UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/
8-K, 1996-02-20
FARM PRODUCT RAW MATERIALS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                February 20, 1996
                                (Date of Report)


                                February 14, 1996
                        (Date of Earliest Event Reported)



                              UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>                                            <C>                                 <C>       
              Virginia                                 1-652                               54-0414210
   (State or other jurisdiction of            (Commission File Number)                  (I.R.S. Employer
           incorporation)                                                              Identification No.)



     1501 North Hamilton Street                                                           (804) 359-9311
       Richmond, Virginia 23230                                                   (Registrant's telephone number,
(Address of principal executive offices)                                                including area code)


</TABLE>



<PAGE>





Item 5.      Other Events

      On February 14, 1996,  Universal  Corporation entered into an Underwriting
Agreement and a Terms  Agreement with Dillon,  Read & Co. Inc. and Wheat,  First
Securities,  Inc. for the public  offering of $100,000,000  aggregate  principal
amount of its 6 1/2%  Notes Due  February  15,  2006  (the "6 1/2%  Notes").  On
February 20, 1996, the 6 1/2% Notes were issued  pursuant to an Indenture  dated
as of February 1, 1991  between  Universal  Corporation  and Chemical  Bank,  as
Trustee, and an Officers' Certificate dated as of February 20, 1996.


Item 7.      Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (c)    Exhibits filed pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K:

             (1)(a)        Underwriting  Agreement  dated  February 14,
                           1996 among Universal Corporation, Dillon, Read & Co.
                           Inc. and Wheat, First Securities, Inc.

             (1)(b)        Terms Agreement dated February 14, 1996 among
                           Universal Corporation, Dillon, Read & Co. Inc. and 
                           Wheat, First Securities, Inc.

             (4)(a)        Form of 6 1/2% Note Due February 15, 2006.

             (4)(b)        Officers' Certificate dated February 20, 1996 related
                           to the Company's 6 1/2% Notes Due February 15, 2006.



                                        2

<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE

      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.


                                             UNIVERSAL CORPORATION



Date:  February 20, 1996                     By: /s/ William J. Coronado
                                               -------------------------
                                                  William J. Coronado
                                                  Controller




                                        3







                                                                EXHIBIT 1(a)

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                              February 14, 1996


Dillon, Read & Co. Inc.
Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
  as Representatives of the
         several Underwriters

Dear Sirs:

                  Universal  Corporation  (the "Company")  proposes to issue and
sell  from  time to time  certain  of its  debt  securities  (the  "Securities")
registered  under the registration  statement  referred to below. The Securities
will be issued under an  Indenture  (the  "Indenture"),  dated as of February 1,
1991,  between the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee,  and will have varying
designations,  interest rates and times of payment of any interest,  maturities,
redemption  provisions  and other terms,  with all such terms for any particular
series of the Securities  being  determined at the time of the sale.  Particular
series of the  Securities may be sold to you, and to other firms on whose behalf
you may act, for resale in accordance  with the terms of offering  determined at
the time of sale.  The firm or firms which agree to purchase the  Securities are
hereinafter referred to as the "Underwriters" of such Securities.

                  This  Agreement  shall apply only to  Securities in respect of
which a Terms Agreement shall have been executed as referred to herein.

                  The Company and the Underwriters agree as follows:

                  1.       Purchase and Offering.

                  (a)  The  obligations  of the  Underwriters  to  purchase  the
Securities  will be evidenced  by an exchange of  telegraphic  or other  written
communications (a "Terms Agreement") at each time the Company determines to sell
the  Securities.  Each Terms  Agreement  shall  specify  the firms which will be
Underwriters  (who  shall  become  bound by the  terms  hereof  when  the  Terms
Agreement has been entered into),  the principal  amount to be purchased by each
Underwriter,  the purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters and the terms of
the  Securities  not already  specified  in the  Indenture,  including,  but not
limited to, interest rates,  maturities,  redemption provisions and sinking fund
requirements. Each Terms Agreement shall also


<PAGE>



specify the date of delivery and payment for the  Securities  and any details of
the terms of offering  which should be reflected  in the  Prospectus  Supplement
relating to the offering of the Securities. Such Prospectus Supplement shall set
forth the terms contained in the Terms Agreement and such other information that
you and the Company agree at the time the Terms Agreement is entered into should
be included  in the  Prospectus  Supplement.  Insofar as any  provision  of this
Agreement is inconsistent with any Terms Agreement, the Terms Agreement shall be
deemed  to  control.  The  obligations  of  the  Underwriters  to  purchase  the
Securities   shall  be  several  and  not  joint.  It  is  understood  that  the
Underwriters  propose  to offer  the  Securities  for sale as set  forth in such
Prospectus Supplement.

                  (b) Payment of the purchase price for the Securities  shall be
made to the Company or its order by wire transfer of immediately available funds
or in any other  manner  satisfactory  to the  Company  against  delivery of the
Securities to you for the respective accounts of the Underwriters.  Such payment
and delivery  shall be made at 10:00 A.M.1 on the date of delivery  specified in
the Terms Agreement  (unless another time not later than 10:00 A.M. on the third
business  day2  thereafter  shall be agreed to by you and the  Company or unless
postponed in accordance  with the provisions of Section 8 hereof).  The time and
date that such  payment  and  delivery  are  actually  made is herein  sometimes
referred to as the "Closing  Date." The Securities  shall be delivered to you in
definitive  form,  in  temporary  or  final  form,  and in such  names  and such
principal  amounts as, not later than 10:00 A.M. on the business day immediately
preceding the time of purchase, you shall specify. For the purpose of expediting
the checking and packaging of the  Securities by you, the Company agrees to make
them  available  to you for such  purpose  prior to the close of business on the
business day immediately preceding the time of purchase.

