-----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, GHdDPwZEV9wLQ4gglo5yRpeO4SmlgZKdHRjYur5fTk4c3xUsEzDUkImN9Ba8zmkJ in+4iprH7F1LcAGbuFuPZQ== 0001193125-04-017262.txt : 20040209 0001193125-04-017262.hdr.sgml : 20040209 20040209162914 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-04-017262 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20040205 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20040209 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: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-00652 FILM NUMBER: 04578359 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 8-K 1 d8k.htm FORM 8-K FORM 8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report: February 5, 2004

(Date of earliest event reported)

 


 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Virginia   1-652   54-0414210

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

1501 North Hamilton Street   23230
Richmond, Virginia   (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)    

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(804) 359-9311



Item  5. Other Events.

 

The press release issued by the Registrant on February 5, 2004, and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item  7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

 

  (c) Exhibits.

 

No.

  

Description


99.1    Press release dated February 5, 2004, announcing quarterly dividend.*
99.2    Press release dated February 9, 2004, announcing earnings for period ended December 31, 2003.*

 

Item  12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On February 9, 2004, Universal Corporation issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2003. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated into this Item 12. No information contained in or incorporated into this Item 12 shall be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section.


*Filed Herewith


SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

   

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

(Registrant)

Date: February 9, 2004   By:   /s/    George C. Freeman, III         
       
       

George C. Freeman, III

General Counsel and Secretary


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit

Number


  

Document


    
99.1    Press release dated February 5, 2004, announcing quarterly dividend.*     
99.2    Press release dated February 9, 2004, announcing earnings for period ended December 31, 2003.*     

*Filed Herewith

EX-99.1 3 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

LOGO

 

Universal Corporation

 

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) 254-3594

Email: investor@universalleaf.com

   

 

Universal Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend

 

Richmond, VA • February 5, 2004 / PRNEWSWIRE

 

Allen B. King, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV), announced that the company’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of thirty-nine cents ($.39) per share on the common shares of the company, payable May 10, 2004, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on April 12, 2004.

 

Universal Corporation is a diversified company with operations in tobacco, lumber, and agri-products. Universal Corporation’s gross revenues for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2003, were approximately $2.6 billion. For more information on Universal Corporation, visit its web site at www.universalcorp.com.

 

# # #

EX-99.2 4 dex992.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

LOGO

Universal Corporation

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

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

              CONTACT    RELEASE
Karen M. L. Whelan    4:00 p.m. EST
    Phone:  

(804) 359-9311

    
    Fax:  

(804) 254-3594

    
    Email:  

investor@universalleaf.com

    

 

Universal Corporation Announces Earnings Increase

Richmond, VA, February 9, 2004 / PRNEWSWIRE

 

Allen B. King, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV), announced today that the Company’s earnings for the second quarter and the first six months of fiscal year 2004 were up significantly compared to the same periods a year ago. For the three-month period ended December 31, 2003, net income was $37.4 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, compared to $26.7 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2003. Net earnings for the first six months of fiscal year 2004 were $71.8 million, or $2.85 per diluted share, compared to $55.2 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, in the prior year. Six-month earnings in fiscal year 2003 are net of a $13.5 million before-tax restructuring charge ($8.7 million after taxes, or $0.34 per share) recorded in the first quarter of that year related to the consolidation of U.S. operations. Revenues were $801 million in the quarter and $1.6 billion for the first six months of fiscal year 2004, compared to $709 million and $1.4 billion, respectively, in the quarter and six-month periods last year.

 

Tobacco earnings were higher in both the quarter and the six months. U.S. operations reflected the benefit of a one-time shift in the allocation of fixed factory overhead associated with the change in the Company’s fiscal year end. Universal recognizes its fixed factory overhead expense in the United States in the quarters in which the tobacco is processed. Since processing does not normally occur during the period between April 1 and June 30, the projected overhead expense for that period has historically been allocated to the preceding three quarters of each fiscal year, based on volumes processed. Because of the change in fiscal year end to March 31, the factory overhead expense for the period from April 1 through June 30, 2004, will be reported in fiscal year 2005 results, and will be allocated to the subsequent quarters of that fiscal year. As a result, operating income for each quarter of the nine-month transitional year ending March 31, 2004, reflects favorable comparisons to the prior fiscal year. Had fiscal year 2004 included the estimated fixed factory overhead expense for April 1 though June 30, 2004, tobacco segment operating income would have been $6 million lower for the second quarter and $8 million lower for the six months. For the nine-month transitional year, management estimates that the impact on operating income would be a reduction of approximately $11 million to $12 million.


