UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/ - Quarter Report: 2010 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2010
OR
¨ TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
FOR
THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO
Commission
File Number: 001-00652
UNIVERSAL
CORPORATION
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Virginia
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54-0414210
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Identification
Number)
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9201
Forest Hill Avenue,
|
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Richmond,
Virginia
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23235
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
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804-359-9311
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes x No
¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit
and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated
filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(check one):
Large
accelerated filer x Accelerated
filer ¨ Non-accelerated
filer ¨ Smaller
reporting company ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No
x
As of
August 1, 2010, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding was
24,155,405.
UNIVERSAL
CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Item No.
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Page
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PART
I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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1.
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Financial
Statements
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3
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2.
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Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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23
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3.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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27
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4.
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Controls
and Procedures
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28
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PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
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1.
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Legal
Proceedings
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29
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1A.
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Risk
Factors
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31
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2.
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Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
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31
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4.
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(Removed
and Reserved)
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31
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6.
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Exhibits
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32
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Signatures
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33
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2
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
UNIVERSAL
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
(In
thousands of dollars, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
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||||||||
2010
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2009
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|||||||
(Unaudited)
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||||||||
Sales
and other operating revenues
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$ | 538,916 | $ | 616,112 | ||||
Costs
and expenses
|
||||||||
Cost
of goods sold
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436,679 | 476,748 | ||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
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60,183 | 69,592 | ||||||
Restructuring
costs
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949 | — | ||||||
Operating
income
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41,105 | 69,772 | ||||||
Equity
in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
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378 | 3,641 | ||||||
Interest
income
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444 | 565 | ||||||
Interest
expense
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5,126 | 8,155 | ||||||
Income
before income taxes and other items
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36,801 | 65,823 | ||||||
Income
taxes:
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12,383 | 22,019 | ||||||
Net
income
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24,418 | 43,804 | ||||||
Less:
net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in
subsidiaries
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902 | (59 | ) | |||||
Net
income attributable to Universal Corporation
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25,320 | 43,745 | ||||||
Dividends
on Universal Corporation convertible perpetual preferred
stock
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(3,712 | ) | (3,712 | ) | ||||
Earnings
available to Universal Corporation common shareholders
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$ | 21,608 | $ | 40,033 | ||||
Earnings
per share attributable to Universal Corporation common
shareholders:
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||||||||
Basic
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$ | 0.89 | $ | 1.60 | ||||
Diluted
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$ | 0.87 | $ | 1.47 | ||||
Retained
earnings - beginning of year
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$ | 767,213 | $ | 686,960 | ||||
Net
income attributable to Universal Corporation
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25,320 | 43,745 | ||||||
Cash
dividends declared:
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||||||||
Series
B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock
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(3,712 | ) | (3,712 | ) | ||||
Common
stock (2010 - $0.47 per share; 2009 - $0.46 per share)
|
(11,347 | ) | (11,461 | ) | ||||
Dividend
equivalents on restricted stock units
|
(97 | ) | (75 | ) | ||||
Repurchase
of common stock - cost in excess of stated capital amount
|
(8,605 | ) | (2,773 | ) | ||||
Retained
earnings - end of period
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$ | 768,772 | $ | 712,684 |
See
accompanying notes.
3
UNIVERSAL
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
(In
thousands of dollars)
June 30,
2010
|
June 30,
2009
|
March 31,
2010
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||||||||||
(Unaudited)
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(Unaudited)
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|||||||||||
ASSETS
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||||||||||||
Current
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||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
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$ | 61,781 | $ | 131,167 | $ | 245,953 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable, net
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221,053 | 229,764 | 266,960 | |||||||||
Advances
to suppliers, net
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122,878 | 141,383 | 167,400 | |||||||||
Accounts
receivable - unconsolidated affiliates
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42,403 | 15,654 | 11,670 | |||||||||
Inventories
- at lower of cost or market:
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||||||||||||
Tobacco
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1,152,427 | 886,232 | 812,186 | |||||||||
Other
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66,183 | 66,851 | 52,952 | |||||||||
Prepaid
income taxes
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14,062 | 14,238 | 13,514 | |||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
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46,058 | 43,385 | 47,074 | |||||||||
Other
current assets
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72,042 | 80,031 | 75,367 | |||||||||
Total
current assets
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1,798,887 | 1,608,705 | 1,693,076 | |||||||||
Property,
plant and equipment
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||||||||||||
Land
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15,740 | 16,002 | 16,036 | |||||||||
Buildings
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262,468 | 254,846 | 266,350 | |||||||||
Machinery
and equipment
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535,480 | 507,681 | 532,824 | |||||||||
813,688 | 778,529 | 815,210 | ||||||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation
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(486,576 | ) | (462,266 | ) | (485,723 | ) | ||||||
327,112 | 316,263 | 329,487 | ||||||||||
Other
assets
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||||||||||||
Goodwill
and other intangibles
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105,409 | 106,030 | 105,561 | |||||||||
Investments
in unconsolidated affiliates
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95,494 | 112,781 | 106,336 | |||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
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28,627 | 20,393 | 30,073 | |||||||||
Other
noncurrent assets
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101,870 | 91,297 | 106,507 | |||||||||
331,400 | 330,501 | 348,477 | ||||||||||
Total
assets
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$ | 2,457,399 | $ | 2,255,469 | $ | 2,371,040 |
See
accompanying notes.
4
UNIVERSAL
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
(In
thousands of dollars)
June 30,
2010
|
June 30,
2009
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March 31,
2010
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||||||||||
(Unaudited)
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(Unaudited)
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|||||||||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
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||||||||||||
Current
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||||||||||||
Notes
payable and overdrafts
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$ | 298,899 | $ | 171,125 | $ | 177,013 | ||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
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239,451 | 281,336 | 259,576 | |||||||||
Accounts
payable - unconsolidated affiliates
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977 | 100 | 6,464 | |||||||||
Customer
advances and deposits
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144,477 | 57,288 | 107,858 | |||||||||
Accrued
compensation
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17,978 | 20,818 | 30,097 | |||||||||
Income
taxes payable
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13,958 | 8,839 | 18,991 | |||||||||
Current
portion of long-term obligations
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5,000 | 79,500 | 15,000 | |||||||||
Total
current liabilities
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720,740 | 619,006 | 614,999 | |||||||||
Long-term
obligations
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418,547 | 329,596 | 414,764 | |||||||||
Pensions
and other postretirement benefits
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98,686 | 94,219 | 96,888 | |||||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
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65,412 | 81,639 | 69,886 | |||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
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38,627 | 51,226 | 46,128 | |||||||||
Total
liabilities
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1,342,012 | 1,175,686 | 1,242,665 | |||||||||
Shareholders'
equity
|
||||||||||||
Universal
Corporation:
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||||||||||||
Preferred
stock:
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||||||||||||
Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, 500,000 shares
authorized, none issued or outstanding
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— | — | — | |||||||||
Series
B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value, 5,000,000
shares authorized, 219,999 shares issued and outstanding (219,999 at June
30, 2009, and March 31, 2010)
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213,023 | 213,023 | 213,023 | |||||||||
Common
stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 24,155,316 shares
issued and outstanding (24,901,506 at June 30, 2009, and 24,325,228 at
March 31, 2010)
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194,960 | 195,437 | 195,001 | |||||||||
Retained
earnings
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768,772 | 712,684 | 767,213 | |||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
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(66,242 | ) | (45,207 | ) | (52,667 | ) | ||||||
Total
Universal Corporation shareholders' equity
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1,110,513 | 1,075,937 | 1,122,570 | |||||||||
Noncontrolling
interests in subsidiaries
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4,874 | 3,846 | 5,805 | |||||||||
Total
shareholders' equity
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1,115,387 | 1,079,783 | 1,128,375 | |||||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
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$ | 2,457,399 | $ | 2,255,469 | $ | 2,371,040 |
See
accompanying notes.
5
UNIVERSAL
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In
thousands of dollars)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
||||||||
2010
|
2009
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|||||||
(Unaudited)
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||||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
income
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$ | 24,418 | $ | 43,804 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating
activities:
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||||||||
Depreciation
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10,823 | 9,902 | ||||||
Amortization
|
412 | 504 | ||||||
Provisions
for losses on advances and guaranteed loans to suppliers
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2,991 | 583 | ||||||
Foreign
currency remeasurement loss (gain), net
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1,876 | 6,261 | ||||||
Restructuring
costs
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949 | — | ||||||
Other,
net
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(1,023 | ) | 13,825 | |||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities, net
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(303,270 | ) | (126,603 | ) | ||||
Net
cash used by operating activities
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(262,824 | ) | (51,724 | ) | ||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Purchase
of property, plant and equipment
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(13,154 | ) | (11,158 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from sale of property, plant and equipment, and other
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945 | 1,813 | ||||||
Net
cash used by investing activities
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(12,209 | ) | (9,345 | ) | ||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Issuance
(repayment) of short-term debt, net
|
127,985 | (3,124 | ) | |||||
Repayment
of long-term obligations
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(10,000 | ) | — | |||||
Repurchase
of common stock
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(10,933 | ) | (2,981 | ) | ||||
Dividends
paid on convertible perpetual preferred stock
|
(3,712 | ) | (3,712 | ) | ||||
Dividends
paid on common stock
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(11,427 | ) | (11,461 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided (used) by financing activities
|
91,913 | (21,278 | ) | |||||
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash
|
(1,052 | ) | 888 | |||||
Net
decrease in cash and cash equivalents
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(184,172 | ) | (81,459 | ) | ||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
245,953 | 212,626 | ||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$ | 61,781 | $ | 131,167 |
See
accompanying notes.
