreciation of plant and equipment is based upon historical cost and the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method. Buildings include tobacco 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, 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 2011, 2010, or 2009.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles
 
Goodwill and other intangibles principally consist of the excess of the purchase price of acquired companies over the net assets.  Goodwill is carried at the lower of cost or fair value.  The Company follows the applicable fair value accounting guidance in determining the fair value of goodwill. This primarily involves the use of discounted cash flow models (Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy in the accounting guidance). The calculations in these models are normally not based on observable market data from independent sources and therefore require 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, which could increase or decrease any impairment charge related to 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.  No charges for goodwill impairment were recorded in fiscal years 2011, 2010, or 2009.  During the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, goodwill was reduced by approximately $5.8 million to reflect amounts allocated to leaf procurement activities associated with farmer contracts and related assets that were conveyed to an operating subsidiary of one of the Company's major customers (see Note 14).
 
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). As discussed in Note 2, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $5.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 in connection with its decision to close its leaf tobacco processing facility in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada and sell the related assets. No significant charges for the impairment of long-lived assets were recorded during fiscal years 2010 or 2009. 

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. As discussed in Note 5, during fiscal year 2010, the Company changed the classification of undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that had previously been designated as permanently reinvested. Approximately $3.5 million in deferred U.S. income taxes were recorded on those earnings effective with this change. At March 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had no undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries classified as permanently reinvested.
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is reported in the consolidated balance sheets and the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity and consists of:

      March 31,  
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Translation adjustments
                 
Before income taxes
  $ (819 )   $ (10,854 )   $ (17,784 )
Allocated income taxes
    (2,792 )     54       2,473  
                         
Foreign currency hedge adjustment
                       
Before income taxes
    3,819       (736 )     (21,330 )
Allocated income taxes
    (1,337 )     258       7,465  
                         
Funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans
                       
Before income taxes
    (66,851 )     (63,362 )     (54,238 )
Allocated income taxes
    23,204       21,973       18,867  
                         
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (44,776 )   $ (52,667 )   $ (64,547 )

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The fair values of the Company's long-term obligations, disclosed in Note 7, have been estimated using market prices where they are available and discounted cash flow models based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar classes of borrowers and borrowing arrangements. The carrying amount of all other assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments approximates fair value.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Interest rate swaps and forward foreign currency exchange contracts are used from time to time to reduce interest rate 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 is not 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 9.

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 comprehensive income or loss.

The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries having the U.S. dollar as the functional currency, with certain transactions denominated in a local currency, are remeasured into U.S. dollars. The remeasurement of local currency amounts into U.S. dollars creates remeasurement gains and losses that are included in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expense.  The Company recognized net remeasurement gains of $4.4 million in fiscal year 2011, net remeasurement losses of $9.3 million in fiscal year 2010, and net remeasurement losses of $46.0 million in fiscal year 2009.

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 gains of $1.7 million in fiscal year 2011, net transaction gains of $4.0 million in fiscal year 2010, and net transaction losses of $4.6 million in fiscal year 2009.
 
The Company's policy is to use the U.S. dollar as the functional currency for its consolidated subsidiaries located in countries with highly inflationary economies and to remeasure any transactions of those subsidiaries that are denominated in the local currency.  The Company currently operates in only one country, Zimbabwe, whose economy is classified as highly inflationary under applicable accounting guidance.  As discussed above, the operations in Zimbabwe were deconsolidated during fiscal year 2006 and are accounted for using the cost method.

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.  In most cases, customers request shipment within a relatively short period of time after the tobacco is processed and packed.  The customers also 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, 2011.  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 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.

Stock-Based Compensation

Share-based payments, such as grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted share units and performance share awards, 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 13.

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
 
Recent Pronouncements Adopted Through March 31, 2011

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168, "The FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162" ("SFAS 168").  This Statement established the newly-developed FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ ("Codification") as the single source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for all nongovernmental entities. All guidance in the Codification carries the same level of authority, and all changes or additions to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles are now issued as Accounting Standards Updates.  In addition to the Codification, rules and interpretive releases of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under federal securities laws remain sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants.   Universal was required to adopt SFAS 168 effective September 30, 2009.  SFAS 168 did not make any changes to existing accounting guidance that impacted the Company's accounting and financial reporting.
 
During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009, Universal adopted the following key accounting pronouncements, most of which were issued prior to the initial effective date of the Codification:

 
·
FASB Accounting Standards Update 2010-06, "Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements" ("ASU 2010-06"), which was issued by the FASB in January 2010 and was effective for interim and annual financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009. ASU 2010-06 expands and clarifies the disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. It requires companies to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition, information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis is required in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2010-06 also clarifies existing fair value measurement disclosure guidance related to level of disaggregation, fair value inputs, and valuation techniques. Universal was required to apply most provisions of the new guidance effective April 1, 2010, the beginning of fiscal year 2011. The adoption of ASU 2010-06 did not have a material effect on our financial statements.