                  2.       Representations  and Warranties of the Company.  The 
Company  represents and warrants to each of the  Underwriters  as of the date 
of execution of the Terms Agreement and as of the Closing Date that:

- --------
1        Times mentioned herein are New York City times.
2        As used herein, "business day" shall mean a day on
         which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                  (a) the  Company  is  permitted  to use  Form  S-3  under  the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),  and has filed with the
         Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission") a registration
         statement  on  such  Form,   which  has  become   effective,   for  the
         registration  under  the  Act  of  the  Securities.  Such  registration
         statement,  as  amended  at the  date  of  this  Agreement,  meets  the
         requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x)  under the Act and complies
         in all other  material  respects  with  said  Rule.  Such  registration
         statement,  including the exhibits  thereto,  as amended at the date of
         any  Pricing   Agreement,   is  hereinafter  called  the  "Registration
         Statement" and the prospectus  included in the Registration  Statement,
         as  supplemented  to reflect the terms of any series of the  Securities
         and the plan of distribution  thereof, in the form in which it shall be
         filed with the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule  424(b),  is  hereinafter
         called  the  "Prospectus."  Any  reference  herein to the  Registration
         Statement or the  Prospectus  shall be deemed to include the  documents
         incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which
         were filed under the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 (the  "Exchange
         Act")  on or  before  the  date of this  Agreement  or the  date of the
         Prospectus,  as the case may be, and any reference  herein to the terms
         "amend,"  "amendment" or "supplement"  with respect to the Registration
         Statement  or the  Prospectus  shall be deemed to include the filing of
         any document under the Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement or
         the  date  of  the  Prospectus,  as  the  case  may  be,  deemed  to be
         incorporated therein by reference;

                  (b) as of the date of any Terms Agreement, when the Prospectus
         is first filed  pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act,  when,  prior to
         the Closing Date, any amendment to the Registration  Statement  becomes
         effective  (including  the  filing  of  any  document  incorporated  by
         reference in the  Registration  Statement) and at the Closing Date, (i)
         the  Registration  Statement,  as amended as of any such time,  and the
         Prospectus,  as amended or  supplemented  as of any such time,  and the
         Indenture  will comply in all  material  respects  with the  applicable
         requirements  of the Act, the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939 (the "Trust
         Indenture  Act")  and  the  Exchange  Act  and  the  respective   rules
         thereunder and (ii) neither the Registration  Statement,  as amended as
         of any such time, nor the Prospectus,  as amended or supplemented as of
         any such time, will contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or
         omit to state any material fact required to be


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



         stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
         misleading;  provided,  however,  that the Company makes no warranty or
         representation   with  respect  to  any  statement   contained  in  the
         Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus  in  reliance  upon  and in
         conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any
         Underwriter  through  you  to  the  Company  expressly  for  use in the
         Registration Statement or the Prospectus;

                  (c) all of the issued and outstanding  shares of capital stock
         including  Common  Stock of the  Company  have  been  duly and  validly
         authorized  and issued and are fully paid and  non-assessable;  and the
         Company  has  been  duly  incorporated  and is  validly  existing  as a
         corporation  in good  standing  under the laws of the  Commonwealth  of
         Virginia,  with full  power and  authority  to own its  properties  and
         conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus;  the  Company has full power and  authority  to execute and
         deliver this  Agreement,  the Terms  Agreement and the Indenture and to
         issue and sell the Securities as herein and therein contemplated;

                  (d)  the  Company  and  each  of its  subsidiaries  listed  on
         Schedule A hereto (each a "Material  Subsidiary" and  collectively  the
         "Material  Subsidiaries") are duly qualified or licensed by, and are in
         good  standing  in,  each  jurisdiction  in which  they  conduct  their
         respective businesses and in which the failure,  individually or in the
         aggregate, to be so licensed or qualified would have a material adverse
         effect  on the  operations,  business  or  financial  condition  of the
         Company  and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole;  and the Company and
         each of its  Subsidiaries  are in compliance  in all material  respects
         with the laws,  orders,  rules,  regulations  and directives  issued or
         administered by such jurisdictions;

                  (e) neither the  Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  (each a
         "Subsidiary" and collectively the  "Subsidiaries")  is in breach of, or
         in default under (nor has any event occurred  which with notice,  lapse
         of time, or both would  constitute a breach of, or default under),  its
         respective  charter or by-laws or in the  performance  or observance of
         any  obligation,  agreement,  covenant or  condition  contained  in any
         indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust,  bank loan or credit agreement or
         other  agreement  or  instrument  to which  the  Company  or any of its
         Subsidiaries  is a party or by which any of them is bound,  where  such
         breach or default,


                                       -4-

<PAGE>



         individually or in the aggregate,  would have a material adverse effect
         on the operations,  business or financial  condition of the Company and
         its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  and the execution,  delivery and
         performance of this  Agreement,  the Terms  Agreement and the Indenture
         and  the  issuance  of  the  Securities  and  the  consummation  of the
         transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not conflict with, or
         result in any breach of or constitute a default  under (nor  constitute
         any event which with notice,  lapse of time, or both would constitute a
         breach of, or default under),  any provisions of the charter or by-laws
         of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or under any provision of any
         license,  indenture,  mortgage,  deed of  trust,  bank  loan or  credit
         agreement or other  agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
         of its  Subsidiaries  is a party  or by  which  any of  them  or  their
         respective  properties may be bound or affected,  or under any federal,
         state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment
         or order  applicable  to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  where
         such  conflict,  breach or default,  individually  or in the aggregate,
         would have a material  adverse  effect on the  operations,  business or
         financial  condition  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
         whole;

                  (f) the  Indenture  has been  duly  authorized,  executed  and
         delivered by the Company and duly qualified  under the Trust  Indenture
         Act  and is a  legal,  valid  and  binding  agreement  of  the  Company
         enforceable  in  accordance  with its  terms,  subject  to  bankruptcy,
         insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  and  similar  laws of general
         applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
         principles of equity;

                  (g) the  Securities  have been duly  authorized by the Company
         and when issued and  delivered  pursuant to this  Agreement,  the Terms
         Agreement  and  the  Indenture  against  payment  of the  consideration
         therefor,  the Securities will have been duly executed,  authenticated,
         issued and  delivered  and will  constitute  legal,  valid and  binding
         obligations of the Company  enforceable in accordance with their terms,
         subject  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  and
         similar  laws  of  general  applicability   relating  to  or  affecting
         creditors' rights and to general principles of equity;