Universal Corporation

Page 2

 

U.S. operations also benefited from significant operating efficiencies and yield improvements realized from the tobacco processing operations at the new Nash County facility and the refurbished Danville plant. Plant throughput was also higher due to significant volumes processed for the Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corporation in the second quarter.

 

South American volumes, which include shipments from both Brazil and Argentina, were higher in both periods. Volumes in Zimbabwe continue to decline as tobacco production shrinks in that country. As management has noted before, flue-cured marketings in the current fiscal year were only about 80 million kilos, and the upcoming crop is expected to decline further. These shortfalls have led customers to seek sources of supply in other African countries and in Brazil, where the Company has significant operations. Shipments from Malawi were also lower in both periods due to a smaller burley crop and reduced sales of carryover tobacco.

 

Including the estimated effect of the U.S. fixed factory overhead allocation for the transitional year, adjusted tobacco segment operating earnings were up $12.5 million for the quarter and $8.2 million for the six months.

 

     THREE MONTHS

   SIX MONTHS

Periods ended December 31,


   2003

    2002

   2003

    2002

(in thousands of dollars)

                             

Tobacco segment operating income, as reported

   $ 70,463     $ 51,955    $ 128,692     $ 112,485

Adjustments for U.S. overhead allocation

     (6,000 )     —        (8,000 )     —  
    


 

  


 

Adjusted tobacco segment operating income

   $ 64,463     $ 51,955    $ 120,692     $ 112,485
    


 

  


 

 

Lumber and building product revenues and earnings for the quarter and the six-month period continued to benefit from the strong euro and the inclusion of JéWé. The euro has strengthened by 16% for the quarter and by 18% for the six months compared to last year. Lumber and building product revenues were up $54 million in the quarter and $107 million for the six months. Excluding JéWé, euro revenues and results were down in both periods, reflecting continued weakness in sales volumes due to the lingering recession in the Netherlands and other European markets.

 

Agri-products results were up slightly in the quarter but down for the six months. Improvements were recorded in confectionery sunflower seeds and rubber, but nuts and dried fruit continue to lag last year’s record results. Agri-product revenues were up $22 million for the quarter and $43 million for the six months, primarily due to small acquisitions made last year.

 

Mr. King said, “The earnings outlook for the full nine-month fiscal year has improved. Growth in international cigarette sales appears to be generating increased leaf demand, at least outside the United States. Demand for U.S. leaf continues to fall reflecting non-competitive prices. The absence of any meaningful program reform while growers wait for a quota buyout means that the pricing of U.S. tobacco will not improve significantly in the near term. However, U.S. operations will benefit from new processing business from the Kentucky burley pool, which has moved some of its processing business out of Kentucky for the first time. The euro remains strong against the U.S. dollar, and the effects of the euro’s strength coupled with the results from JéWé, are expected to outweigh the impact of the sluggish European economy on our lumber and building products distribution operations. Our agri-products segment continues to do well despite difficult market conditions for a number of the products that we handle.


Universal Corporation

Page 3

 

“We are pleased with the earnings recorded through the first six months, and we now believe that net income for the nine months ending March 31, 2004, will be in the range of $95 to $105 million compared to our previous estimate of $85 to $95 million. Earnings for the first nine months of fiscal year 2003 were $79 million.”