 
·
FASB Staff Position No. 132(R)-1, "Employers' Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets" ("FSP 132(R)-1"), adopted effective March 31, 2010.  This pronouncement, which is now a part of Topic 715 of the Codification, requires expanded disclosures about plan assets of defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans.  The new disclosures include information about investment allocation decisions, categories of plan assets, the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of those assets, and significant concentrations of credit risk.  The disclosures required by FSP 132(R)-1 are included in Note 11 and did not have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

 
·
FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 165, "Subsequent Events" ("SFAS 165"), adopted effective June 30, 2009.  SFAS 165, which is now set forth under Topic 855 of the Codification, establishes standards for accounting and disclosure for events occurring after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.  It defines the period after the balance sheet date during which events or transactions should be evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure, and it provides guidance on recognition and disclosure of actual transactions or events occurring after the balance sheet date.  The adoption of SFAS 165 did not have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

 
·
FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51" ("SFAS 160"), adopted effective April 1, 2009.  SFAS 160, which is now set forth in Topic 810 of the Codification, requires that noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries that are included in a company's consolidated financial statements, commonly referred to as "minority interests," be reported as a component of shareholders' equity in the balance sheet.  It also requires that a company's consolidated net income and comprehensive income include the amounts attributable to both the company's interest and the noncontrolling interest in the subsidiary, identified separately in the financial statements.  Finally, the new guidance requires certain disclosures about noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements.  Adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

 
·
FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), "Business Combinations" ("SFAS 141(R)"), adopted effective April 1, 2009.  SFAS 141(R) requires that companies record assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interests in business combinations at fair value, separately from goodwill, as of the acquisition date.  This approach differs from the cost allocation approach provided under previous accounting guidance and can result in recognition of a gain at acquisition date if the cost to acquire a business is less than the net fair value of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interests.  SFAS 141(R), which is now set forth under Topic 805 of the Codification, also provides new guidance on recording assets and liabilities that arise from contingencies in a business combination, and it requires that transaction costs associated with business combinations be charged to expense instead of being recorded as part of the cost of the acquired business.  Universal has not entered any business combinations since adopting the new guidance, but will apply the guidance to all future business combinations.
 
 
·
The measurement timing provisions of FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)" ("SFAS 158"), now part of the guidance in Codification Topic 715.  These provisions require that the funded status of defined benefit plans be measured as of the balance sheet date, which eliminated the option allowed under the prior guidance, and previously used by the Company, to measure funded status at a date up to three months before the balance sheet date.  To adopt the provisions, the Company began measuring its pension and other postretirement benefit plans as of the balance sheet date effective March 31, 2009.  At that date, the Company recorded a direct adjustment to reduce retained earnings by $1.5 million ($2.3 million before income taxes), reflecting the expense attributable to the intervening three-month transition period.  As required by the guidance, changes in the fair value of plan assets and benefit obligations for the full fifteen-month period between the fiscal year 2008 and 2009 measurement dates were recognized in other comprehensive income for fiscal year 2009.

 
·
FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS 161"), adopted effective March 31, 2009.  SFAS 161, which is now part of the guidance set forth in Topic 8150 of the Codification, amended several prior accounting pronouncements to require enhanced disclosures about derivatives and hedging activities aimed at improving the transparency and understanding of those activities for financial statement users.  It requires additional disclosures explaining the objectives and strategies for using derivative instruments, how those instruments and the related hedged items are accounted for, and how they affect a company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.  The disclosures required by SFAS 161 are provided in Note 9.

Pronouncements to be Adopted in Future Periods

In addition to the above accounting pronouncements adopted through March 31, 2011, the following pronouncements have been issued and will become effective in fiscal year 2012:

 
·
FASB Accounting Standards Update 2009-13, "Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements" ("ASU 2009-13"), which was issued by the FASB in October 2009.  ASU 2009-13 establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable in a multiple-deliverable arrangement. It also requires additional disclosures about the methods and assumptions used to evaluate multiple-deliverable arrangements and to identify the significant deliverables within those arrangements. ASU 2009-13 is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, which means that Universal will be required to adopt the guidance effective April 1, 2011, the beginning of fiscal year 2012.  The adoption of ASU 2009-13 is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

 
·
FASB Accounting Standards Update 2011-04, "Fair Value Measurement" ("ASU 2011-04"), which was issued in May 2011.  The primary focus of ASU 2011-04 is the convergence of accounting requirements for fair value measurements and related financial statement disclosures under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").  While ASU 2011-04 does not significantly change existing guidance for measuring fair value, it does require additional disclosures about fair value measurements and changes the wording of certain requirements in the guidance to achieve consistency with IFRS.  ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and is required to be applied prospectively.  The Company is currently evaluating the revised guidance to determine the effect it will have on its financial statements.

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