                  (h) this Agreement and the Terms Agreement have been duly 
         authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;



                                       -5-

<PAGE>



                  (i) the Indenture conforms, and the Securities will conform, 
         in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the 
         Registration Statement and Prospectus;

                  (j) no approval, authorization,  consent or order of or filing
         with  any  national,   state  or  local   governmental   or  regulatory
         commission, board, body, authority or agency is required on the part of
         the Company in connection  with the issuance and sale of the Securities
         as contemplated  hereby other than registration of the Securities under
         the Act,  qualification  of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act
         and any necessary  qualification  under the securities or blue sky laws
         of the various  jurisdictions in which the Securities are being offered
         by the Underwriters;

                  (k) Ernst & Young  LLP,  whose  reports  on the  consolidated
         financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries are filed with
         the  Commission  in  documents   incorporated  by  reference  into  the
         Registration   Statement  and   Prospectus   are   independent   public
         accountants as required by the Act and the applicable  published  rules
         and regulations thereunder;

                  (l) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all necessary
         licenses,  authorizations,  consents  and  approvals  and has  made all
         necessary filings required under any federal,  state,  local or foreign
         law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary authorizations,
         consents  and  approvals  from other  persons,  in order to conduct its
         respective  business in each case where  failure to have or to make the
         same, as the case may be, would have a material  adverse  effect on the
         operations,  business  or  financial  condition  of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole;  neither  the  Company  nor any of its
         Subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default under, any such license,
         authorization,  consent or approval  or any  federal,  state,  local or
         foreign  law,  regulation  or rule or any  decree,  order  or  judgment
         applicable  to the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  the effect of
         which would have a material adverse effect on the operations,  business
         or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a
         whole;

                  (m) all legal or governmental proceedings, contracts or 
         documents of a character required to be described in the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the


                                       -6-

<PAGE>



         Registration Statement have been so described or filed
         as required;

                  (n) there are no actions,  suits or proceedings pending or, to
         the best of the Company's knowledge,  threatened against the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective  properties,  at law
         or in  equity,  or before or by any  federal,  state,  local or foreign
         governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency
         which if adversely  determined  would  result in a judgment,  decree or
         order  having a  material  adverse  effect on the  business,  financial
         condition  or property of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a
         whole;

                  (o)  the  audited  consolidated  financial  statements  of the
         Company  and  its   Subsidiaries   incorporated  by  reference  in  the
         Registration   Statement  and  the   Prospectus   present   fairly  the
         consolidated  balance sheet of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as of
         the dates indicated and the consolidated  statements of income and cash
         flows  and  changes  in  shareholders'  equity of the  Company  and its
         Subsidiaries for the periods specified; the financial statements of the
         Company and its  Subsidiaries  have been  prepared in  conformity  with
         generally accepted  accounting  principles in the United States applied
         on a consistent basis during the periods involved;

                  (p) subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
         is given in the  Registration  Statement and Prospectus,  and except as
         may be otherwise  stated in the  Registration  Statement or Prospectus,
         there has not been (A) any material and unfavorable  change,  financial
         or  otherwise,  in  the  business,   properties,   business  prospects,
         regulatory environment, results of operations or financial condition of
         the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (B) any transaction,
         which is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
         entered into by, or approved by the Board of Directors  of, the Company
         or  any of  its  Subsidiaries  or (C)  any  obligation,  contingent  or
         otherwise, directly or indirectly incurred by the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries  which is material  to the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries
         taken as a whole  except for normal trade  obligations  incurred in the
         ordinary course of the Company's business; and

                  (q) neither the Company nor any agent acting on its behalf
         has taken or will take any action that might


                                       -7-

<PAGE>



         cause this Agreement,  the Terms Agreement or sale of the Securities to
         violate  Regulation  G,  T, U or X of the  Board  of  Governors  of the
         Federal Reserve System,  in each case as in effect,  or as the same may
         hereafter be in effect, on the Closing Date;

                  (r) except as described in the Registration  Statement and the
         Prospectus,  (i) the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are
         in compliance with all applicable  environmental laws, except where the
         failure to comply with any such laws,  whether  individually  or in the
         aggregate,  would not have a material adverse effect on the operations,
         business or financial  condition  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole,  (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries  have obtained
         all  environmental,  health and safety permits,  licenses and approvals
         necessary for its operation,  all such permits,  licenses and approvals
         are in effect and the Company and its  Subsidiaries  are in  compliance
         with the terms and  conditions  thereof,  except  where the  failure to
         obtain any such permits,  licenses or approvals,  or to comply with the
         terms and conditions thereof, whether individually or in the aggregate,
         would not have a material adverse effect on the operations, business or
         financial  condition  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
         whole,  (iii) with respect to any property currently or formerly owned,
         leased or  operated  by the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  (a)
         neither the Company nor any such  Subsidiary is subject to any judicial
         or  administrative  proceeding or any order from or agreement  with any
         governmental  authority  (collectively,  "Proceedings"),  and  (b)  the
         Company  does  not  have   knowledge  of  any  pending  or   threatened
         investigation    by   any   governmental    authority    (collectively,
         "Investigations") relating to any violation or alleged violation of any
         environmental  law,  any release or  threatened  release of a hazardous
         material  into the  environment,  or any  remedial  action  that may be
         necessary in connection with any such violation or release,  except for
         such Proceedings or Investigations  which,  whether  individually or in
         the  aggregate,  are not expected to have a material  adverse effect on
         the operations,  business or financial condition of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  (iv) neither the Company nor any such
         Subsidiary has filed any notice under any  environmental law indicating
         past or present treatment,  storage, disposal or release of a hazardous
         material  into the  environment  in a manner that is not in  compliance
         with,   or  which  could   result  in   liability   under,   applicable
         environmental laws, except where such non-compliance or


