RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- George C. Freeman, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV), announced that net income for the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, which ended on June 30, 2011, was $15.9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, compared to last year's first quarter net income of $25.3 million, or $0.87 per diluted share. These results include $6.9 million before taxes, or $0.19 per diluted share, in restructuring charges primarily in North America and Europe as well as a $9.6 million pre-tax gain ($0.27 per diluted share) on insurance settlement proceeds to replace factory and equipment lost in a fire at a plant in Europe.  Revenues for the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 of about $479 million were lower by about 11%, due to reduced sales to Philip Morris International in Brazil related to farmer contract assignments last year.  The full impact of that change was reflected in this year's first quarter.

Mr. Freeman stated, "So far this year is unfolding as we had anticipated when we disclosed it last year.  We expected pressure on comparisons of this quarter against the strong results we achieved in the same period last year. We also expected a slow start to the season, which is typical in a cycle of oversupply as customers and farmers alike delay action to evaluate how the market develops, and we have seen that in some areas.  We are managing that process well.  We are also seeing the effects in Brazil of reduced sales of leaf due to the assignment of some of our farmer contracts to a subsidiary of Philip Morris International last year.  We believe that the entire impact of those reduced sales has been reflected in our first quarter.  We continue to sell leaf to Philip Morris International from Brazil.  We have also agreed to process leaf for them there.

"Despite these challenges, we are pleased with our success to date in managing crop purchases and customer requirements and believe that we are well-positioned to avoid excessive uncommitted stock levels throughout the season.  Although levels of uncommitted inventory are up in both absolute and relative terms, we are beginning to see them decline in some areas as the trading season develops in the second fiscal quarter.  In fact, sales activity has increased through July and remains at a brisk pace, and we are having good results in strengthening relationships with customers — both new and old.  We continue to make progress as well on our restructuring programs in several regions, to further reduce operating cost structures where necessary.  Our folks are busy and motivated to efficiently serve our customers around the world, and we are optimistic about our prospects for managing well through the current cycle."

FLUE-CURED AND BURLEY LEAF TOBACCO OPERATIONS:

Operating income for the Company's flue-cured and burley tobacco operations decreased by 26%, to $26.5 million, while revenues for those operations declined by 10%, to $417 million compared to the same quarter last year. That performance includes results from the Company's North America and Other Regions segments.  While operating margins declined in most regions, the Other Regions segment results were significantly influenced by lower volumes in South America.  The Company's Brazilian operations were affected by reduced sales to Philip Morris International related to farmer contract assignments last year.  The full impact of that change was reflected in this year's first quarter, and was also responsible for the reduction in revenues for the Other Regions segment.  Results in Africa were down as a result of lower margins on old crop sales and delayed shipments in some areas for the current crop.  Asia experienced reduced operating profits from lower trading volumes, due in part to later shipments and to limited availability of preferred leaf styles.  Selling, general, and administrative costs for the first quarter were flat for this segment compared with the prior year.  Operating income for the North America segment improved by nearly $2 million compared to last year's first quarter on reduced overhead costs which included savings from restructuring activity.  Lower current crop volumes due to delayed shipments partially offset those benefits.  Those reduced overhead costs also reduced selling, general, and administrative costs for this segment.

OTHER TOBACCO OPERATIONS:

The Other Tobacco Operations segment operating income for the first fiscal quarter was down by about $3.6 million as lower results from the oriental tobacco joint venture were partially offset by improved results in Dark tobacco on timing of old crop tobacco shipments.   Results for the joint venture declined on lower margins and volumes as well as the negative comparison caused by currency gains in the first quarter last year.  Revenues for this segment decreased by 16% to about $62 million primarily related to timing of shipments of oriental tobaccos through the United States and the transfer of some business from Special Services to the Other Regions segment.  Revenues for the Dark business were up due to the old crop shipments during the quarter.  Selling, general, and administrative costs for the segment were flat compared with the prior year.

OTHER ITEMS:

Cost of sales decreased by 12% to $385.1 million in the quarter on lower volumes, primarily in South America. Selling, general, and administrative costs increased slightly as larger provisions on farmer advances and other receivables were mostly offset by the partial reversal of a statutory severance accrual in Africa due to a change in the law and by favorable variances in currency remeasurement and exchange gains and losses compared with the previous year's first quarter. Interest expense was up $0.4 million due to higher interest rates on average. The effective income tax rate for the quarter of 35.5% approximates U.S. statutory rates and was higher than the 33.5% effective rate for the same quarter last year.

