RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- George C. Freeman, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), reported net income of $2.1 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, which ended on June 30, 2019. Those results were down $11.1 million compared with net income of $13.2 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. Included in the results for both periods were certain non-recurring income tax items, detailed in Other Items below, which reduced diluted earnings per share by $0.11 and increased diluted earnings per share by $0.27 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018, respectively. Excluding those non-recurring items, net income and diluted earnings per share declined by $1.4 million and $0.06, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2018. Operating income of $7.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, decreased by $0.9 million, compared to operating income of $8.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. Similarly, segment operating income was $7.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, down $1.4 million compared to the same period last fiscal year, mainly as a result of earnings declines in the North America and Other Regions segments, partially offset by earnings improvements in the Other Tobacco Operations segment. Revenues of $296.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, decreased by $82.8 million, or 22%, on lower total sales volumes primarily due to reduced carryover crop sales.

Mr. Freeman stated, "We are starting off fiscal year 2020 with sales results in line with our expectations. Our first fiscal quarter is a seasonally slow quarter for us, and our volumes for the quarter are lower than the prior year, as fiscal year 2019 benefited from large carryover crop volumes, particularly in North America and Africa. However, our overall volumes are similar to those in prior first fiscal quarters when we were not impacted by large carryover shipments. In addition, our results benefited from lower selling, general, and administrative expenses, primarily from more favorable currency variances this fiscal year.

"Crop purchases are almost complete in Brazil and well underway in Africa. Flue-cured crop sizes are larger in several key origins this year, and we believe that the supply of flue-cured tobacco exceeds demand. As a result, we are seeing slower movement in flue-cured markets, soft demand, and pressure on margins. However, it is still very early, and some markets have not opened yet. In contrast to the flue-cured crops, burley crop sizes are coming in lower than expected, and we believe that burley supply is in line with demand.

"We are also seeing softer demand for U.S. tobacco. Currently, U.S. tobacco prices are not competitive in the global marketplace. Additionally, there is pressure on export volumes from the suspension of purchases by China due to the current trade discussions, as well as consistent declining domestic consumption in the United States.

"Although we are cautiously watching some market developments, we believe that we are off to a good start this year. We are forecasting modest increases in our capital expenditures as we continue to work on additional supply chain and service opportunities in our leaf tobacco business. We are also making steady progress on building out our investment pipeline. In fiscal year 2020, we look forward to continuing to provide products that are responsibly-sourced and processed with transparency, while maintaining our position as the leading global leaf tobacco supplier and delivering sustainable shareholder value."

FLUE-CURED AND BURLEY LEAF TOBACCO OPERATIONS:
OTHER REGIONS:

The Other Regions segment operating loss of $3.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, was $1.8 million greater than the prior year's first fiscal quarter operating loss of $2.0 million. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, benefits from higher carryover crop sales in Brazil and increased trading volumes in Asia were offset by lower results from Africa on lower carryover crop sales and distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries. Selling, general and administrative costs for the segment were lower in the quarter ended June 30, 2019, largely from favorable foreign currency comparisons, lower customer claim costs, and lower legal and professional expenses, compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. Revenues for the Other Regions segment of $202.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, were down $5.9 million compared to the same period last year, as increases in sales revenues were offset by lower processing revenues, primarily in Europe, and reduced dividend income from unconsolidated affiliates.

NORTH AMERICA:

Operating income for the North America segment for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, was $0.9 million, down $8.1 million from the comparable prior year period, mainly on significantly lower carryover crop sales volumes. Carryover crop volumes in the United States were high in the quarter ended June 30, 2018, as reduced transportation availability had delayed some shipments into that quarter, which would otherwise have shipped earlier in calendar year 2018. In addition, current crop tobacco volumes were down in Mexico due to later shipment timing this fiscal year compared to fiscal year 2019. Selling, general, and administrative costs for the North America segment were down slightly, compared to the prior year's first fiscal quarter. Revenues for this segment decreased by $87.9 million to $27.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year, on the lower carryover crop sales volumes.