                                       -8-

<PAGE>



         liability, whether individually or in the aggregate, is not expected to
         have a material adverse effect on the operations, business or financial
         condition of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  and
         (v) neither the Company nor any such  Subsidiary has received notice of
         a claim that it may be subject to liability (a "Notice") as a result of
         a release or threatened release of hazardous material,  except for such
         Notice  which,  whether  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  are  not
         expected to have a material adverse effect on the operations,  business
         or financial  condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries  taken as a
         whole and to the best of the Company's knowledge there is no reasonable
         basis for any such claim, action, suit or investigation with respect to
         any environmental law;

                  (s) the  Company  is  not  an  "investment   company"  or  an
         affiliated person of, or "promoter" or "principal  underwriter" for, an
         "investment  company,"  as such  terms are  defined  in the  Investment
         Company  Act of  1940,  as  amended,  and  the  rules  and  regulations
         thereunder; and

                  (t) to the best  knowledge  of the Company,  no labor  problem
         exists with  employees of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  that
         would  have  a  material   adverse   effect  on  the  Company  and  its
         Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  3.       Certain Covenants of the Company.  The
Company hereby agrees:

                  (a) to furnish such information as you may reasonably  require
         and otherwise to cooperate  with you in qualifying  the  Securities for
         offering and sale under the  securities or blue sky laws of such states
         as you may designate (including the provisions of Florida blue sky law,
         if  requested,  relating to issuers  doing  business  with Cuba) and to
         maintain  such  qualifications  in effect so long as  required  for the
         distribution of the Securities,  provided that the Company shall not be
         required  to  qualify  as a foreign  corporation  or to  consent to the
         service of process under the laws of any such state (except  service of
         process with respect to the offering and sale of the  Securities);  and
         to  promptly   advise  you  of  the  receipt  by  the  Company  of  any
         notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
         Securities  for  sale  in  any   jurisdiction   or  the  initiation  or
         threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;


                                       -9-

<PAGE>




                  (b) to make  available  to you in New  York  City,  as soon as
         practicable  after the Registration  Statement becomes  effective,  and
         thereafter  from time to time to furnish to the  Underwriters,  as many
         copies  of  the   Prospectus  (or  of  the  Prospectus  as  amended  or
         supplemented   if  the  Company  shall  have  made  any  amendments  or
         supplements  thereto  after  the  effective  date  of the  Registration
         Statement) as the Underwriters may reasonably  request for the purposes
         contemplated by the Act;

                  (c) that it will use its best  efforts to cause any  amendment
         of the Registration Statement to become effective promptly. The Company
         will not file any amendment to the Registration  Statement or amendment
         or  supplement  to  the  Prospectus  relating  to  any  series  of  the
         Securities  to which the  Underwriters  of such series  shall object in
         writing after a reasonable  opportunity to review the same.  Subject to
         the  foregoing  sentence,   the  Company  will  cause  each  Prospectus
         supplement  relating to the  Securities to be filed with the Commission
         pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424 within the time period
         prescribed and will provide  evidence  satisfactory to the Underwriters
         of  such  timely   filing.   The  Company  will  promptly   advise  the
         Underwriters  of any  series  of  Securities  (A) when  any  Prospectus
         supplement  relating  to such  series  shall  have been  filed with the
         Commission  pursuant to Rule 424, (B) when, prior to termination of the
         offering of such series,  any amendment to the  Registration  Statement
         shall have been filed with the Commission or become  effective,  (C) of
         any request by the  Commission  for any  amendment of the  Registration
         Statement  or  supplement  to  the  Prospectus  or for  any  additional
         information,  (D) of the receipt by the Company of any  notification of
         the  issuance  by the  Commission  of any  stop  order  suspending  the
         effectiveness  of  the  Registration   Statement  or  the  use  of  any
         Prospectus or Prospectus  supplement  or, if the Company has knowledge,
         of the institution or threat of any proceeding for that purpose and (E)
         of the receipt by the Company of any  notification  with respect to the
         suspension  of the  qualifications  of the  Securities  for sale in any
         jurisdiction  or, if the Company has  knowledge,  of the  initiation or
         threat of any proceeding for such purpose.  The Company will make every
         reasonable  effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or of
         any order  suspending  or  preventing  any such use and, if issued,  to
         obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof;



                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                  (d) to  furnish  to you and to each of the other  Underwriters
         for a period of five years from the date of each  Terms  Agreement,  as
         requested,  (i) copies of any reports or other communications which the
         Company  shall  send to its  stockholders  or shall  from  time to time
         publish or publicly disseminate,  (ii) copies of all annual,  quarterly
         and current  reports filed with the Commission on Forms 10-K,  10-Q and
         8-K, or such other similar form as may be designated by the Commission,
         to the extent not readily available from public sources, and (iii) such
         other  information as you may reasonably  request regarding the Company
         or its Subsidiaries;

                  (e) to  advise  the  Underwriters  of a series  of  Securities
         promptly of the happening of any event known to the Company  within the
         time during which a  prospectus  relating to such series is required to
         be delivered under the Act which, in the judgment of the Company, would
         require the making of any change in the Prospectus  then being used, or
         in the  information  incorporated  therein  by  reference,  so that the
         Prospectus  would not include an untrue  statement of material  fact or
         omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
         in the  light of the  circumstances  under  which  they are  made,  not
         misleading,  and,  during  such time,  to prepare and  furnish,  at the
         Company's  expense,  to the  Underwriters  promptly such  amendments or
         supplements to such  Prospectus as may be necessary to reflect any such
         change  and to  furnish  you a  copy  of  such  proposed  amendment  or
         supplement  before  filing any such  amendment or  supplement  with the
         Commission;

                  (f) that, as soon as practicable  after the date of each Terms
         Agreement,  the Company will make  generally  available to its Security
         holders an earnings  statement  of the Company  which will  satisfy the
         provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act;

                  (g) to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the  Securities
         in the manner set forth  under the  caption  "Use of  Proceeds"  in the
         Prospectus  supplement  relating  to the  Securities  or,  if  none  is
         provided, under such caption in the Prospectus;