 

The Company cautions readers that any statements contained herein regarding earnings and expectations for its performance are forward-looking statements based upon management’s current knowledge and assumptions about future events, including anticipated levels of demand for and supply of the Company’s products and services; costs incurred in providing these products and services; timing of shipments to customers; changes in market structure; and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions. Earnings of the lumber and building products segment are also affected by changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the euro. Actual results, therefore, could vary from those expected. For more details on important factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations, see Item 1, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7, and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Universal Corporation

Page 4

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS

Three and Six Months Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002

(In thousands of dollars, except share and per share data)

 

     THREE MONTHS

    SIX MONTHS

 
     2003

    2002

    2003

    2002

 
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Sales and other operating revenues

   $ 801,011     $ 708,578     $ 1,587,612     $ 1,365,854  

Costs and expenses

                                

Cost of goods sold

     640,893       576,644       1,287,901       1,102,215  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     83,621       74,942       163,560       142,141  

Restructuring costs

     —         —         —         13,498  
    


 


 


 


Operating income

     76,497       56,992       136,151       108,000  

Equity in pretax earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates

     (1,880 )     (1,448 )     1,896       94  

Interest expense

     12,198       11,798       23,274       22,282  
    


 


 


 


Income before income taxes and other items

     62,419       43,746       114,773       85,812  

Income taxes

     22,471       15,528       41,318       30,463  

Minority interests

     2,581       1,475       1,660       129  
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 37,367     $ 26,743     $ 71,795     $ 55,220  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per common share – basic

   $ 1.49     $ 1.04     $ 2.88     $ 2.14  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per common share – diluted

   $ 1.48     $ 1.04     $ 2.85     $ 2.13  
    


 


 


 


Retained earnings – beginning of period

                   $ 592,673     $ 569,059  

Net income

                     71,795       55,220  

Cash dividends declared ($.75 – 2003, $.70 – 2002)

                     (18,781 )     (17,891 )

Purchase of common stock, net of shares issued

                     (3,268 )     (31,591 )
                    


 


Retained earnings – end of period

                   $ 642,419     $ 574,797  
                    


 


 

See accompanying notes.


Universal Corporation

Page 5

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of dollars)

 

    

December 31,

2003


  

December 31,

2002


  

June 30,

2003


     (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)     

ASSETS

                    

Current

                    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 135,793    $ 149,477    $ 44,659

Accounts receivable

     356,835      222,338      370,784

Advances to suppliers

     124,870      121,609      115,928

Accounts receivable – unconsolidated affiliates

     6,681      4,243      7,595

Inventories – at lower of cost or market:

                    

Tobacco

     565,635      548,391      529,736

Lumber and building products

     134,190      84,913      140,647

Agri-products

     82,276      66,574      82,527

Other

     28,969      28,973      30,377

Prepaid income taxes

     4,031      18,109      12,375

Deferred income taxes

     6,249      6,637      6,168

Other current assets

     23,613      20,727      34,201
    

  

  

Total current assets

     1,469,142      1,271,991      1,374,997

Property, plant and equipment – at cost

                    

Land

     59,105      34,631      57,310

Buildings

     348,153      291,648      338,115

Machinery and equipment

     689,277      575,700      639,157
    

  

  

       1,096,535      901,979      1,034,582

Less accumulated depreciation

     552,073      466,360      521,201
    

  

  

       544,462      435,619      513,381

Other assets

                    

Goodwill and other intangibles

     132,853      125,629      132,903

Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     92,510      82,722      90,119

Deferred income taxes

     51,900      47,085      45,466

Other noncurrent assets

     89,085      89,835      86,208
    

  

  

       366,348      345,271      354,696
    

  

  

     $ 2,379,952    $ 2,052,881    $ 2,243,074
    

  

  

 

See accompanying notes.


Universal Corporation

Page 6

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of dollars)

 

     December 31,
2003


    December 31,
2002


    June 30,
2003


 
     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)        

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                        

Current

                        

Notes payable and overdrafts

   $ 172,393     $ 124,656     $ 265,742  

Accounts payable

     329,872       307,430       361,058  

Accounts payable – unconsolidated affiliates

     4,783       4,159       2,073  

Customer advances and deposits

     111,973       109,180       42,093  

Accrued compensation

     30,691       17,730       31,959  

Income taxes payable

     15,726       25,673       20,969  

Current portion of long-term obligations

     64,418       183,365       100,387  
    


 


 


Total current liabilities

     729,856       772,193       824,281  

Long-term obligations

     775,358       514,527       614,994  

Postretirement benefits other than pensions

     40,989       39,335       40,305  

Other long-term liabilities

     98,059       74,432       96,522  

Deferred income taxes

     18,691       25,387       12,348  

Minority interests

     33,356       23,927       34,346  

Shareholders’ equity

                        

Preferred stock, no par value, authorized 5,000,000 shares, none issued or outstanding

                        

Common stock, no par value, authorized 100,000,000 shares, 24,983,745 issued and outstanding shares (25,278,217 at December 31, 2002, and 24,920,083 at June 30, 2003)

     94,912       87,920       90,665  

Retained earnings

     642,419       574,797       592,673  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (53,688 )     (59,637 )     (63,060 )
    


 


 


Total shareholders’ equity

     683,643       603,080       620,278  
    


 


 


     $ 2,379,952     $ 2,052,881     $ 2,243,074  
    


 


 


 

See accompanying notes.


