RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

HIGHLIGHTS

Nine Months
Diluted earnings per share of $3.75.
Segment operating income of $186 million, up 6% on shipment timing.
Uncommitted inventory levels reduced by $66 million.

Third Quarter
Segment operating income of $63 million, down $20 million from prior year.
Revenues up 1% to $680 million.
Uncommitted inventory levels remain very low.

George C. Freeman, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), reported that net income for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, was $106.6 million, or $3.75 per diluted share, compared with last year's net income of $66.3 million, or $2.34 per diluted share for the same period. The comparison of the current and prior year periods is affected by several unusual items, which are described below, and amount to net pretax charges of $3.7 million ( $0.05 per diluted share) for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, and $38.6 million ($1.39 per diluted share) for the same period last year. For the three months ended December 31, 2012, net income of $35.5 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, compared with net income for the prior year's third quarter of $58.5 million, or $2.06 per diluted share, which included unusual items amounting to a net pretax benefit of $10.7 million ($0.25 per diluted share).

Segment operating income, which excludes those unusual items, was $185.9 million for the nine-month period, an increase of $11.3 million over the prior year, as improved results in the Other Regions and Other Tobacco Operations segments were partly offset by a decline in the North America segment. Revenues increased by 1% to $1.8 billion for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013, mostly as a result of higher volumes from carryover crop sales from the prior year and accelerated shipments of current crop tobaccos. Segment operating income declined by 24% to $63.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012, compared with the prior year on lower volumes and margins in all segments. Revenues increased for the quarter by 1% to $680 million on those lower volumes at higher average prices.

The following table sets forth the unusual items included in reported results:

Mr. Freeman stated, "I am very pleased with our results so far this year. The hard work and depth of local market knowledge from our teams on the ground around the world enabled us to deliver good results to our customers and shareholders. Despite our success thus far, we still face challenges for the remainder of the fiscal year. We anticipate lower shipments in the fourth quarter. Last year, we began shipping tobacco later compared to the current year, and crops were larger. These factors caused volumes to be skewed toward the second half of last year. Larger volumes of uncommitted inventories were also available for sale last year, and we have sold a significant amount of those stocks. Our uncommitted stocks were only 10% of total inventory at December 31, 2012, and remain at very low levels.

"On a positive note, sales of uncommitted inventories, smaller crops, and earlier shipments in the current year have reduced our working capital requirements and provided strong cash generation through the third quarter of fiscal year 2013. We returned more than $50 million to shareholders in the nine months ended December 31, 2012 through dividends and share repurchases and have a strong balance sheet position to support the requirements of the upcoming crop cycle. Our improved financial position will serve us well, as we expect to return to more normal crop sizes in the next fiscal year."

FLUE-CURED AND BURLEY LEAF TOBACCO OPERATIONS:

Nine Months

Operating income for the flue-cured and burley tobacco operations, which include the North America and Other Regions segments, increased by 4.2% to $177.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, as improved results in the Other Regions segment were partially offset by a decline in the North America segment. Revenues for the group of about $1.7 billion were relatively flat compared with the previous year. Earnings for the Other Regions segment were $168.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, an increase of about 15% compared with earnings of $146.7 million for the comparable prior year period. The improvement was driven primarily by higher sales volumes in South America and Africa, mainly as a result of carryover shipments from last year's large crops, as well as accelerated shipment timing this year compared to slower deliveries last year. Those results were partly offset by decreased earnings in Europe because of the absence of last year's insurance recoveries, lower results in some origins due to the timing of shipments, and unfavorable exchange rates. Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the segment were reduced, mostly due to currency remeasurement and exchange gains and lower provisions for suppliers. Revenues for the Other Regions segment were up by about 3% to $1.5 billion, reflecting increased overall leaf volumes, offset in part by lower average prices on carryover shipments of African tobaccos.

Operating income for the North America segment decreased by $14.1 million to $9.8 million, mainly due to lower shipment volumes and fewer carryover and old crop sales in the current period. Similarly, revenues for this segment were down by 13% to $205.4 million on those volume declines, offset in part by higher tobacco processing volumes.