                  (h) to pay all  expenses,  fees  and  taxes  (other  than  any
         transfer  taxes  and  fees  and   disbursements   of  counsel  for  the
         Underwriters  except as set forth under  Section 4 hereof and (iii) and
         (iv) below) in


                                      -11-

<PAGE>



         connection  with (i) the  preparation  and  filing of the  Registration
         Statement,  each  preliminary  Prospectus,   the  Prospectus,  and  any
         amendments or supplements  thereto,  and the printing and furnishing of
         copies of each thereof to the  Underwriters  and to dealers  (including
         costs  of  mailing  and  shipment),  (ii)  the  preparation,  issuance,
         execution,  authentication  and delivery of the  Securities,  (iii) the
         reproduction  and  furnishing  of copies of this  Agreement,  the Terms
         Agreement, any Agreement Among Underwriters, any dealer agreements, any
         Statements of  Information  and Powers of Attorney and the Indenture to
         the  Underwriters  and to  dealers  (including  costs  of  mailing  and
         shipment),  (iv) the  qualification  of the Securities for offering and
         sale under state laws and the  determination  of their  eligibility for
         investment  under state law as aforesaid  (including the legal fees and
         filing fees and other  disbursements  of counsel for the  Underwriters)
         and  the  furnishing  of  copies  of any  blue  sky  surveys  or  legal
         investment  surveys to the  Underwriters  and to dealers,  (v) any fees
         payable to investment  rating  agencies with respect to the Securities,
         (vi) any  filing for review of the  underwriting  arrangements  for the
         public offering of the Shares by the National Association of Securities
         Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and (vii) the performance of the Company's other
         obligations  hereunder  (it is  understood,  however,  that  except  as
         provided in this subsection 3(h),  Section 4 and Section 8 hereof,  the
         Underwriters  will pay all of their own costs and  expenses,  including
         the fees and  disbursements of their counsel,  transfer taxes on resale
         of any  of  the  Securities  by  them,  and  any  advertising  expenses
         connected with any offers they may make);

                  (i) that the  Company  will not,  without  your prior  written
         consent,  offer or sell, or publicly announce its intention to offer or
         sell, (i) any debt securities pursuant to a public offering or (ii) any
         unsecured  debt  securities  pursuant  to  a  private  placement  which
         contemplates the purchasers of such debt securities receiving customary
         registration  rights in each case  during the period  beginning  on the
         date of the Terms  Agreement  and ending on the 30th day  following the
         date of the Terms  Agreement.  The Company has not taken,  and will not
         take, any action which might  reasonably be expected to cause or result
         in the  stabilization  or  manipulation of the price of any security to
         facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.



                                      -12-

<PAGE>



                  4.       Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the
Securities of a series to which a Terms  Agreement  relates are not delivered
for any reason  other than the  termination  of the  obligations  of the several
Underwriters  in accordance  with Section 8 hereof or the default by one or more
of  the  Underwriters  in  its  or  their  respective  obligations  to  purchase
Securities  pursuant to any Terms  Agreement,  the Company  shall  reimburse the
Underwriters  for all of their  out-of-pocket  expenses,  including the fees and
disbursements of their counsel.

                  5.       Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The
several  obligations of the  Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities
under any Terms Agreement are subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company on the date of such Terms Agreement and at
the Closing Date,  to the accuracy of the  statements of officers of the Company
made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:

                  (a) The Company  shall  furnish to you at the  Closing  Date a
         written opinion from James M. White, III, Secretary and General Counsel
         of the Company,  or Francis V. Lowden,  III, Assistant Secretary of the
         Company,  addressed to the  Underwriters,  and dated the Closing  Date,
         with reproduced  copies for each of the other  Underwriters and in form
         and  substance  satisfactory  to Sullivan &  Cromwell,  counsel for the
         Underwriters, substantially to the effect that:

                           (i) each of the Material  Subsidiaries  has been duly
                  incorporated  and is validly existing as a corporation in good
                  standing  under  the laws of its  respective  jurisdiction  of
                  incorporation  with full corporate  power and authority to own
                  its  respective  properties  and  to  conduct  its  respective
                  business;  each of the  Subsidiaries  which  are not  Material
                  Subsidiaries  has  been  duly   incorporated  and  is  validly
                  existing as a corporation  in good standing  under the laws of
                  its  respective   jurisdiction  of  incorporation   with  full
                  corporate power and authority to own its respective properties
                  and to conduct its respective business in each jurisdiction in
                  which the failure to do so,  individually or in the aggregate,
                  would  have a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  operations,
                  business  or  financial  condition  of  the  Company  and  its
                  Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;



                                      -13-

<PAGE>



                           (ii) the Company and its  Material  Subsidiaries  are
                  duly qualified or licensed by each  jurisdiction in which they
                  conduct their respective  businesses and in which the failure,
                  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  to be  so  licensed  or
                  qualified  would  have  a  material   adverse  effect  on  the
                  operations, business or financial condition of the Company and
                  its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  and the  Company and its
                  Material  Subsidiaries  are  duly  qualified,  and are in good
                  standing, in each jurisdiction in which they own or lease real
                  property  or maintain an office in which the failure to do so,
                  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  would  have  a  material
                  adverse  effect  on  the  operations,  business  or  financial
                  condition  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
                  whole;

                           (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of this
                  Agreement,  the  Terms  Agreement  and  the  Indenture  by the
                  Company   and  the   issuance  of  the   Securities   and  the
                  consummation by the Company of the  transactions  contemplated
                  hereby  and  thereby  do not and will not  conflict  with,  or
                  result in any breach of, or  constitute  a default  under (nor
                  constitute  any event  which with  notice,  lapse of time,  or
                  both,  would  constitute  a breach of or default  under),  any
                  provisions  of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
                  its  Subsidiaries  or  under  any  provision  of any  license,
                  indenture,   mortgage,   deed  of  trust,  bank  loan,  credit
                  agreement  or other  agreement  or  instrument  to  which  the
                  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries is a party or by which any
                  of  them  or  their  respective  properties  may be  bound  or
                  affected,  or under any law, regulation or rule or any decree,
                  judgment  or order  applicable  to the  Company  or any of its
                  Subsidiaries  in  which  such  conflict,  breach  or  default,
                  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  would  have  a  material
                  adverse  effect  on  the  operations,  business  or  financial
                  condition  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
                  whole;

