P.O. Box 25099 Richmond, VA 23260 phone: (804) 359-9311 fax (804) 254-3594

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT:		RELEASE:
Karen M. L. Whelan		Immediately
Phone:	(804) 359-9311
Fax:	(804) 254-3584
Email:	investor@universalleaf.com




Universal Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividends

Richmond, VA • August 04, 2011 / PRNEWSWIRE

George C. Freeman, III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV), announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of forty-eight cents ($0.48) per share on the common shares of the Company, payable November 14, 2011, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on October 11, 2011.

In addition, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $16.875 per share on the Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”), payable September 15, 2011, to shareholders of record as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 1, 2011.

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Universal Corporation is the leading global leaf tobacco merchant and processor and conducts business in more than 30 countries.  Its revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, were $2.6 billion. For more information on Universal Corporation, visit its web site at www.universalcorp.com.

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