6
UNIVERSAL
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1. BASIS OF
PRESENTATION
Universal
Corporation, with its subsidiaries (“Universal” or the “Company”), is the
world’s leading 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. 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,
2010.
NOTE
2. ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Recent
Pronouncements Adopted Through June 30, 2010
In June
2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 168, "The FASB Accounting Standards
Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles - a
replacement of FASB Statement No. 162" ("SFAS 168"). This Statement
established the newly-developed FASB Accounting Standards Codification
("Codification") as the single source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP") for all nongovernmental entities. All guidance in
the Codification carries the same level of authority, and all changes or
additions to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles are now issued as
Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU’s”). In addition to the Codification, rules
and interpretive releases of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) under federal securities laws remain sources of authoritative GAAP
for SEC registrants. Universal was required to adopt SFAS 168 effective
September 30, 2009. SFAS 168 did not make any changes to existing
accounting guidance that impacted the Company’s accounting and financial
reporting.
During
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 and through the quarter ended June 30,
2010, Universal adopted the following key accounting
pronouncements:
|
·
|
FASB
Accounting Standards Update 2010-06, "Improving Disclosures about Fair
Value Measurements" ("ASU 2010-06"), which was issued by the FASB in
January 2010 and is effective for interim and annual financial statements
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. ASU 2010-06
expands and clarifies the disclosure requirements related to fair value
measurements. It requires companies to disclose separately the amounts of
significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value
hierarchy and describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition,
information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross
basis is required in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair-value
measurements. ASU 2010-06 also clarifies existing fair value measurement
disclosure guidance related to level of disaggregation, fair value inputs,
and valuation techniques. Universal was required to apply most provisions
of the new guidance effective April 1, 2010, the beginning of the
current fiscal year. The adoption of ASU 2010-06 did not have a
material effect on the Company’s financial
statements.
|
|
·
|
FASB
Staff Position No. 132(R)-1, "Employers' Disclosures about
Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets" ("FSP 132(R)-1"), adopted effective
March 31, 2010. This pronouncement, which is now a part of Topic 715
of the Codification, requires expanded disclosures about plan assets of
defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans. The new
disclosures include information about investment allocation decisions,
categories of plan assets, the inputs and valuation techniques used to
measure the fair value of those assets, and significant concentrations of
credit risk. The disclosures required by FSP 132(R)-1 were included in the
Company’s annual financial statements at March 31, 2010 and did not have a
material effect on those financial
statements.
|
|
·
|
FASB
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 165, "Subsequent
Events" ("SFAS 165"), adopted effective June 30, 2009. SFAS 165,
which is now set forth under Topic 855 of the Codification, establishes
standards for accounting and disclosure for events occurring after the
balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued. It defines
the period after the balance sheet date during which events or
transactions should be evaluated for potential recognition or disclosure,
and it provides guidance on recognition and disclosure of actual
transactions or events occurring after the balance sheet date. The
adoption of SFAS 165 did not have a material effect on the Company’s
financial statements.
|
7
|
·
|
FASB
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, "Noncontrolling
Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB
No. 51" ("SFAS 160"), adopted effective April 1, 2009. SFAS 160,
which is now set forth in Topic 810 of the Codification, requires that
noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries that are included in a company's
consolidated financial statements, previously referred to as "minority
interests," be reported as a component of shareholders' equity in the
balance sheet. It also requires that a company's consolidated net income
and comprehensive income include the amounts attributable to both the
company's interest and the noncontrolling interest in the subsidiary,
identified separately in the financial statements. Finally, the new
guidance requires certain disclosures about noncontrolling interests in
the consolidated financial statements. Adoption of this guidance did not
have a material impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
|
|
·
|
FASB
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141(R), "Business
Combinations" ("SFAS 141(R)"), adopted effective April 1, 2009. SFAS
141(R) requires that companies record assets acquired, liabilities
assumed, and noncontrolling interests in business combinations at fair
value, separately from goodwill, as of the acquisition date. This approach
differs from the cost allocation approach outlined under previous
accounting guidance and can result in recognition of a gain at acquisition
date if the cost to acquire a business is less than the net fair value of
the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interests.
SFAS 141(R), which is now set forth under Topic 805 of the Codification,
also provides new guidance on recording assets and liabilities that arise
from contingencies in a business combination, and it requires that
transaction costs associated with business combinations be charged to
expense instead of being recorded as part of the cost of the acquired
business. Universal will apply the guidance to any future business
combinations.
|
Pronouncements
to be Adopted in Future Periods
In
addition to the above accounting pronouncements adopted through June 30, 2010,
the following pronouncement has been issued and will become effective in fiscal
year 2012:
|
·
|
FASB
Accounting Standards Update 2009-13, "Multiple-Deliverable Revenue
Arrangements" ("ASU 2009-13"), which was issued by the FASB in October
2009. ASU 2009-13 establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining
the selling price of a deliverable in a multiple-deliverable arrangement.
It also requires additional disclosures about the methods and assumptions
used to evaluate multiple-deliverable arrangements and to identify the
significant deliverables within those arrangements. ASU 2009-13 is
effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or
materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15,
2010, which means that Universal will be required to adopt the guidance
effective April 1, 2011, the beginning of its fiscal year 2012. The
Company will be evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2009-13, but
does not currently expect that it will have a material effect on its
financial statements.
|
8
NOTE
3. GUARANTEES AND OTHER CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
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, 2010, the Company’s
total exposure under guarantees issued by its operating subsidiary in Brazil for
banking facilities of farmers in that country was approximately $46 million ($62
million face amount including unpaid accrued interest, less $16 million recorded
for the fair value of the guarantees). About 60% 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, 2010, was the face
amount, $62 million including unpaid accrued interest ($82 million as of June
30, 2009, and $112 million at March 31, 2010). The fair value of the
guarantees was a liability of approximately $16 million at June 30, 2010 ($36
million at June 30, 2009, and $26 million at March 31, 2010). In
addition to these guarantees, the Company has other contingent liabilities
totaling approximately $47 million, primarily related to a bank guarantee that
bonds an appeal of a 2006 fine in the European Union, as discussed
below.
European
Commission Fines and Other Legal Matters
European
Commission Fines in Spain
In
October 2004, the European Commission (the “Commission”) imposed fines on “five
companies active in the raw Spanish tobacco processing market” totaling €20
million for “colluding on the prices paid to, and the quantities bought from,
the tobacco growers in Spain.” Two of the Company’s subsidiaries,
Tabacos Espanoles S.A. (“TAES”), a purchaser and processor of raw tobacco in
Spain, and Deltafina, S.p.A. (“Deltafina”), an Italian subsidiary, were among
the five companies assessed fines. In its decision, the Commission
imposed a fine of €108,000 on TAES and a fine of €11.88 million on
Deltafina. Deltafina did not and does not purchase or process raw
tobacco in the Spanish market, but was and is a significant buyer of tobacco
from some of the Spanish processors. The Company recorded a charge of
about €12 million (approximately $14.9 million at the September 2004 exchange
rate) in the second quarter of fiscal year 2005 to accrue the full amount of the
fines assessed against the Company’s subsidiaries.
In
January 2005, Deltafina filed an appeal in the General Court of the European
Union. Although a hearing on the matter was held in June 2009, the
outcome of the appeal is uncertain. The General Court is scheduled to
issue its decision in September 2010; however, an ultimate resolution to the
matter could take several years. The Company has deposited funds in
an escrow account with the Commission in the amount of the fine in order to stay
execution during the appeal process. This deposit is accounted for as
a non-current asset.
European
Commission Fines in Italy
In 2002,
the Company reported that it was aware that the Commission was investigating
certain aspects of the leaf tobacco markets in Italy. Deltafina buys
and processes tobacco in Italy. The Company reported that it did not
believe that the Commission investigation in Italy would result in penalties
being assessed against it or its subsidiaries that would be material to the
Company’s earnings. The reason the Company held this belief was that
it had received conditional immunity from the Commission because Deltafina had
voluntarily informed the Commission of the activities that were the basis of the
investigation.
On
December 28, 2004, the Company received a preliminary indication that the
Commission intended to revoke Deltafina’s immunity for disclosing in April 2002
that it had applied for immunity. Neither the Commission’s Leniency
Notice of February 19, 2002, nor Deltafina’s letter of provisional immunity,
contains a specific requirement of confidentiality. The potential for
such disclosure was discussed with the Commission in March 2002, and the
Commission never told Deltafina that disclosure would affect Deltafina’s
immunity. On November 15, 2005, the Company received notification
from the Commission that the Commission had imposed fines totaling €30 million
(about $37 million at the June 30, 2010 exchange rate) on Deltafina and the
Company jointly for infringing European Union antitrust law in connection with
the purchase and processing of tobacco in the Italian raw tobacco
market.
9
The
Company does not believe that the decision can be reconciled with the
Commission’s Statement of Objections and the facts. In January 2006,
the Company and Deltafina each filed appeals in the General Court of the
European Union. For strategic reasons related to the defense of the
Deltafina appeal, Universal recently withdrew its appeal. Based on
consultation with outside legal counsel, the Company believes it is probable
that Deltafina will prevail in the appeals process and has not accrued a charge
for the fine. If the Company and Deltafina were ultimately found
liable for the full amount of the fine, then accumulated interest on the fine
would also be due and payable. Accumulated interest totaled approximately €4.7
million (about $5.7 million) at June 30, 2010. Deltafina has provided
a bank guarantee to the Commission in the amount of the fine plus accumulated
interest in order to stay execution during the appeals process.