                           (iv) to such counsel's knowledge, neither the Company
                  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is in breach  of, or in  default
                  under (nor has any event occurred which with notice,  lapse of
                  time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under),
                  any license, indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or
                  any other  agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
                  of its Subsidiaries is a


                                      -14-

<PAGE>



                  party or by which any of them or their  respective  properties
                  may be bound or  affected by or under any law,  regulation  or
                  rule  or any  decree,  judgment  or  order  applicable  to the
                  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  in which  such  breach or
                  default,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  would  have  a
                  material  adverse  effect  on  the  operations,   business  or
                  financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
                  as a whole; and

                           (v)  to  such  counsel's  knowledge,   there  are  no
                  actions,  suits or proceedings  pending or threatened  against
                  the  Company  or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  or  any of  their
                  respective properties, at law or in equity or before or by any
                  commission,   board,  body,  authority  or  agency  which  are
                  required  to be  described  in the  Prospectus  but are not so
                  described.

                  (b) The Company  shall  furnish to you at the Closing  Date an
         opinion of  McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Booth,  L.L.P.,  counsel for the
         Company,  in each case  addressed  to the  Underwriters,  and dated the
         Closing Date, with reproduced copies for each of the other Underwriters
         and in form and substance satisfactory to Sullivan & Cromwell,  counsel
         to the Underwriters, substantially to the effect that:

                           (i) the  Company  has been duly  incorporated  and is
                  validly  existing as a corporation  in good standing under the
                  laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  with full  corporate
                  power and  authority  to own its  properties  and  conduct its
                  business as described in the  Registration  Statement  and the
                  Prospectus,  to execute and deliver this Agreement,  the Terms
                  Agreement  and  the  Indenture  and  to  issue  and  sell  the
                  Securities as herein and therein contemplated;

                           (ii) the  Indenture  has been duly  authorized by all
                  necessary  corporate  action  on  the  part  of  the  Company,
                  executed  and  delivered  by the  Company  and  (assuming  the
                  Indenture has been duly authorized,  executed and delivered by
                  the  Trustee)   constitutes   a  valid  and  legally   binding
                  obligation of the Company  enforceable  against the Company in
                  accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,  insolvency,
                  fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium and similar
                  laws  of  general  applicability   relating  to  or  affecting
                  creditors' rights and to general equity principles;


                                      -15-

<PAGE>




                           (iii) the Securities have been duly authorized by all
                  necessary  corporate  action  on  the  part  of  the  Company,
                  executed and delivered by the Company and constitute valid and
                  legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against
                  the  Company  in  accordance  with  their  terms,  subject  to
                  bankruptcy,  insolvency, fraudulent transfer,  reorganization,
                  moratorium and similar laws of general applicability  relating
                  to or  affecting  creditors'  rights  and  to  general  equity
                  principles;

                           (iv) this Agreement and the Terms Agreement have been
                  duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

                           (v) the Securities and the Indenture conform in all 
                  material respects to the description  thereof contained in the
                  Registration Statement and Prospectus;

                           (vi) the  Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus
                  (except as to the financial statements and schedules and other
                  financial and  statistical  data contained or  incorporated by
                  reference  therein,  as to which such  counsel need express no
                  opinion) appear on their face to be  appropriately  responsive
                  in all material respects to the requirements of the Act;

                           (vii) the Registration Statement has become effective
                  under the Act and, to such counsel's knowledge,  no stop order
                  proceedings  with  respect  thereto are pending or  threatened
                  under the Act;

                           (viii) no approval,  authorization,  consent or order
                  of or filing with any court or governmental  agency or body is
                  required  on the part of the  Company in  connection  with the
                  issuance and sale of the  Securities  as  contemplated  hereby
                  other than  registration  of the Securities  under the Act and
                  qualification  of the Indenture  under the Trust Indenture Act
                  (except  such  counsel  need  express  no  opinion  as to  any
                  necessary qualification under the state securities or blue sky
                  laws of the  various  jurisdictions  in which the  Shares  are
                  being offered by the Underwriters);

                           (ix)  to  such  counsel's  knowledge,  there  are  no
                  contracts,  licenses,  agreements,  leases or  documents  of a
                  character  which are  required  to be filed as exhibits to the
                  Registration Statement or to be summarized or described in the
                  Prospectus  which  have  not  been  so  filed,  summarized  or
                  described; and


                                      -16-

<PAGE>




                           (x) the  documents  incorporated  by reference in the
                  Registration  Statement  and  Prospectus  (except  as  to  the
                  financial  statements  and schedules  and other  financial and
                  statistical data contained or incorporated therein as to which
                  such counsel  need  express no opinion),  when they were filed
                  (or, if an  amendment  with  respect to any such  document was
                  filed when such amendment was filed),  appear on their face to
                  be  appropriately  responsive in all material  respects to the
                  requirements of the Exchange Act.

                  In  addition,   such  counsel   shall  state  that  they  have
         participated in conferences with officers and other  representatives of
         the Company,  representatives  of the independent public accountants of
         the  Company  and  representatives  of the  Underwriters  at which  the
         contents of the  Registration  Statement and Prospectus  were discussed
         and,  although such counsel has not undertaken to investigate or verify
         independently and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy,
         completeness   or  fairness  of  the   statements   contained   in  the
         Registration  Statement  or  Prospectus  or documents  incorporated  by
         reference  therein,  and did not  participate in the preparation of the
         documents  incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or
         Prospectus, on the basis of the foregoing (relying as to materiality to
         a large extent upon the opinions of officers and other  representatives
         of the Company)  nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that
         causes them to believe that the Registration Statement or any amendment
         thereto at the time such  Registration  Statement or  amendment  became
         effective  contained an untrue  statement of a material fact or omitted
         to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to
         make the statements  therein not misleading,  or that the Prospectus or
         any  supplement  thereto  at  the  date  of  such  Prospectus  or  such
         supplement,  and at all times up to and  including  the  Closing  Date,
         contained an untrue  statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
         material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made,  not  misleading  (it being  understood  that such  counsel  need
         express  no  opinion  with  respect  to the  financial  statements  and
         schedules  and other  financial  and  statistical  data included in the
         Registration  Statement or Prospectus  or the Statement of  Eligibility
         and Qualification of the Trustee on Form T-1 filed as an exhibit to the
         Registration Statement).