Universal Corporation

Page 7

 

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Six months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002

(In thousands of dollars)

 

     SIX MONTHS

 
     2003

    2002

 
     (Unaudited)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

                

Net income

   $ 71,795     $ 55,220  

Depreciation

     26,000       23,000  

Amortization

     2,000       2,000  

Other adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

     (4,000 )     14,000  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

     11,339       (27,746 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     107,134       66,474  

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

                

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

     (38,000 )     (61,000 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (38,000 )     (61,000 )

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

                

Repayment of short-term debt, net

     (93,000 )     (2,000 )

Issuance of long-term debt

     203,000       138,000  

Repayment of long-term debt

     (69,500 )     —    

Issuance of common stock

     4,000       —    

Purchases of common stock

     (3,500 )     (32,000 )

Dividends paid

     (19,000 )     (18,000 )
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     22,000       86,000  

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     91,134       91,474  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     44,659       58,003  
    


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 135,793     $ 149,477  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes.


Universal Corporation

Page 8

 

NOTES

 

1). Universal Corporation, with its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Universal”), has operations in tobacco, lumber and building products, and agri-products. Because of the seasonal nature of these businesses, the results of operations for any fiscal quarter will not necessarily be indicative of results to be expected for other quarters or a full fiscal year. All adjustments necessary to state fairly the results for the period have been included and were of a normal recurring nature. Certain amounts in prior year statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

2). Universal has decided to change its fiscal year-end to March 31 from June 30 effective for the current fiscal year. This change will bring all consolidated subsidiaries to the same reporting date and will better match the fiscal reporting period with the crop and operating cycles of the Company’s largest operations. The Company plans to file a Transitional Report on Form 10-K for the nine months ending March 31, 2004.

 

Universal recognizes its fixed factory overhead expense in the United States in the quarters in which the tobacco is processed. Since processing does not normally occur during the period between April 1 and June 30, the projected overhead expense for that period has historically been allocated to the preceding three quarters of each fiscal year, based on volumes processed. Because of the change in fiscal year end to March 31, the factory overhead expense for the period April 1 through June 30, 2004, will be reported in fiscal year 2005 results, and will be allocated to the subsequent quarters of that fiscal year. As a result, operating income for each quarter of the nine-month transitional year ending March 31, 2004, reflects favorable comparisons to the prior fiscal year. Had fiscal year 2004 included the estimated fixed factory overhead expense for April 1 through June 30, 2004, tobacco segment operating income would have been $6 million lower for the second quarter and $8 million lower for the six months. For the nine-month transitional year, management estimates that the impact on operating income would be a reduction of approximately $11 million to $12 million.

 

3). In January 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Staff Position No. 106-1 (FSP No. 106-1), “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” FSP No. 106-1 provides accounting and disclosure guidance related to the effects on a company’s postretirement benefit costs and obligations of recent legislation that adds a prescription drug benefit to the federal Medicare program, and provides a federal subsidy to companies that sponsor retiree medical programs with drug benefits that are actuarially equivalent to those now available under Medicare. Because the FASB has not yet issued authoritative guidance on accounting for the federal subsidy, FSP No. 106-1 allows companies to elect deferral of accounting recognition until such guidance is issued (or earlier if an amendment, settlement, or curtailment of a company’s plan occurs). Universal has chosen to defer recognition and, accordingly, the costs and obligations for retiree benefits currently included in its financial statements do not reflect the effects of the federal subsidy. The Company may be required to change previously reported information when authoritative accounting guidance is issued. At the present time, the Company does not expect that amendments to its postretirement benefits plan will be required to qualify for the subsidy.