U.S.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
As a
result of a posting to the Company’s Ethics Complaint hotline alleging improper
activities that involved or related to certain of its tobacco subsidiaries, the
Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors engaged an outside law firm
to conduct an investigation of the alleged activities. That investigation
revealed that there have been payments that may have violated the U.S. Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act. The payments involved approximated $2 million over a
seven-year period. In addition, the investigation revealed activities in foreign
jurisdictions that may have violated the competition laws of such jurisdictions,
but the Company believes those activities did not violate U.S. antitrust laws.
The Company voluntarily reported these activities to the Department of Justice
(“DOJ”) and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in March 2006. On
June 6, 2006, the SEC notified the Company that a formal order of
investigation had been issued.
Since
voluntarily reporting, the Company has cooperated with and assisted the DOJ and
SEC in their investigations, and for the past year the Company has engaged in
settlement discussions with both authorities to resolve the matter. Those
negotiations have resulted in agreements in principle being reached with
representatives of the DOJ and the staff of the SEC. The final resolution of
this matter remains subject to the completion of definitive agreements and the
approval and execution of those agreements by the DOJ and the SEC. In
addition, each settlement is subject to the approval of a federal district court
with jurisdiction over the matter. Based on the agreements in principle that
have been reached to date, the resolution of this matter with the DOJ and the
SEC is expected to include injunctive relief, disgorgement and prejudgment
interest, fines, penalties, and the retention of an independent compliance
monitor. Based in part on the progress of the matter and consultation with
outside counsel, the Company has recorded accruals from time to time since the
matter arose that are adequate to satisfy the estimated financial settlement the
Company expects with the resolution of the matter. The financial
settlement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial
condition or results of operations.
Other Legal
Matters
In
addition to the above-mentioned matters, various subsidiaries of the Company are
involved in other litigation and tax examinations incidental to their 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
4. RESTRUCTURING COSTS
During
the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the Company recorded restructuring costs
totaling approximately $950,000, representing special termination benefits
associated with actions taken to adjust operations and reduce costs in certain
areas of its U.S. operations. Those operations are part of the Company’s North
America reportable segment. The restructuring costs reflected
termination benefits to be paid to management employees who accepted voluntary
early retirement offers. The majority of the termination benefits
will be paid immediately following the employees’ retirement during the quarter
ending September 30, 2010.
10
NOTE
5. EARNINGS PER
SHARE
|
The
following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per
share:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
||||||||
(in thousands, except per share
data)
|
2010
|
2009
|
||||||
Basic Earnings Per Share
|
||||||||
Numerator
for basic earnings per share
|
||||||||
Net
income attributable to Universal Corporation
|
$ | 25,320 | $ | 43,745 | ||||
Less: Dividends
on convertible perpetual preferred stock
|
(3,712 | ) | (3,712 | ) | ||||
Earnings
available to Universal Corporation common shareholders for calculation of
basic earnings per share
|
21,608 | 40,033 | ||||||
Denominator
for basic earnings per share
|
||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
24,213 | 24,985 | ||||||
Basic
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.89 | $ | 1.60 | ||||
Diluted Earnings Per Share
|
||||||||
Numerator
for diluted earnings per share
|
||||||||
Earnings
available to Universal Corporation common shareholders
|
$ | 21,608 | $ | 40,033 | ||||
Add: Dividends
on convertible perpetual preferred stock (if conversion
assumed)
|
3,712 | 3,712 | ||||||
Earnings
available to Universal Corporation common shareholders for calculation of
diluted earnings per share
|
25,320 | 43,745 | ||||||
Denominator
for diluted earnings per share:
|
||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
24,213 | 24,985 | ||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities (if conversion or exercise assumed)
|
||||||||
Convertible
perpetual preferred stock
|
4,742 | 4,728 | ||||||
Employee
share-based awards
|
260 | 131 | ||||||
Denominator
for diluted earnings per share
|
29,215 | 29,844 | ||||||
Diluted
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.87 | $ | 1.47 |
For the
quarters ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, 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 657,401 shares at a
weighted-average exercise price of $52.65 for the quarter ended June 30, 2010,
and 959,439 shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $46.79 for the
quarter ended June 30, 2009.
11
NOTE
6. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Comprehensive
income for each period presented in the consolidated statements of income and
retained earnings was as follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
||||||||
(in thousands of dollars - all amounts net of income taxes)
|
2010
|
2009
|
||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 24,418 | $ | 43,804 | ||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
(11,406 | ) | 8,144 | |||||
Foreign
currency hedge adjustment
|
(2,198 | ) | 11,212 | |||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
10,814 | 63,160 | ||||||
Less: comprehensive
income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries (including
foreign currency translation adjustment)
|
931 | (75 | ) | |||||
Comprehensive
income attributable to Universal Corporation
|
$ | 11,745 | $ | 63,085 |
NOTE
7. INCOME TAXES
The
Company is subject to the tax laws of many jurisdictions. Changes in
tax laws or the interpretation of tax laws can affect the Company's earnings, as
can the resolution of pending and contested tax issues. The
consolidated income tax rate is affected by a number of factors, including the
mix of domestic and foreign earnings and investments, local tax rates of
subsidiaries, repatriation of foreign earnings, and the Company's ability to
utilize foreign tax credits.
The consolidated effective income tax
rate was approximately 33.5% for each of the quarters ended June 30, 2010 and
2009. The rate for both periods was lower than the 35% U.S. federal
statutory rate primarily due to continued earnings of subsidiaries in the
Company’s African region, allowing for recognition of foreign tax
credits.
NOTE
8. DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
Universal
is exposed to various risks in its worldwide operations and uses derivative
financial instruments to manage two specific types of risks – interest rate risk
and foreign currency exchange rate risk. Interest rate risk has been
managed by entering into interest rate swap agreements, and foreign currency
exchange rate risk has been managed by entering into forward foreign currency
exchange contracts. However, the Company’s policy also permits other
instruments. In addition, management works to manage foreign currency
exchange rate risk by minimizing net monetary positions in non-functional
currencies, which may include using local borrowings. The disclosures
below provide additional information about the Company’s hedging strategies, the
derivative instruments used, and the effects of these activities on the
consolidated statements of income and the consolidated balance
sheets. In the consolidated statements of cash flows, the cash flows
associated with all of these activities are reported in net cash provided (used)
by operating activities.
Fair
Value Hedging Strategy for Interest Rate Risk
The
Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage its exposure to
interest rate risk, with a strategy of maintaining a level of floating rate debt
that approximates the interest rate exposure on its committed
inventories. The strategy is implemented by borrowing at floating
interest rates and converting a portion of the Company’s fixed-rate debt to
floating rates. The interest rate swap agreements allow the Company
to receive amounts equal to the fixed interest payments it is obligated to make
on the underlying debt instruments in exchange for making floating-rate interest
payments that adjust semi-annually based on changes in the benchmark interest
rate.
The Company’s interest rate swap
agreements are designated and qualify as hedges of the exposure to changes in
the fair value of the underlying debt instruments created by fluctuations in
prevailing market interest rates. In all cases, the critical terms of
each interest rate swap agreement match the terms of the underlying debt
instrument, and there is no hedge ineffectiveness. The total notional
amount of the Company’s receive-fixed/pay-floating interest rate swaps was $245
million at June 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010, and $170 million at June 30,
2009.
12
Cash
Flow Hedging Strategy for Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Related to
Forecast Purchases of Tobacco and Related Processing Costs
The
majority of the tobacco production in most countries outside the United States
where Universal operates is sold in export markets at prices denominated in U.S.
dollars. However, purchases of tobacco from farmers and most
processing costs (such as labor and energy) in those countries are usually
denominated in the local currency. Changes in exchange rates between
the U.S. dollar and the local currencies where tobacco is grown and processed
affect the ultimate U.S. dollar cost of the processed tobacco and therefore can
adversely impact the gross profit earned on the sale of that
tobacco. Since the Company is able to reasonably forecast the volume,
timing, and local currency cost of its tobacco purchases and processing costs,
it has routinely entered into forward contracts to sell U.S. dollars and buy the
local currency at future dates that coincide with the expected timing of a
portion of those purchases and costs. This strategy contemplates the
Company’s pricing arrangements with key customers and substantially eliminates
the variability of future U.S. dollar cash flows for tobacco purchases and
processing costs for the foreign currency notional amount hedged. The
hedging strategy has been used mainly for tobacco purchases and processing costs
in Brazil, where the large crops, the terms of sale to customers, and the
availability of derivative markets make it particularly desirable to manage the
related foreign exchange rate risk.
For the crops bought, processed, and
sold in fiscal years 2010 and 2011, all contracts related to tobacco purchases
in Brazil were designated and qualify as hedges of the future cash flows
associated with the forecast purchases of tobacco. As a result,
except for insignificant amounts related to any ineffective portion of the
hedging strategy, changes in fair values of the forward contracts have been
recognized in comprehensive income as they occurred, but only recognized in
earnings upon sale of the related tobacco to third-party
customers. Forward contracts related to processing costs have not
been designated as hedges, and gains and losses on those contracts have been
recognized in earnings on a market-to-market basis.
From March through June 2010, the
Company hedged approximately $109 million U.S. dollar notional amount related to
2009-2010 crop tobacco purchases in Brazil. Additional forward
contracts totaling approximately $58 million U.S. dollar notional amount were
entered to mitigate currency exposure on processing costs related to that
crop. Purchases of the 2009-2010 crop were completed in July 2010,
and all forward contracts to hedge those purchases matured and were settled by
that time. For all hedge gains and losses recorded in accumulated
other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2010, the Company expects to complete the
sale of the tobacco and recognize the amounts in cost of goods sold by the end
of fiscal year 2011. At June 30, 2010, all hedged forecast purchases of tobacco
not yet completed remained probable of occurring within the originally
designated time period and, as a result, no hedges have been
discontinued. As noted above, changes in the fair values of forward
contracts related to processing costs are recognized in earnings each quarter on
a mark-to-market basis.