                  (c) You shall have  received  from the  Company's  independent
         public  accountants  letters dated the date of the Terms  Agreement and
         the Closing Date, and addressed to the  Underwriters  (with  reproduced
         copies


                                      -17-

<PAGE>



         for each of the Underwriters) in the forms heretofore
         approved by you.

                  (d) You shall have  received at the Closing Date the favorable
         opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the
         Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you.

                  (e) Prior to the Closing Date,  (i) no stop order with respect
         to the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement  shall have been
         issued under the Act or  proceedings  initiated  under  Section 8(d) or
         8(e) of the Act; (ii) the  Registration  Statement  and all  amendments
         thereto, or modifications  thereof, if any, shall not contain an untrue
         statement of a material  fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the  statement  therein not
         misleading;  and (iii) the Prospectus and all amendments or supplements
         thereto, or modifications  thereof, if any, shall not contain an untrue
         statement of a material  fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
         the  light  of  the  circumstances  under  which  they  are  made,  not
         misleading.

                  (f) Between the time of execution of the Terms  Agreement  and
         the Closing Date, (i) no material and unfavorable change,  financial or
         otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration  Statement and
         Prospectus), in the business, financial condition or business prospects
         of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole shall occur or
         become known and (ii) no transaction  which is material and unfavorable
         to the  Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole shall have been
         entered into by, or approved by the Board of Directors  of, the Company
         or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  (g) The Company will,  at the Closing  Date,  deliver to you a
         certificate  of one of its executive  officers in which such  executive
         officer  shall  state,  to the best of his or her  knowledge,  that the
         representations  and  warranties  of the  Company  as set forth in this
         Agreement and the  conditions  set forth in paragraph (e) and paragraph
         (f) have  been met and that they are true and  correct  as of each such
         date.

                  (h)  The  Company  shall  have  furnished  to you  such  other
         documents and  certificates as to the accuracy and  completeness of any
         statement in the  Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus as of the
         Closing Date, as you may reasonably request.

                  (i)  The Company shall perform such of its obligations under
         this Agreement and the Terms


                                      -18-

<PAGE>



         Agreement  as are to be  performed by the terms hereof at or before the
         Closing Date.

                  (j) At the Closing Date,  counsel for the  Underwriters  shall
         have been furnished with such  information,  certificates and documents
         as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass
         upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein and
         related proceedings, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the
         representations  or  warranties,  or  the  fulfillment  of  any  of the
         conditions,   herein  contained;  and  all  opinions  and  certificates
         mentioned  above or elsewhere  in this  Agreement  shall be  reasonably
         satisfactory in form and substance to the  Representatives  and counsel
         for the Underwriters.

                  6.  Termination  of Terms  Agreement.  The  obligations of the
several  Underwriters  hereunder shall be subject to termination in the absolute
discretion of you or any group of Underwriters (which may include you) which has
agreed pursuant to the Terms Agreement to purchase in the aggregate at least 50%
of the  Securities,  if, at any time  between the time of execution of the Terms
Agreement and the Closing Date,  (a) trading in securities  generally on the New
York Stock  Exchange shall have been suspended or minimum prices shall have been
established  on the New  York  Stock  Exchange,  (b) a  downgrading  shall  have
occurred in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities by any "nationally
recognized  statistical  rating  organization,"  as that term is  defined by the
Commission  for  purposes  of  Rule  436(g)(2)  of  the  rules  and  regulations
promulgated  under the Act or such  organization  shall have publicly  announced
that it has under  surveillance  or review,  other than with  possible  positive
implications,  its rating of any of the Company's debt securities, (c) a banking
moratorium  shall have been  declared  either by the  United  States or New York
State  authorities,  or  (d)  the  United  States  shall  have  declared  war in
accordance  with its  constitutional  processes or there shall have occurred any
material   outbreak  or  escalation  of   hostilities   or  other   national  or
international  calamity  or  crisis  of  such  magnitude  in its  effect  on the
financial  markets of the United  States as, in your judgment or in the judgment
of  such  group  of  Underwriters,  to  make  it  impracticable  to  market  the
Securities.

                  If you or any group of  Underwriters  elects to terminate this
Agreement as provided in this Section 6, the Company and each other  Underwriter
shall be notified promptly by letter or telegram.

                  If  the  sale  to  the  Underwriters  of  the  Securities,  as
contemplated  by this Agreement and the Terms  Agreement,  is not carried out by
the Underwriters for any reason


                                      -19-

<PAGE>



permitted  under this  Agreement  or if such sale is not carried out because the
Company shall be unable to comply with any of the terms of this  Agreement,  the
Company  shall not be under any  obligation  or liability  under this  Agreement
(except  to the extent  provided  in  Sections  3(h),  4 and 8 hereof),  and the
Underwriters shall be under no obligation or liability to the Company under this
Agreement  (except to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof) or to one another
hereunder.