Universal Corporation

Page 9

 

4). Guarantees of bank loans to growers for crop financing and construction of curing barns and other tobacco producing assets are industry practice in Brazil. At December 31, 2003, total exposure under subsidiaries’ guarantees issued for banking facilities of Brazilian farmers was approximately $139 million. About 63% of these guarantees expire within one year, and the remainder expire within 5 years. The Company withholds payments due to the farmer on delivery of tobacco and forwards those payments to the third-party bank. Failure of farmers to deliver sufficient quantities of tobacco to the Company to cover their obligations to third-party banks could result in a liability for the Company; however, in that case, the Company would have recourse against the farmers. In addition, the Company has contingent liabilities of approximately $9 million that consist primarily of bid and performance bonds. The Company considers the possibility of a material loss on any of the guarantees and other contingencies to be remote, and the accrual recorded for the value of the guarantees was not material at December 31, 2003.

 

In recent years, economic and political changes in Zimbabwe have led to a significant decline in tobacco production in that country. Universal has been able to offset the effect of this decline on its business with increased production in other countries and growing regions. If the political situation in Zimbabwe were to further deteriorate significantly, the Company’s ability to recover its assets there could be impaired. The Company’s equity in its net assets of subsidiaries in Zimbabwe was approximately $61 million at December 31, 2003. Net monetary assets denominated in Zimbabwe dollars represent a portion of this amount and include local currency deposits that have grown due to the country’s financial policies. The U.S. dollar value of these net monetary assets is exposed to changes in the value of the Zimbabwe dollar, and approximates $8.5 million when remeasured using the export exchange rate of approximately ZWD 800 to USD 1. Recently, the Zimbabwe dollar has traded in government-sponsored auctions in a range between ZWD 3,613 and ZWD 4,197 to USD 1. The auction rate will be used to remeasure the Company’s net monetary assets denominated in Zimbabwe dollars in the financial statements reported for the period ending March 31, 2004. If the recent auction exchange rate was applied to those assets at December 31, 2003, the Company’s equity in its net assets of subsidiaries in Zimbabwe would fall to approximately $56 million. The Company’s ability to reduce or limit further growth in the net monetary assets exposed to the value of the Zimbabwe dollar is dependent in part on the ability of its subsidiaries to utilize local currency deposits to pay costs and expenses.

 

5). The Competition Directorate-General of the European Commission (“DG Comp”) is investigating the buying practices of Spanish tobacco processors with the stated aim of determining to what extent the tobacco processing companies have jointly agreed on raw tobacco qualities and prices offered to Spanish tobacco growers. After conducting an investigation, the Company believes that Spanish tobacco processors, including the Company’s Spanish subsidiary, Tabacos Espanoles, S.A. (“TAES”), have jointly agreed to the terms of sale of green tobacco and quantities to be purchased from associations of farmers and have jointly negotiated with those associations. TAES is cooperating fully with the DG Comp in its investigation and believes that there are unusual, mitigating circumstances peculiar to the highly structured market for green tobacco in Spain. Current guidelines allow the DG Comp to assess fines in this case in amounts that would be material to the Company’s earnings. Although the Company expects to be assessed a fine, management is unable to estimate an amount at this time, and no liability has been recorded in the financial statements.


Universal Corporation

Page 10

 

6). During fiscal year 2003, the Company recorded about $33.0 million in restructuring charges associated with consolidation of U.S. and African tobacco operations. Approximately $28 million of the charges were to record the severance cost associated with 941 hourly employees and 366 salaried employees. The severance costs included $13.5 million recorded in the first quarter of fiscal year 2003 related to the U.S. operations. During the six months ended December 31, 2003, the Company paid approximately $2.7 million to 81 employees in connection with the restructuring plan.

 

Changes in severance liabilities are shown below:

 

     Six months
ended
December 31,
2003


    Six months
ended
December 31,
2002


    Fiscal year
ended
June 30,
2003


 

Severance Liabilities (in thousands of dollars)

                        

Beginning balance

   $ 13,399     $ 2,079     $ 2,079  

Restructuring charges

     —         13,498       27,981  

Payments

     (2,719 )     (1,819 )     (16,661 )
    


 


 


Ending balance

   $ 10,680     $ 13,758     $ 13,399  
    


 


 


 

7). As permitted under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the Company applies the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” to stock options granted to employees. Under Statement No 123, as amended by Statement No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure,” the Company discloses pro forma net income and basic and diluted earnings per share as if a fair value-based method had been applied to all awards.