From September 2008 through July 2009,
the Company hedged approximately $241 million U.S. dollar notional amount
related to 2008-2009 crop tobacco purchases in Brazil, primarily related to
customer contractual requirements. Purchases of that crop were
completed in July 2009, and all forward contracts related to the crop matured
and were settled by that time. Sales of the 2008-2009 crop began
during the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 and were completed by the end of
the fiscal year. As that tobacco was sold, all hedge gains and losses
previously recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss were reclassified to
cost of goods sold.
13
Hedging
Strategy for Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Related to Net Local Currency
Monetary Assets and Liabilities of Foreign Subsidiaries
Most of the Company’s foreign
subsidiaries transact the majority of their sales in U.S. dollars and finance
the majority of their operating requirements with U.S. dollar borrowings, and
therefore use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. These
subsidiaries normally have certain monetary assets and liabilities on their
balance sheets that are denominated in the local currency. Those
assets and liabilities can include cash and cash equivalents, accounts
receivable and accounts payable, advances to farmers and suppliers, deferred
income tax assets and liabilities, recoverable value-added taxes, and other
items. Net monetary assets and liabilities denominated in the local
currency are remeasured into U.S. dollars each reporting period, generating
gains and losses that the Company records in earnings as a component of selling,
general and administrative expenses. The level of net monetary assets
or liabilities denominated in the local currency normally fluctuates throughout
the year based on the operating cycle, but it is most common for monetary assets
to exceed monetary liabilities at most times of the year, sometimes by a
significant amount. When this situation exists and the local currency
weakens against the U.S. dollar, remeasurement losses are
generated. Conversely, remeasurement gains are generated on a net
monetary asset position when the local currency strengthens against the U.S.
dollar. Due to the size of its operations and the fact that it
provides significant financing to farmers for crop production, the Company’s
subsidiary in Brazil has significant exposure to currency remeasurement gains
and losses due to fluctuations in exchange rates at certain times of the
year. To manage a portion of its exposure to currency remeasurement
gains and losses in Brazil during fiscal year 2011, the Company entered into
forward contracts to sell the Brazilian currency and buy U.S. dollars at future
dates coinciding with expected changes in the overall net local currency
monetary asset position of the subsidiary. Gains and losses on the
forward contracts were recorded in earnings as a component of selling, general,
and administrative expenses as they occurred, and thus directly offset the
related remeasurement losses or gains for the notional amount hedged in the
consolidated statements of income. Accordingly, the Company did not
designate these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes. The notional amount
of these contracts totaled approximately $60 million in U.S. dollars. All of the
contracts were entered and settled during the quarter ended June 30, 2010. No
contracts were entered for this purpose in fiscal year 2010. To
further mitigate currency remeasurement exposure, some of the Company’s foreign
subsidiaries have obtained short-term local currency financing during certain
periods. This strategy, while not involving the use of derivative
instruments, is intended to minimize the subsidiary’s net monetary position by
financing a portion of the local currency monetary assets with local currency
monetary liabilities and thus hedging a portion of the overall
position.
The Company has several foreign
subsidiaries that transact the majority of their sales and finance the majority
of their operating requirements in their local currency, and therefore use their
respective local currencies as the functional currency for reporting
purposes. From time to time, these subsidiaries sell tobacco to
customers in transactions that are not denominated in the functional
currency. In those situations, the subsidiaries routinely enter into
forward exchange contracts to offset currency risk for the period of time that a
fixed-price order and the related trade account receivable are outstanding with
the customer. The contracts are not designated as hedges for
accounting purposes.
14
Effect
of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Consolidated Statements of
Income
The table
below outlines the effects of the Company’s use of derivative financial
instruments on the consolidated statements of income for the quarters ended June
30, 2010 and 2009.
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
||||||||
(in thousands of dollars)
|
2010
|
2009
|
||||||
Fair
Value Hedges - Interest Rate Swap Agreements
|
||||||||
Derivative
|
||||||||
Gain
(loss) recognized in earnings
|
$ | 3,782 | $ | (2,212 | ) | |||
Location
of gain (loss) recognized in earnings
|
Interest expense
|
|||||||
Hedged
Item
|
||||||||
Description
of hedged item
|
Fixed rate long-term debt
|
|||||||
Gain
(loss) recognized in earnings
|
$ | (3,782 | ) | $ | 2,212 | |||
Location
of gain (loss) recognized in earnings
|
Interest expense
|
|||||||
Cash
Flow Hedges - Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
|
||||||||
Derivative
|
||||||||
Effective
Portion of Hedge
|
||||||||
Gain
(loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
$ | (371 | ) | $ | (6,385 | ) | ||
Loss
reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into
earnings
|
$ | (43 | ) | $ | (9,634 | ) | ||
Location
of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into
earnings
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|||||||
Ineffective
Portion and Early De-designation of Hedges
|
||||||||
Gain
(loss) recognized in earnings
|
$ | 99 | $ | 1,872 | ||||
Location
of gain (loss) recognized in earnings
|
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
|
|||||||
Hedged
Item
|
||||||||
Description
of hedged item
|
Forecast purchases of tobacco in
Brazil
|
|||||||
Derivatives
Not Designated as Hedges -
|
||||||||
Forward
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
|
||||||||
Contracts
related to forecast processing costs and forecast purchases of tobacco,
primarily in Brazil
|
||||||||
Gain
(loss) recognized in earnings
|
$ | 187 | $ | — | ||||
Location
of gain (loss) recognized in earnings
|
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
|
|||||||
Contracts
related to net local currency monetary assets and liabilities of
subsidiary in Brazil
|
||||||||
Gain
(loss) recognized in earnings
|
$ | 661 | $ | — | ||||
Location
of gain (loss) recognized in earnings
|
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
|
|||||||
Contracts
related to fixed-price orders and accounts receivable of non-U.S. dollar
subsidiaries
|
||||||||
Gain
(loss) recognized in earnings
|
$ | (744 | ) | $ | 353 | |||
Location
of gain (loss) recognized in earnings
|
Selling, general and administrative
expenses
|
|||||||
Total
gain (loss) recognized in earnings for forward foreign currency exchange
contracts not designated as hedges
|
$ | 104 | $ | 353 |
15
For the
interest rate swap agreements designated as fair value hedges, since the hedges
have no ineffectiveness, the gain or loss recognized in earnings on the
derivative is offset by a corresponding loss or gain on the underlying hedged
debt.
For the
forward foreign currency exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges of
tobacco purchases in Brazil, a net hedge loss of approximately $0.3 million
remained in accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30,
2010. That balance reflects net losses on open and settled contracts,
less the amount reclassified to earnings related to tobacco sold through June
30, 2010. The balance in accumulated other comprehensive loss will be
recognized in earnings as a component of cost of goods sold during fiscal year
2011 as the remaining 2009-2010 Brazilian crop tobacco is sold to
customers. Based on the hedging strategy, as the loss or gain is
recognized in earnings, it is offset by a change in the expected direct cost for
the tobacco or by a change in sales prices if the strategy has been mandated by
the customer. Generally, margins on the sale of the tobacco will not
be significantly affected.
Effect
of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Consolidated Balance
Sheets
The table below outlines the effects of
the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the consolidated balance
sheets at June 30, 2010 and 2009, and March 31, 2010:
Derivatives
in a Fair Value Asset Position
|
Derivatives
in a Fair Value Liability Position
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
|
Fair
Value as of
|
Balance
|
Fair
Value as of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sheet
|
June
30,
|
June
30,
|
March
31,
|
Sheet
|
June
30,
|
June
30,
|
March
31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
(in
thousands of dollars)
|
Location
|
2010
|
2009
|
2010
|
Location
|
2010
|
2009
|
2010
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Derivatives
Designated as
Hedging Instruments
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest
rate swap
|
Other
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
agreements
|
non-
|
Long-term
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
current
|
obligations
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
assets
|
$ | 13,547 | $ | 9,596 | $ | 10,358 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 593 | |||||||||||||||
Forward
foreign currency
|
Other
|
Accounts
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
exchange
contracts
|
current
|
payable and
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
assets
|
accrued
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
157 | 176 | 84 |
expenses
|
5 | 163 | 73 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 13,704 | $ | 9,772 | $ | 10,442 | $ | 5 | $ | 163 | $ | 666 | |||||||||||||||
Derivatives
Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forward
foreign currency
|
Other
|
Accounts
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
exchange
contracts
|
current
|
payable and
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
assets
|
accrued
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 918 | $ | 820 | $ | 740 |
expenses
|
$ | 443 | $ | — | $ | 512 | |||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 918 | $ | 820 | $ | 740 | $ | 443 | $ | — | $ | 512 |
16
NOTE
9. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Universal measures certain financial and
nonfinancial assets and liabilities at fair value based on applicable accounting
guidance. The financial assets and liabilities
measured at fair value include money market funds, trading securities associated
with deferred compensation
plans, interest rate swap agreements, forward foreign currency exchange
contracts, and guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers. The
application of the fair value guidance to nonfinancial assets and liabilities
primarily includes assessments of goodwill and long-lived assets
for potential impairment.