OTHER TOBACCO OPERATIONS:

The Other Tobacco Operations segment operating income of $10.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 reflected an increase of $8.5 million, compared to operating income of $2.0 million for this segment in the same period last year, largely due to improved results from our dark tobacco operations on higher wrapper sales and lower costs. Despite increased sales volumes, results for the oriental joint venture were down for its seasonally weak first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2019, compared to the prior fiscal year on lower foreign currency remeasurement gains. However, selling, general, and administrative costs for the segment were down compared with the prior year's first fiscal quarter mainly due to favorable foreign currency comparisons. Revenues for this segment in the quarter ended June 30, 2019, increased by $11.0 million to $67.2 million on the higher dark tobacco sales.

OTHER ITEMS:

Cost of goods sold in the quarter ended June 30, 2019, of $238.3 million was down by about 23% compared with the same period last year, consistent with the similar percentage decrease in revenues for the current period. Selling, general, and administrative costs for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 decreased by $12.7 million to $51.1 million, mainly driven by positive net foreign currency remeasurement and exchange variances of about $6 million, primarily in Brazil, the Philippines, Europe, and Indonesia, lower customer claim costs, and reduced legal and professional expenses, compared with the same period in the prior year.

For the three months ended June 30, 2019, the Company's income tax expense included a $2.8 million net tax accrual ($0.11 per diluted share) for an unresolved tax matter at a foreign subsidiary. Without the accrual for the unresolved tax matter, income taxes for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, would have been approximately $1.5 million, or a consolidated effective tax rate of approximately 29%. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company reported a net tax benefit on pretax earnings due to a $6.9 million benefit ($0.27 per diluted share) from reversing a portion of a liability previously recorded for dividend withholding taxes on the cumulative retained earnings of a foreign subsidiary.  Without the dividend withholding tax reversal, income taxes for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, would have been expense of approximately $1.5 million, or a consolidated effective tax rate of approximately 27%.

Additional information

Amounts included in the previous discussion are attributable to Universal Corporation and exclude earnings related to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries. In addition, the total for segment operating income (loss) referred to in this discussion is a non-GAAP measure. This measure is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income (loss), operating income (loss), cash from operating activities or any other operating performance measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. A reconciliation of the total for segment operating income (loss) to consolidated operating income (loss) is provided in Note 3. Segment Information, included in this earnings release. The Company evaluates its segment performance excluding certain significant charges or credits. The Company believes this measure, which excludes items that it believes are not indicative of its core operating results, provides investors with important information that is useful in understanding its business results and trends.

This release 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 financial condition, results of operation, and future business plans, operations, opportunities, and prospects for its performance are forward-looking statements based upon management's current knowledge and assumptions about future events, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, prospects, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, product purchased not meeting quality and quantity requirements; reliance on a few large customers; its ability to maintain effective information technology systems and safeguard confidential information; 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; changes in exchange rates and interest rates; impacts of regulation and litigation on its customers; industry-specific risks related to its food ingredient business; exposure to certain regulatory and financial risks related to climate change; changes in estimates and assumptions underlying its critical accounting policies; the promulgation and adoption of new accounting standards, new government regulations and interpretation of existing standards and regulations; 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, 2019, 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, 2019 and the Form 10-Q for the most recently ended fiscal quarter. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements as these statements speak only as of the date when made, and it undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made.

At 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 7, 2019, 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 7, 2019. A taped replay of the call will be available through August 21, 2019, by dialing (855) 859-2056. The confirmation number to access the replay is 8587006.

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Universal Corporation is the leading global leaf tobacco supplier and conducts business in more than 30 countries. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, were $2.2 billion. For more information on Universal Corporation, visit its website at www.universalcorp.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Universal Corporation, which together with its subsidiaries is referred to herein as "Universal" or the "Company," is the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. 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. This Form 10-Q 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, 2019.

NOTE 2.   EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

NOTE 3. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The principal approach used by management to evaluate the Company's performance is by geographic region, although the dark air-cured and oriental tobacco businesses are each 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 the pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.

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

 

 

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SOURCE Universal Corporation

Candace C. Formacek, Phone: (804) 359-9311, Fax: (804) 254-3584, Email: investor@universalleaf.com