 

     THREE MONTHS

    SIX MONTHS

 
     2003

    2002

    2003

    2002

 

Periods ended December 31,

                                

Net income (in thousands of dollars)

   $ 37,367     $ 26,743     $ 71,795     $ 55,220  

Stock-based employee compensation cost, net of tax effect, under fair value accounting

     (1,163 )     (962 )     (2,141 )     (1,924 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net income under fair value method

   $ 36,204     $ 25,781     $ 69,654     $ 53,296  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per share – basic

   $ 1.49     $ 1.04     $ 2.88     $ 2.14  

Per share stock-based employee compensation cost, net of tax effect, under fair value accounting

     (0.05 )     (0.04 )     (0.09 )     (0.07 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma earnings per share – basic

   $ 1.44     $ 1.00     $ 2.79     $ 2.07  
    


 


 


 


Earnings per share – diluted

   $ 1.48     $ 1.04     $ 2.85     $ 2.13  

Per share stock-based employee compensation cost, net of tax effect, under fair value accounting

     (0.05 )     (0.04 )     (0.09 )     (0.07 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma earnings per share – diluted

   $ 1.43     $ 1.00     $ 2.76     $ 2.06  
    


 


 


 



Universal Corporation

Page 11

 

8). The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share.

 

     THREE MONTHS

   SIX MONTHS

Periods ended December 31,


   2003

   2002

   2003

   2002

Net income (in thousands of dollars)

   $ 37,367    $ 26,743    $ 71,795    $ 55,220
    

  

  

  

Denominator for basic earnings per share:

                           

Weighted average shares

     24,998,868      25,618,912      24,970,504      25,840,475

Effect of dilutive securities:

                           

Employee stock options

     166,754      40,569      180,228      42,452
    

  

  

  

Denominator for diluted earnings per share

     25,165,622      25,659,481      25,150,732      25,882,927
    

  

  

  

Earnings per share – basic

   $ 1.49    $ 1.04    $ 2.88    $ 2.14
    

  

  

  

Earnings per share – diluted

   $ 1.48    $ 1.04    $ 2.85    $ 2.13
    

  

  

  

 

9). Comprehensive Income:

 

     THREE MONTHS

   SIX MONTHS

Periods ended December 31,


   2003

   2002

   2003

   2002

(in thousands of dollars)

                           

Net income

   $ 37,367    $ 26,743    $ 71,795    $ 55,220

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     7,525      1,275      9,372      11,584
    

  

  

  

Comprehensive income

   $ 44,892    $ 28,018    $ 81,167    $ 66,804
    

  

  

  

 


Universal Corporation

Page 12

 

10). Segments are based on product categories. The Company evaluates performance based on segment operating income and equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.

 

     THREE MONTHS

    SIX MONTHS

Periods ended December 31,


   2003

    2002

    2003

   2002

(in thousands of dollars)

                             

SALES AND OTHER OPERATING REVENUES

                             

Tobacco

   $ 473,026     $ 455,979     $ 929,715    $ 857,757

Lumber and building products distribution

     193,937       140,430       390,268      283,334

Agri-products

     134,048       112,169       267,629      224,763
    


 


 

  

Consolidated total

   $ 801,011     $ 708,578     $ 1,587,612    $ 1,365,854
    


 


 

  

OPERATING INCOME

                             

Tobacco

   $ 70,463     $ 51,955     $ 128,692    $ 112,485

Lumber and building products distribution

     7,824       6,882       15,787      13,852

Agri-products

     2,675       2,557       5,518      6,346
    


 


 

  

Total segment operating income

     80,962       61,394       149,997      132,683

Less:

                             

Corporate expenses

     6,345       5,850       11,950      11,091

Restructuring costs

     —         —         —        13,498

Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

     (1,880 )     (1,448 )     1,896      94
    


 


 

  

Consolidated total

   $ 76,497     $ 56,992     $ 136,151    $ 108,000
    


 


 

  

 

# # #

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