Under the accounting guidance, fair
value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to
transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at
the measurement date. The framework for measuring fair value under
the guidance is based on a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between
observable inputs (i.e., inputs that are based on market data obtained from
independent sources) and unobservable inputs (i.e., inputs that require the
Company to make its own assumptions about market participant assumptions because
little or no market data exists). There are three levels within the
fair value hierarchy:
Level
|
Description
|
|
1
|
|
quoted prices in active markets
for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to
access as of the reporting date;
|
2
|
|
quoted prices in active markets
for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or
similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs
other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;
and
|
3
|
|
unobservable inputs for the asset
or liability.
|
In measuring the fair value of
liabilities, the Company considers the risk of non-performance in determining
fair value.
At June
30, 2010, the Company had certain financial assets and financial liabilities
that were required to be measured and reported at fair value on a recurring
basis. These assets and liabilities are listed in the table below and
classified based on how their values were determined under the fair value
hierarchy:
June 30, 2010
|
||||||||||||||||
(in thousands of dollars)
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
||||||||||||
Assets:
|
||||||||||||||||
Money
market funds
|
$ | 5,001 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,001 | ||||||||
Trading
securities associated with deferred compensation plans
|
17,975 | — | — | 17,975 | ||||||||||||
Interest
rate swaps
|
— | 13,547 | — | 13,547 | ||||||||||||
Forward
foreign currency exchange contracts
|
— | 1,075 | — | 1,075 | ||||||||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 22,976 | $ | 14,622 | $ | — | $ | 37,598 | ||||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Guarantees
of bank loans to tobacco growers
|
$ | — | $ | — | $ | 15,573 | $ | 15,573 | ||||||||
Forward
foreign currency exchange contracts
|
— | 448 | — | 448 | ||||||||||||
Total
liabilities
|
$ | — | $ | 448 | $ | 15,573 | $ | 16,021 |
17
Money market
funds
The fair
values of money market funds, which are reported in cash and cash equivalents in
the consolidated balance sheets, are based on quoted market prices (Level
1). The fair values of the Company’s money market funds approximate
cost due to the short-term maturities and the high credit quality of the issuers
of the underlying securities.
Trading securities
associated with deferred compensation plans
Trading
securities represent mutual fund investments that are matched to employee
deferred compensation obligations. These investments are bought and
sold as employees defer compensation, receive distributions, or make changes in
the funds underlying their accounts. Quoted market prices (Level 1)
are used to determine the fair values of the mutual funds and their underlying
securities.
Interest rate
swaps
The fair
values of interest rate swap contracts are determined based on dealer quotes
using a discounted cash flow model matched to the contractual terms of each
instrument. Since inputs to the model are observable and significant
judgment is not required in determining the fair values, interest rate swaps are
classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Forward foreign currency
exchange contracts
The fair
values of forward foreign currency exchange contracts are also determined based
on dealer quotes using a discounted cash flow model matched to the contractual
terms of each instrument. Since inputs to the model are observable
and significant judgment is not required in determining the fair values, forward
foreign currency exchange contracts are classified within Level 2 of the fair
value hierarchy.
Guarantees of bank loans to
tobacco growers
The fair
values of the Company’s guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers are
determined by using internally-tracked historical loss data for such loans to
develop an estimate of future losses under the guarantees outstanding at the
measurement date. The present value of the cash flows associated with
those estimated losses is then calculated at a risk-adjusted interest
rate. This approach is sometimes referred to as the “contingent
claims valuation method.” Although historical loss data is an
observable input, significant judgment is required in applying this information
to the portfolio of guaranteed loans outstanding at each measurement date and in
selecting a risk-adjusted interest rate. The guarantees of bank loans
to tobacco growers are therefore classified within Level 3 of the fair value
hierarchy.
A
reconciliation of the change in the balance of the financial liability for
guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers (Level 3) for the three months ended
June 30, 2010, is as follows:
(in thousands of dollars)
|
Three Months
Ended
June 30, 2010
|
|||
Balance
at beginning of year
|
$ | 25,997 | ||
Transfer
to allowance for loss on direct loans to farmers (removal of
prior
|
||||
crop
year loans from portfolio and addition of current crop year
loans)
|
(10,557 | ) | ||
Change
in discount rate and estimated collection period
|
302 | |||
Currency
remeasurement
|
(169 | ) | ||
Balance
at end of period
|
$ | 15,573 |
The
effects of currency remeasurement and the change in discount rate and estimated
collection period are recorded in earnings and reported in selling, general, and
administrative expense.
Universal
has not elected to report at fair value any financial instruments or other items
not otherwise required to be reported at fair value under current accounting
guidance.
18
NOTE
10. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
The
Company has several defined benefit pension plans covering U.S. salaried
employees and certain foreign and other employee groups. These plans
provide retirement benefits based primarily on employee compensation and years
of service. The Company also provides postretirement health and life
insurance benefits for eligible U.S. employees attaining specific age and
service levels.
The
components of the Company’s net periodic benefit cost were as
follows:
Pension Benefits
|
Other Postretirement
Benefits
|
|||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
June 30,
|
June 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
(in thousands of dollars)
|
2010
|
2009
|
2010
|
2009
|
||||||||||||
Service
cost
|
$ | 1,240 | $ | 1,015 | $ | 204 | $ | 163 | ||||||||
Interest
cost
|
3,547 | 3,668 | 624 | 705 | ||||||||||||
Expected
return on plan assets
|
(3,696 | ) | (3,436 | ) | (36 | ) | (38 | ) | ||||||||
Settlement
cost
|
— | 1,250 | — | — | ||||||||||||
Net
amortization and deferral
|
996 | 246 | (78 | ) | (255 | ) | ||||||||||
Net
periodic benefit cost
|
$ | 2,087 | $ | 2,743 | $ | 714 | $ | 575 |
During
the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the Company made contributions of approximately
$2.2 million to its qualified and non-qualified pension
plans. Additional contributions of approximately $4.5 million are
expected during the remaining nine months of fiscal year 2011.
NOTE 11. STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION
Universal’s shareholders have approved Executive Stock Plans
(“Plans”) under which officers, directors, and
employees of the Company may receive grants and awards of common stock,
restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance share awards
(“PSAs”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), incentive stock options, and
non-qualified stock options. The Company’s practice is to award grants of
stock-based compensation to officers on an annual basis at the first regularly
scheduled meeting of the Executive Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) in the fiscal year, which is scheduled
on a day between two and twelve business days following the public release of
the Company’s annual financial results. The Compensation Committee administers
the Company’s Plans consistently following
previously defined guidelines. Awards of restricted stock, RSUs,
PSAs, SARs, and non-qualified stock options are currently outstanding under the
Plans. The non-qualified stock options and SARs have an exercise
price equal to the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on the grant
date. All stock options currently outstanding are fully vested and
exercisable, and they expire ten years after the grant
date. The SARs are settled in shares of common
stock, vest in equal one-third tranches one, two, and three years after the
grant date, and expire ten years after the grant date, except that SARs granted
after fiscal year 2007 expire on the earlier of three years after the grantee’s retirement date or ten years after the
grant date. The RSUs vest five years from the grant date and are then
paid out in shares of common stock. Under the terms of the RSU
awards, grantees receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional RSUs that vest and are paid
out on the same date as the original RSU grant. The PSAs vest three
years from the grant date, are paid out in shares of common stock at the vesting
date, and do not carry rights to dividends or dividend equivalents prior to vesting. Shares
ultimately paid out under PSA grants are dependent on the achievement of
predetermined performance measures established by the Compensation Committee and
can range from zero to 150% of the stated award. The
Company’s outside directors automatically receive restricted stock units or shares of restricted stock following
each annual meeting of shareholders. These shares vest upon the
individual’s retirement from service as a
director.
19
During the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, Universal issued the following
stock-based awards, representing the regular annual grants to officers and
outside directors of the Company:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
||||||||
2010
|
2009
|
|||||||
SARs:
|
||||||||
Number
granted
|
153,600 | 253,800 | ||||||
Exercise
price
|
$ | 39.71 | $ | 35.30 | ||||
Grant
date fair value
|
$ | 8.35 | $ | 7.85 | ||||
RSUs:
|
||||||||
Number
granted
|
38,400 | 63,450 | ||||||
Grant
date fair value
|
$ | 39.71 | $ | 35.30 | ||||
PSAs:
|
||||||||
Number
granted
|
38,400 | 63,450 | ||||||
Grant
date fair value
|
$ | 33.95 | $ | 29.67 |
The grant date fair value of the SARs
was estimated using the Black-Scholes pricing model and the following
assumptions:
2010
|
2009
|
|||||||
Expected
term
|
5.0
years
|
5.0
years
|
||||||
Expected
volatility
|
35.3 | % | 39.0 | % | ||||
Expected
dividend yield
|
4.73 | % | 5.21 | % | ||||
Risk-free
interest rate
|
2.36 | % | 2.51 | % |
Fair
value expense for stock-based compensation is recognized ratably over the period
from grant date to the earlier of: (1) the vesting date of the award,
or (2) the date the grantee is eligible to retire without forfeiting the
award. For employees who are already eligible to retire at the date
an award is granted, the total fair value of all non-forfeitable awards is
recognized as expense at the date of grant. As a result, Universal
typically incurs higher stock compensation expense in the first quarter of each
fiscal year when grants are awarded than in the other three
quarters. For PSAs, the Company generally recognizes fair value
expense ratably over the performance and vesting period based on management’s
judgment of the ultimate award that is likely to be paid out based on the
achievement of the predetermined performance measures. For each of
the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded total
stock-based compensation expense of approximately $2 million. The
Company expects to recognize stock-based compensation expense of approximately
$4 million during the remaining nine months of fiscal year
2011.