Third Quarter

Operating income for the flue-cured and burley tobacco operations decreased by $18.1 million to $64.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, compared to the same period last year on lower volumes and margins in most origins. Revenues for the group of $637.4 million were flat versus the prior year, on decreased volumes at higher average prices. Operating income for the Other Regions segment was down by 15% to $59.3 million compared with the prior year. Although South America's results benefited from higher shipments of carryover crops in Brazil, that improvement was more than offset by lower results in Africa from reduced volumes and higher unit costs due to the smaller crops, as well as a less favorable product mix. Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the Other Regions segment were down for the quarter due primarily to lower provisions for suppliers and favorable currency remeasurement and exchange comparisons to the same period last year. In addition, segment results were reduced by the absence of $6.3 million in dividend income from unconsolidated subsidiaries recorded in the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. Revenues for the Other Regions segment increased by 4% to $551.9 million as higher average prices outweighed lower volumes.

Operating income for the North America segment was $5.2 million, down by $8.0 million, on reduced volumes, fewer domestic old crop sales due to depleted inventories, and product mix. Those factors also decreased revenues for this segment, which declined by 22% to $85.5 million.

OTHER TOBACCO OPERATIONS:

The Other Tobacco Operations segment operating income increased by $4.0 million to $8.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, compared with the same period for the previous fiscal year. Results for the dark tobacco business improved for both the quarter and the nine months, due in part to recovery from the Indonesian crop shortages affecting last year's comparable results. Results for the oriental joint venture also improved for the nine-month period versus the prior year on lower operating expenses due to the effects of a stronger U.S. dollar. Operating income for the segment for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was a loss of $1.3 million, down $2.1 million compared with the prior year, as benefits from a favorable product mix for the dark tobacco business were outweighed by volume reductions for the oriental joint venture due to earlier shipments this fiscal year. Revenues for this segment increased for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, by 12%, to $149.8 million, and for the third fiscal quarter by 28% to $42.6 million. The increases in both periods reflected the higher sales for the dark tobacco business but were largely attributable to the timing of shipments of oriental tobaccos into the United States.

OTHER ITEMS:

Cost of goods sold increased by about 2% to $1.5 billion for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, consistent with higher revenues for the period, and was up about 6%, to $554.6 million, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 due to higher unit costs on reduced volumes in some origins. Selling, general, and administrative costs declined by $14.6 million for the nine-month period and by $3.8 million in the third fiscal quarter, compared with the respective prior periods. The decrease for the quarter was mainly due to lower provisions for suppliers, while the nine-month period also included favorable comparisons from currency remeasurement and exchange gains, partially offset by higher compensation and benefit accruals and the previous year's reversal of non-income tax provisions due to a favorable tax ruling in South America.

Interest expense for the nine months ended December 31, 2012, of $17.8 million was relatively flat compared to the prior year. Interest expense for the third quarter decreased about 8% to $5.7 million mostly due to reduced average debt levels in the current fiscal year. The consolidated effective income tax rate for both the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2012, was approximately 31%. The effective income tax rates for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2011, were approximately 30% and 41%, respectively. The nine-month rate in the prior period was significantly higher than normal because the Company did not record an income tax benefit on the non-deductible fine portion of the charge for the European Commission fine and interest in Italy. Without that item, the effective income tax rate would have been approximately 29%. The rates in all periods were lower than the 35% federal statutory rate because of the effect of changes in exchange rates on deferred income tax assets and liabilities as well as lower effective rates on income from certain foreign subsidiaries.

In September 2011, the Company announced that the General Court of the European Union issued a decision rejecting the appeal of Deltafina, S.p.A, its Italian subsidiary. That appeal related to the European Commission's revocation of Deltafina's immunity from a fine of €30 million (about $41 million on September 9, 2011) assessed against Deltafina and Universal jointly for actions in connection with Deltafina's purchase and processing of tobacco in the Italian raw tobacco market between 1995 and 2002. Deltafina has appealed the decision of the General Court to the European Court of Justice. Effective with the September 9, 2011 General Court decision, the Company recorded a charge for the full amount of the fine (€30 million) plus accumulated interest (€5.9 million). The charge totaled $49.1 million at the exchange rate in effect on the date of the General Court decision. The appeal process is likely to be concluded within fifteen months.

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, 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. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, the Company sold land and storage buildings in Brazil in exchange for other property and $9.4 million in cash. The transaction resulted in a gain of $11.1 million. Both of these gains are reported in other income in the consolidated statements of income.

Additional information

Amounts 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, 2012, 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, 2012.

At 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on February 5, 2013, 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 May 5, 2013. A taped replay of the call will be available through February 19, 2013, by dialing (855) 859-2056. The confirmation number to access the replay is 96220109.

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, 2012, were $2.4 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 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. 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, 2012.

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 were as follows:

 

SOURCE Universal Corporation