During the first quarter, an insurance settlement was received for replacement cost recovery on the factory and equipment destroyed in a fire at the Company's sheet tobacco operations in Europe in 2010.  The settlement generated a gain of $9.6 million.  The gain was reported as Other Income in the Company's consolidated income statement.

Additional information

Amounts described as "net income" and "earnings per diluted share" that are included in the previous discussion are attributable to Universal Corporation and exclude earnings related to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries.

This information includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  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 its products and services; costs incurred in providing these products and services; timing of shipments to customers; changes in market structure; government regulation; product taxation; industry consolidation and evolution; and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions. Actual results, therefore, could vary from those expected.  A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties, and other factors can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, and in other documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  This information should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2011.

At 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 4, 2011, the Company will host a conference call to discuss these results.  Those wishing to listen to the call may do so by visiting www.universalcorp.com at that time.  A replay of the webcast will be available at that site through November 4, 2011.  A taped replay of the call will be available through August 25, 2011, by dialing (855) 859-2056.  The confirmation number to access the replay is 88792286.

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.

NOTE 1.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION  

Universal Corporation, with its subsidiaries ("Universal" or the "Company"), is the leading global leaf tobacco merchant and processor.  Because of the seasonal nature of the Company's business, 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. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.

NOTE 2.   GUARANTEES AND OTHER CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Guarantees of bank loans to growers for crop financing and construction of curing barns or other tobacco producing assets are industry practice in Brazil and support the farmers' production of tobacco there.  At June 30, 2011, the Company's total exposure under guarantees issued by its operating subsidiary in Brazil for banking facilities of farmers in that country was approximately $25 million ($39 million face amount including unpaid accrued interest, less $14 million recorded for the fair value of the guarantees).  About 76% of these guarantees expire within one year, and all of the remainder expire within five years.  The subsidiary withholds payments due to the farmers on delivery of tobacco and forwards those payments to the third-party banks.  Failure of farmers to deliver sufficient quantities of tobacco to the subsidiary to cover their obligations to the third-party banks could result in a liability for the subsidiary under the related guarantees; however, in that case, the subsidiary would have recourse against the farmers.  The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company's subsidiary could be required to make at June 30, 2011, was the face amount, $39 million including unpaid accrued interest ($62 million as of June 30, 2010, and $73 million at March 31, 2011).  The fair value of the guarantees was a liability of approximately $14 million at June 30, 2011 ($16 million at June 30, 2010, and $21 million at March 31, 2011).  In addition to these guarantees, the Company has other contingent liabilities totaling approximately $56 million, primarily related to a bank guarantee that bonds an appeal of a 2006 fine in the European Union.

The Company is involved in other litigation and tax examinations incidental to its business activities.  While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management is vigorously defending these matters and does not currently expect that any of them will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position. However, should one or more of these matters be resolved in a manner adverse to management's current expectation, the effect on the Company's results of operations for a particular fiscal reporting period could be material.

NOTE 3.   EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per share for the periods presented in the consolidated statements of income.

For the three months ended June 30, 2011, conversion of the Company's outstanding Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock was not assumed since the effect would have been antidilutive.  For the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, certain employee share-based awards were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.  These awards included stock appreciation rights and stock options totaling 585,601 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $51.43 for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, and 657,401 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $52.65 for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

NOTE 4.   SEGMENT INFORMATION

The principal approach used by management to evaluate the Company's performance is by geographic region, although some components of the business are evaluated on the basis of their worldwide operations. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on operating income after allocated overhead expenses (excluding significant non-recurring charges or credits), plus equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.

Operating results for the Company's reportable segments for each period presented in the consolidated statements of income were as follows:

(1)  Includes South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia regions, as well as inter-region eliminations.

(2)  Includes Dark Air-Cured, Special Services, and Oriental, as well as inter-company eliminations.  Sales and other operating revenues for this reportable segment include limited amounts for Oriental because its financial results consist principally of equity in the pretax earnings of an unconsolidated affiliate.

(3)  Item is included in segment operating income, but not included in consolidated operating income.

(4)  Item is not included in segment operating income, but is included in consolidated operating income.

SOURCE Universal Corporation