20
NOTE 12. OPERATING
SEGMENTS
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 and retained earnings were as
follows:
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
||||||||
(in thousands of dollars)
|
2010
|
2009
|
||||||
SALES
AND OTHER OPERATING REVENUES
|
||||||||
Flue-cured
and burley leaf tobacco operations:
|
||||||||
North
America
|
$ | 63,167 | $ | 36,132 | ||||
Other
regions (1)
|
401,819 | 521,172 | ||||||
Subtotal
|
464,986 | 557,304 | ||||||
Other
tobacco operations (2)
|
73,930 | 58,808 | ||||||
Consolidated
sales and other operating revenues
|
$ | 538,916 | $ | 616,112 | ||||
OPERATING
INCOME
|
||||||||
Flue-cured
and burley leaf tobacco operations:
|
||||||||
North
America
|
$ | 3,692 | $ | 306 | ||||
Other
regions (1)
|
32,327 | 63,909 | ||||||
Subtotal
|
36,019 | 64,215 | ||||||
Other
tobacco operations (2)
|
6,413 | 9,198 | ||||||
Segment
operating income
|
42,432 | 73,413 | ||||||
Less:
Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (3)
|
378 | 3,641 | ||||||
Restructuring
costs (4)
|
949 | — | ||||||
Consolidated
operating income
|
$ | 41,105 | $ | 69,772 |
(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.
|
21
NOTE 13.
|
CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS IN
SUBSIDIARIES
|
A
reconciliation of the changes in Universal Corporation shareholders’ equity and
noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries for the three months ended June 30,
2010 and 2009 is as follows:
Three
Months Ended
June
30, 2010
|
Three
Months Ended
June
30, 2009
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Universal
|
Noncontrolling
|
Universal
|
Noncontrolling
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
(in
thousands of dollars)
|
Corporation
|
Interests
|
Total
|
Corporation
|
Interests
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at beginning of year
|
$ | 1,122,570 | $ | 5,805 | $ | 1,128,375 | $ | 1,029,473 | $ | 3,771 | $ | 1,033,244 | ||||||||||||
Changes
in common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase
of common stock
|
(1,578 | ) | — | (1,578 | ) | (655 | ) | — | (655 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Accrual
of stock-based compensation
|
2,002 | — | 2,002 | 1,980 | — | 1,980 | ||||||||||||||||||
Withholding
of shares for grantee income taxes (RSUs)
|
(562 | ) | — | (562 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Dividend
equivalents on RSUs
|
97 | — | 97 | 75 | — | 75 | ||||||||||||||||||
Changes
in retained earnings
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
25,320 | (902 | ) | 24,418 | 43,745 | 59 | 43,804 | |||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividends declared
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series
B 6.75% convertible perpetual preferred stock
|
(3,712 | ) | — | (3,712 | ) | (3,712 | ) | — | (3,712 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Common
stock
|
(11,347 | ) | — | (11,347 | ) | (11,461 | ) | — | (11,461 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Repurchase
of common stock
|
(8,605 | ) | — | (8,605 | ) | (2,773 | ) | — | (2,773 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Dividend
equivalents on RSUs
|
(97 | ) | — | (97 | ) | (75 | ) | — | (75 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Translation
adjustments, net of income taxes
|
(11,377 | ) | (29 | ) | (11,406 | ) | 8,128 | 16 | 8,144 | |||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency hedge adjustment, net of income taxes
|
(2,198 | ) | — | (2,198 | ) | 11,212 | — | 11,212 | ||||||||||||||||
Balance
at end of period
|
$ | 1,110,513 | $ | 4,874 | $ | 1,115,387 | $ | 1,075,937 | $ | 3,846 | $ | 1,079,783 |
22
ITEM 2.
|
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
|
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and
the following “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Among other things, these statements relate to the
Company’s financial condition, results of operation, and future business plans,
operations, opportunities, and prospects. In addition, the Company and its
representatives may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking
statements, including statements contained in other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and in reports to shareholders. These forward-looking
statements are generally identified by the use of words such as we “expect,”
“believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “predict,”
“estimate,” and similar expressions or words of similar import. These
forward-looking statements are 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: 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; changes in exchange rates;
and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions. For
a further description of factors that may cause actual results to differ
materially from such forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2010. We caution investors not to
place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements as these statements speak
only as of the date when made, and we undertake no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements made in this report. This Form 10-Q should
be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2010.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Overview
The first
fiscal quarter is generally a period of significant working capital investment
in both Brazil and Africa as crops are delivered by farmers. In
fiscal year 2011, we funded those requirements using cash on hand, short-term
borrowings, customer advances, and operating cash flows. In addition, we
continued our share repurchase program, which is based on free cash flow
generated in prior years and an assessment of our future capital
needs.
Our
liquidity and capital resource requirements are predominantly short term in
nature and relate to working capital for tobacco crop
purchases. Working capital needs are seasonal within each geographic
region. The geographic dispersion and the timing of working capital
needs permit us to predict our general level of cash requirements, although crop
size, prices paid to farmers, shipment and delivery timing, and currency
fluctuations affect requirements each year. Peak working capital requirements
are generally reached during the first and second fiscal
quarters. Each geographic area follows a cycle of buying, processing,
and shipping, although in many regions, we also provide agricultural materials
to farmers during the growing season. The timing of the elements of
each cycle is influenced by such things as local weather conditions and
individual customer shipping requirements, which may change the level or the
duration of crop financing. Despite a predominance of short-term
needs, we maintain a relatively large portion of our total debt as long-term to
reduce liquidity risk.
Operating
Activities
We
used $263 million in net cash flow to fund operating activities during the
quarter ended June 30, 2010. Tobacco inventory, at nearly $1.2
billion, was up $340 million during the quarter on seasonal tobacco crop
purchases and later shipment of customer orders in several areas, including
Africa, South America, and Asia. Those purchases reflected higher
leaf costs and earlier deliveries by farmers in some countries. Tobacco
inventory levels were $266 million higher than June 30, 2009, levels, which were
lower than normal due to accelerated shipments from Brazil and Europe last year.
Earlier crop purchases in Africa this year also increased the comparison year
over year. Inventory is usually financed with a mix of cash, notes
payable, and customer deposits, depending on our borrowing capabilities,
interest rates, and exchange rates, as well as those of our
customers.
Advances
to suppliers were $123 million at June 30, 2010, a reduction of $45 million from
March 31, 2010, as crops were delivered in payment of those balances primarily
in Asia and Africa. Compared to the same time last year, advances to
suppliers were $19 million lower, reflecting lower advances to Brazilian
farmers. Accounts receivable decreased by $46 million compared to
March 31, 2010, reflecting seasonal decreases.
We
generally do not purchase material quantities of tobacco on a speculative
basis. At June 30, 2010, our uncommitted inventories were $117
million, or about 10%, of total tobacco inventory, compared to $161 million, or
about 20%, of our March 31, 2010, inventory, and $90 million, or about 10%, of
our June 30, 2009 inventory. These percentages are within normal
ranges for our business within their respective times of year.
23
Customer
deposits were up $37 million in the quarter, reflecting a seasonal increase
related to purchases in South America and Africa, and up $87 million over the
same quarter last year due to accelerated shipments in that period.
Investing Activities
During
the quarter ended June 30, 2010, we invested about $13 million in our fixed
assets compared to $11 million in last year’s first fiscal
quarter. Depreciation expense was approximately $11 million and $10
million in the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009,
respectively. Our intent is to limit maintenance capital spending to
a level below depreciation expense in order to maintain strong cash
flow. However, from time to time larger projects may be
undertaken. Our capital expenditures in fiscal year 2010 included
investments to expand and upgrade our processing facility in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, to accommodate the consolidation of our U.S. dark tobacco
processing operations. We have several other projects that will
require about $20 million of capital investment in aggregate. We
spent approximately $9 million on these projects in fiscal year 2010, $7 million
in the quarter ended June 30, 2010, and we expect to spend the remaining $4
million later in the current fiscal year.
Financing Activities
We
consider the sum of notes payable and overdrafts, long-term debt (including
current portion), and customer advances and deposits, less cash, cash
equivalents, and short-term investments on our balance sheet to be our net
debt. We also consider our net debt plus shareholders’ equity to be
our net capitalization. Net debt increased by about $336 million to
$805 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2010, primarily due to seasonal
working capital requirements. Net debt as a percentage of total
capitalization was approximately 42% at June 30, 2010, and reflected normal
seasonal expansion and remained within our target range. It is
up from about 29% at March 31, 2010, and up from approximately 32% at June 30,
2009. Net debt was about $299 million higher than June 30, 2009
levels, reflecting earlier customer payments on accelerated shipments in the
prior year.
As of
June 30, 2010, we were in compliance with the covenants of our debt
agreements. We had $300 million available under a committed revolving
credit facility that will expire on August 31, 2012, and $62 million in cash and
cash equivalents. Our short-term debt totaled $299 million, and we
had $5 million of current maturities of long-term debt. In addition,
we had about $553 million in unused, uncommitted credit lines. Our
seasonal working capital requirements typically increase significantly between
March and September and decline after mid-year. We plan to spend
approximately $4 million to complete new investments requested by our
customers. Available capital resources from our cash balances,
committed credit facility, and uncommitted credit lines exceed these anticipated
needs.
In
November 2009, our Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program,
which superseded an expiring program. The new program expires
November 5, 2012 and authorizes purchases of up to $150 million of our common
stock Under the authorization, we will purchase shares from time to
time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at prices not
exceeding prevailing market rates. In determining our level of common
share repurchase activity, our intent is to use only cash available after
meeting our capital investment, dividend, and working capital
requirements. As a result, our execution of the repurchase program
may vary as we realize changes in cash flow generation and
availability. During the three months ended June 30, 2010, we
purchased 198,223 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $10.2 million
(average price per share of $51.37), based on trading dates, which brought our
total purchases under the program to 594,608 shares at an aggregate cost of
$30.0 million (average price per share of $50.42). As of June
30, 2010, we had approximately 24.2 million common shares
outstanding.
Derivatives
From time
to time, we use interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to changes
in interest rates. These agreements typically adjust interest rates
on designated long-term obligations from fixed to variable. The swaps
are accounted for as fair value hedges. At June 30, 2010, the fair
value of our outstanding interest rate swap agreements was $13.5 million, and
the notional amount swapped was $245 million.
We also
enter forward contracts from time to time to hedge certain foreign currency
exposures, primarily related to forecast purchases of tobacco and related
processing costs in Brazil, as well as our net monetary asset exposure in local
currency there. We generally account for our hedges of forecast
tobacco purchases as cash flow hedges. At June 30, 2010, the fair
value of our open contracts was not material. We also had other
forward contracts outstanding that were not designated as hedges, and the fair
value of those contracts was also not material at June 30,
2010.
24
Recent
Announcement
In June,
we announced an agreement to assign farmer contracts for the production of
tobacco representing approximately 20% of our current annual volume in Brazil to
a subsidiary of Philip Morris International (“PMI”). As part of the
transaction, the PMI subsidiary will acquire related assets and also offer
employment to certain employees of our subsidiary in Brazil who work in agronomy
and leaf procurement functions. The transaction is subject to various
closing conditions and government approvals and is expected to close in
October. The total consideration we receive in the transaction will depend
on the number and characteristics of the actual farmer contracts assigned, but
is expected to exceed the book value of the assets conveyed. We expect to
continue to supply processed leaf and provide processing services in Brazil to
PMI and its subsidiaries.
Results of
Operations
Amounts
included in the following discussion are attributable to Universal Corporation
and exclude earnings related to non-controlling interests in
subsidiaries.
Net
income for the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, which ended on June 30, 2010,
was $25.3 million, or $0.87 per diluted share. Those results reflected a 42%
decline compared to the same period last year, when income was $43.7 million, or
$1.47 per diluted share. Last year’s first quarter results were exceptionally
strong, primarily due to the effect of earlier shipments of Brazilian and
European tobacco in that quarter. Revenues for the first quarter of fiscal year
2011 of about $539 million were lower by about 13%.
Flue-cured and Burley
Operations
Operating
income for our flue-cured and burley tobacco operations decreased by 44% to $36
million. Similarly, revenues for those operations declined by 17% to $465
million. That performance includes results from our North America and Other
Regions segments. Comparisons for the Other Regions segment results were
significantly impacted by early shipments in the first quarter last year in
South America and Europe. South America volumes this year were also reduced
somewhat by the smaller Brazilian crop caused by excess rain. The
effect of these changes in South America was mitigated by lower selling,
general, and administrative costs in the region on currency benefits and an
accrual in the prior year related to our Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”)
matter. Results for Europe were also reduced on lower margins this year coupled
with the translation effect of the weaker euro. Revenues for the
Other Regions segment fell by 23%, primarily reflecting the shipment timing
factors. Compared to last year’s first quarter, both revenues and
operating income for the North America segment improved in its seasonally low
period, driven by increased sales of carryover stocks.
Other
Tobacco Operations
The Other
Tobacco Operations segment operating income declined by about $3 million due
primarily to lower results from the oriental tobacco joint venture. Reduced
volumes and lower margins combined with lower currency gains this year depressed
results for this business. Dark tobacco results improved slightly as overhead
cost savings offset reduced margins and lower volumes in some
areas. Revenues for this segment increased by 26% to $74 million
primarily related to the timing of customer deliveries by our just-in-time
services group and the timing of oriental tobacco shipments into the United
States, neither of which had a commensurate effect on segment operating
income.
Other
Information
Cost of
sales decreased by 8% to $437 million in the quarter on lower volumes shipped,
partly offset by higher overall leaf purchasing costs. Selling, general, and
administrative costs decreased by 14% due to lower currency remeasurement and
exchange losses in the current year, and prior year accruals for costs
associated with the FCPA matter. Interest expense was down in part because of
interest costs accrued in last year’s quarter related to the FCPA
matter. In addition, we benefited from additional fixed to floating
rate interest rate swaps entered after last year’s first quarter. The effective
income tax rate for the quarter of approximately 34% was comparable to the
effective rate for the same quarter last year and lower than the 35% U.S.
federal statutory rate.
25
General
Overview
Our
fiscal year 2011 first quarter results faced difficult comparisons to last
year’s very strong initial quarter, but were in line with historical trends for
the first quarter. Although we expect shipment timing differences to correct
during the remainder of the fiscal year, we face some challenges due to a
smaller Brazilian crop, margin pressures in some areas as the cost of leaf
increases, decreased customer demand due to softer cigarette sales, and changes
in manufacturer sourcing methods.
In June,
Philip Morris International announced that, with the help of its two largest
leaf suppliers, it will source a portion of its leaf requirements directly from
farmers in Brazil, beginning with the crop that will be marketed in our fiscal
year 2012. We have not yet completed the transaction with them but expect it to
be finalized in the fall. Last year, Japan Tobacco Inc. announced its intention
to source a portion of its leaf directly in the United States, Brazil, and
Malawi, and we expect to see some volume reductions this year related to this
initiative. However, we are aggressively working to replace those volumes and
have had some success in Brazil and Africa. We have effectively
managed change in our business in the past and believe that we are well
positioned to respond to it now. We support all of our customers in their
strategic endeavors, and we continue to believe that the dealer industry
performs a critical function and brings value to the manufacturers. We expect
fiscal year 2011 to be challenging, and at this time we remain cautiously
optimistic that we will achieve our objectives in reducing costs, replacing
volumes, and remaining competitive as we meet the changing needs of our
customers. We have made a first step in cost reduction this quarter
with a restructuring charge related to a personnel reduction in our U.S.
operations. We will continue a strong focus on operating improvements and cost
reductions as the year progresses.
We
estimate that worldwide dealer inventories of flue-cured and burley leaf are
about 105 million kilos, compared to 70 million last year. Levels remain well
below the long-term average, but we believe there is potential for oversupply in
flue-cured tobacco. For this season, lower flue-cured crops in Brazil
and the United States are being offset by projected increases in Tanzania and
Zimbabwe. The level of manufacturers’ inventory durations and future supply
forecasts also affect market balance.
26
ITEM
3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
Interest
Rates
After
inventory is purchased, interest rate risk is limited in the tobacco business
because major customers usually pre-finance purchases or pay market rates of
interest for inventory purchased for their accounts. Our customers
pay interest on tobacco purchased for their order. That interest is
paid at rates based on current markets for variable-rate debt. When
we fund our committed tobacco inventory with fixed-rate debt, we may not be able
to recover interest at that fixed rate if current market interest rates were to
fall. As of June 30, 2010, tobacco inventory of almost $1.2 billion
included about $1.0 billion in inventory that was committed for sale to
customers and about $117 million that was not committed. Committed
inventory, after deducting $144 million in customer deposits, represents our net
exposure of $891 million. We normally maintain a substantial portion
of our debt at variable interest rates either directly or through interest rate
exchange agreements in order to mitigate interest rate risk related to carrying
fixed-rate debt. We also periodically have large cash balances that
we use to fund seasonal tobacco purchases. These cash balances reduce
our financing needs. Debt carried at variable interest rates was
about $544 million at June 30, 2010. Although a hypothetical 1%
change in short-term interest rates would result in a change in annual interest
expense of approximately $5 million, that amount would be mitigated by changes
in charges to customers. Our policy is to work toward a level of
floating rate liabilities, including customer deposits, that reflects a
substantial portion of our average committed inventory levels over
time. In addition to the $544 million of debt with variable interest
rates, about $179 million of long-term debt has an effective average fixed rate
of 5.44%.
Currency
The
international tobacco trade generally is conducted in U.S. dollars, thereby
limiting foreign exchange risk to that which is related to production costs,
overhead, and income taxes in the source country. We also provide
farmer advances that are directly related to leaf purchases and are denominated
in the local currency. Any currency gains or losses on those advances
are usually offset by decreases or increases in the cost of tobacco, which is
priced in the local currency. However, the effect of the offset may
not occur until a subsequent quarter or fiscal year. Most of our
operations are accounted for using the U.S. dollar as the functional
currency. Because there are no forward foreign exchange markets in
many of our major countries of tobacco origin, we generally manage our foreign
exchange risk by matching funding for inventory purchases with the currency of
sale, which is usually the U.S. dollar, and by minimizing our net local currency
monetary position in individual countries. We are vulnerable to
currency gains and losses to the extent that monetary assets and liabilities
denominated in local currency do not offset each other. In addition
to foreign exchange gains and losses, we are exposed to changes in the cost of
tobacco due to changes in the value of the local currency in relation to the
U.S. dollar. For example, when we purchased the Brazilian crop in the
beginning of fiscal year 2009, the local currency had appreciated significantly
against the U.S. dollar, increasing the cost of the crop over the prior year, in
U.S. dollar terms. To reduce the volatility of costs, we enter into
forward currency exchange contracts to hedge some of the effects of currency
movements on purchases of tobacco and some processing costs, primarily related
to the requirements of customer contracts. In addition, we enter some
forward contracts to hedge balance sheet exposures.
In
certain tobacco markets that are primarily domestic, we use the local currency
as the functional currency. Examples of these domestic markets are
Hungary, Poland, and the Philippines. In other markets, such as
Western Europe, where export sales have been primarily in local currencies, we
also use the local currency as the functional currency. In each case,
reported earnings are affected by the translation of the local currency into the
U.S. dollar.
Derivatives
Policies
Hedging
interest rate exposure using swaps and hedging foreign exchange exposure using
forward contracts are specifically contemplated to manage risk in keeping with
management's policies. We may use derivative instruments, such as
swaps, forwards, or futures, which are based directly or indirectly upon
interest rates and currencies to manage and reduce the risks inherent in
interest rate and currency fluctuations. When we use foreign currency
derivatives to mitigate our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, we may
choose not to designate them as hedges for accounting purposes, which may result
in the effects of fair value changes for the derivatives being recognized in our
earnings in periods different from the items that created the
exposure.
We do not
utilize derivatives for speculative purposes, and we do not enter into market
risk-sensitive instruments for trading purposes. Derivatives are
transaction-specific so that a specific debt instrument, forecast purchase,
contract, or invoice determines the amount, maturity, and other specifics of the
hedge.
27
ITEM
4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in reports we file under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and
communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding
required disclosure. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer evaluated, with the participation of other members of management, the
effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange
Act Rule 13a-15(e)), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our
disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were no
changes in our internal controls over financial reporting identified in
connection with this evaluation that occurred during our last fiscal quarter
that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect,
our internal controls over financial reporting.
28
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
European
Commission Fines in Spain
In
October 2004, the European Commission (the “Commission”) imposed fines on “five
companies active in the raw Spanish tobacco processing market” totaling €20
million for “colluding on the prices paid to, and the quantities bought from,
the tobacco growers in Spain.” Two of our subsidiaries, Tabacos
Espanoles S.A. (“TAES”), a purchaser and processor of raw tobacco in Spain, and
Deltafina, S.p.A. (“Deltafina”), an Italian subsidiary, were among the five
companies assessed fines. In its decision, the Commission imposed a
fine of €108,000 on TAES and a fine of €11.88 million on
Deltafina. Deltafina did not and does not purchase or process raw
tobacco in the Spanish market, but was and is a significant buyer of tobacco
from some of the Spanish processors. We recorded a charge of about
€12 million (approximately $14.9 million at the September 2004 exchange rate) in
the second quarter of fiscal year 2005 to accrue the full amount of the fines
assessed against our subsidiaries.
In
January 2005, Deltafina filed an appeal in the General Court of the European
Union. Although a hearing of the matter was held in June 2009, the
outcome of the appeal is uncertain. The General Court is scheduled to
issue its decision in September 2010; however, an ultimate resolution to the
matter could take several years. Deltafina has deposited funds in an
escrow account with the Commission in the amount of the fine in order to stay
execution during the appeal process. This deposit is accounted for as
a non-current asset.
European
Commission Fines in Italy
In 2002,
we reported that we were aware that the Commission was investigating certain
aspects of the leaf tobacco markets in Italy. Deltafina buys and
processes tobacco in Italy. We reported that we did not believe that
the Commission investigation in Italy would result in penalties being assessed
against us or our subsidiaries that would be material to our
earnings. The reason we held this belief was that we had received
conditional immunity from the Commission because Deltafina had voluntarily
informed the Commission of the activities that were the basis of the
investigation.
On
December 28, 2004, we received a preliminary indication that the Commission
intended to revoke Deltafina’s immunity for disclosing in April 2002 that it had
applied for immunity. Neither the Commission’s Leniency Notice of
February 19, 2002, nor Deltafina’s letter of provisional immunity, contains a
specific requirement of confidentiality. The potential for such
disclosure was discussed with the Commission in March 2002, and the Commission
never told Deltafina that disclosure would affect Deltafina’s
immunity. On November 15, 2005, we received notification that the
Commission had imposed fines totaling €30 million (about $37 million at the June
30, 2010 exchange rate) on Deltafina and Universal Corporation jointly for
infringing European Union antitrust law in connection with the purchase and
processing of tobacco in the Italian raw tobacco market.
We do not
believe that the decision can be reconciled with the Commission’s Statement
of Objections and the facts. In January 2006, both Deltafina and
Universal Corporation filed appeals in the General Court of the European
Union. For strategic reasons related to the defense of the Deltafina
appeal, we recently withdrew our appeal. Based on consultation with
outside legal counsel, we believe it is probable that we will prevail in the
appeals process, and we have not accrued a charge for the fine. If
both Deltafina and Universal Corporation were ultimately found liable for the
full amount of the fine, then accumulated interest on the fine would also be due
and payable. Accumulated interest totaled approximately €4.7 million (about $5.7
million) at June 30, 2010. Deltafina has provided a bank guarantee to
the Commission in the amount of the fine plus accumulated interest in order to
stay execution during the appeals process.
29
U.S.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
As a
result of a posting to our Ethics Complaint hotline alleging improper activities
that involved or related to certain of our tobacco subsidiaries, the Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors engaged an outside law firm to conduct an
investigation of the alleged activities. That investigation revealed that there
have been payments that may have violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act. The payments involved approximated $2 million over a seven-year period. In
addition, the investigation revealed activities in foreign jurisdictions that
may have violated the competition laws of such jurisdictions, but we believe
those activities did not violate U.S. antitrust laws. We voluntarily reported
these activities to the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in March 2006. On June 6, 2006, the SEC
notified us that a formal order of investigation had been issued.
Since
voluntarily reporting, we have cooperated with and assisted the DOJ and SEC in
their investigations, and for the past year we have engaged in settlement
discussions with both authorities to resolve the matter. Those negotiations have
resulted in agreements in principle being reached with representatives of the
DOJ and the staff of the SEC. The final resolution of this matter remains
subject to the completion of definitive agreements and the approval and
execution of those agreements by the DOJ and the SEC. In addition,
each settlement is subject to the approval of a federal district court with
jurisdiction over the matter. Based on the agreements in principle
that have been reached to date, the resolution of this matter with the DOJ and
the SEC is expected to include injunctive relief, disgorgement and prejudgment
interest, fines, penalties, and the retention of an independent compliance
monitor. Based in part on the progress of the matter and consultation with
outside counsel, we have recorded accruals from time to time since the matter
arose that are adequate to satisfy the estimated financial settlement we expect
with the resolution of the matter. The financial settlement is not
expected to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of
operations.
Other
Legal Matters
In
addition to the above-mentioned matters, some of our subsidiaries are involved
in other litigation or legal and tax matters incidental to their 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 our
financial position. However, should one or more of these matters be
resolved in a manner adverse to our current expectation, the effect on our
results of operations for a particular fiscal reporting period could be
material.
30
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
As of the
date of this report, there are no material changes to the risk factors
previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March
31, 2010. In evaluating our risks, readers should carefully consider
the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which could
materially affect our business, financial condition or operating results, in
addition to the other information set forth in this report and in our other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ITEM
2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
The
following table summarizes our repurchases of equity securities for the
three-month period ended June 30, 2010:
Period (1)
|
Total Number of
Shares
Repurchased
|
Average Price Paid
Per Share(2)
|
Total Number of
Shares
Repurchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plan or
Program(3)
|
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs(3)
|
||||||||||||
April
1, 2010 to April 30, 2010
|
84,052 | $ | 54.45 | 84,052 | $ | 125,629,957 | ||||||||||
May
1, 2010 to May 31, 2010
|
114,171 | 49.11 | 114,171 | 120,022,568 | ||||||||||||
June
1, 2010 to June 30, 2010
|
— | — | — | 120,022,568 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
198,223 | $ | 51.37 | 198,223 | $ | 120,022,568 |
(1)
|
Repurchases
are based on the date the shares were traded. This presentation
differs from the consolidated statement of cash flows, where the cost of
share repurchases is based on the date the transactions were
settled.
|
(2)
|
Amounts
listed for average price paid per share includes broker commissions paid
in the transactions.
|
(3)
|
A
stock repurchase plan, which was authorized by our Board of Directors,
became effective and was publicly announced on November 5,
2009. This stock repurchase plan authorizes the purchase
of up to $150 million in common stock in open market or privately
negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and other
factors. This stock repurchase program will expire on the
earlier of November 5, 2012, or when we have exhausted the funds
authorized for the program.
|
ITEM
4. (Removed and Reserved)
31
ITEM
6. EXHIBITS
10.1
|
Revised
Form of Universal Corporation Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Units
Award Agreement (incorporated by reference herein to the Registrant’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 9, 2010, File No.
001-00652)
|
12
|
Ratio
of Earnings to Fixed Charges, and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed
Charges and Preference Dividends.*
|
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.*
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.*
|
32.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350.*
|
32.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350.*
|
101.0
|
Interactive
Data File (Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2010, furnished in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting
Language)).
|
Attached
as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in
XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings for
the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, (ii) the Consolidated
Balance Sheets at June 30, 2010, June 30, 2009 and March 31, 2010, and
(iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended
June 30, 2010 and 2009 and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements, tagged as blocks of text. Users of this data are advised
pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is
deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for
purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not
filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these
sections.
|
|
* Filed
herewith
|
32
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized.
Date:
August 4, 2010
|
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
|
|
(Registrant)
|
||
/s/ David C.
Moore
|
||
David
C. Moore, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
|
||
(Principal
Financial Officer)
|
||
/s/ Robert M.
Peebles
|
||
Robert
M. Peebles, Controller
|
||
(Principal
Accounting Officer)
|
33