                  7.       Increase in Underwriters' Commitments.  If 
any  Underwriter  shall  default  in its  obligation  to take up and pay for the
Securities to be purchased by it under any Terms  Agreement and if the principal
amount of Securities  which all Underwriters so defaulting shall have agreed but
failed to take up and pay for does not exceed 10% of the total principal  amount
of  Securities  agreed to be  purchased  pursuant to such Terms  Agreement,  the
non-defaulting  Underwriters  shall  take up and pay  for  (in  addition  to the
principal  amount of Securities they are obligated to purchase  pursuant to such
Terms  Agreement) the principal  amount of Securities  agreed to be purchased by
all such defaulting Underwriters, as hereinafter provided. Such Securities shall
be taken up and paid for by such non- defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, as
hereinafter  provided.  Such  Securities  shall be taken up and paid for by such
non-defaulting  Underwriter or Underwriters in such amount or amounts as you may
designate with the consent of each Underwriter so designated or, in the event no
such  designation is made, such Securities shall be taken up and paid for by all
non-defaulting  Underwriters  pro rata in proportion to the principal  amount of
Securities they have agreed to purchase under such Terms Agreement.

                  Without   relieving  any  defaulting   Underwriter   from  its
obligations hereunder,  the Company agrees with the non-defaulting  Underwriters
that it will not sell any Securities under any Terms Agreement unless all of the
Securities  under such Terms Agreement are purchased by the  Underwriters (or by
substituted  Underwriters  selected  by you with the  approval of the Company or
selected by the Company with your approval).

                  If a new  Underwriter or  Underwriters  are substituted by the
Underwriters  or by the Company for a defaulting  Underwriter or Underwriters in
accordance with the foregoing provision, the Company or you shall have the right
to postpone the time of purchase for a period not  exceeding  five business days
in order that any necessary changes in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
and other documents may be effected.

                  The term  Underwriter as used in this Agreement shall refer to
and include any Underwriter substituted under this Section 7.


                                      -20-

<PAGE>




                  8.       Indemnity by the Company and the Underwriters.

                  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify,  defend and hold harmless
each Underwriter and any person who controls any Underwriter  within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any
loss,   expense,   liability  or  claim   (including  the  reasonable   cost  of
investigation)  which,  jointly or severally,  any such  Underwriter or any such
controlling  person  may incur  under the Act,  the  Exchange  Act or  otherwise
insofar as such loss, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration  Statement (or in the Registration  Statement as amended by any
post-effective  amendment  thereof by the Company) or in a Prospectus  (the term
Prospectus  for the  purpose  of this  Section  8 being  deemed to  include  any
Preliminary  Prospectus,  the  Prospectus  and  the  Prospectus  as  amended  or
supplemented by the Company),  or arises out of or is based upon any omission or
alleged  omission to state a material  fact required to be stated in either such
Registration  Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the  statements  made
therein not misleading,  except insofar as any such loss, expense, liability, or
claim  arises  out of or is based upon any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue
statement of a material  fact  contained in and in conformity  with  information
furnished in writing by any Underwriter through you to the Company expressly for
use in such  Registration  Statement or such  Prospectus  or arises out of or is
based  upon  any  omission  or  alleged  omission  to state a  material  fact in
connection  with  such  information   required  to  be  stated  in  either  such
Registration  Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make such  information not
misleading;  provided,  however,  that the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection (a) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus or amended Preliminary
Prospectus  shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or to the benefit
of any person  controlling such  Underwriter) from whom the person asserting any
such loss,  expense,  liability or claim  purchased the Securities  which is the
subject thereof if the Prospectus corrected any such alleged untrue statement or
omission and if such Underwriter failed to send or give a copy of the Prospectus
to such  person  at or prior  to the  written  confirmation  of the sale of such
Securities to such person.

                  If any action is brought against an Underwriter or controlling
person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company  pursuant
to the foregoing  paragraph,  such Underwriter shall promptly notify the Company
in writing of the  institution  of such action and the Company  shall assume the
defense of such  action,  including  the  employment  of counsel  and payment of
expenses.  Such Underwriter or such  controlling  person shall have the right to
employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the


                                      -21-

<PAGE>



fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or
of such controlling person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been
authorized  in writing by the  Company in  connection  with the  defense of such
action or the  Company  shall not have  employed  counsel to have  charge of the
defense  of  such  action  or such  indemnified  party  or  parties  shall  have
reasonably  concluded  that there may be defenses  available to it or them which
are different  from or  additional  to those  available to the Company (in which
case the  Company  shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees
and  expenses  shall be borne by the  Company  and paid as  incurred  (it  being
understood,  however,  that the Company  shall not be liable for the expenses of
more than one separate counsel in any one action or series of related actions in
the same  jurisdiction  representing the indemnified  parties who are parties to
such action).  Anything in this paragraph to the contrary  notwithstanding,  the
Company  shall  not be liable  for any  settlement  of any such  claim or action
effected without its written consent.

                  (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify, defend and
hold  harmless the  Company,  its  directors  and  officers,  and any person who
controls  the Company  within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20
of the  Exchange  Act from and against  any loss,  expense,  liability  or claim
(including the reasonable cost of  investigation)  which,  jointly or severally,
the Company or any such person may incur under the Act or otherwise,  insofar as
such loss, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement of a material  fact  contained in and in
conformity  with  information  furnished  in  writing  by or on  behalf  of such
Underwriter  through you to the Company  expressly  for use in the  Registration
Statement  (or  in the  Registration  Statement  as  amended  by  post-effective
amendment  thereof by the  Company) or in a  Prospectus,  or arises out of or is
based  upon  any  omission  or  alleged  omission  to state a  material  fact in
connection  with  such  information   required  to  be  stated  either  in  such
Registration  Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make such  information not
misleading.

                  If any  action is  brought  against  the  Company  or any such
person in respect  of which  indemnity  may be sought  against  any  Underwriter
pursuant to the foregoing  paragraph,  the Company or such person shall promptly
notify such  Underwriter  in writing of the  institution of such action and such
Underwriter shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment of
counsel and payment of expenses. The Company or such person shall have the right
to employ its own  counsel in any such case,  but the fees and  expenses of such
counsel  shall be at the  expense  of the  Company  or such  person  unless  the
employment of such counsel shall have


                                      -22-

<PAGE>



been authorized in writing by such Underwriter in connection with the defense of
such action or such  Underwriter  shall not have employed counsel to have charge
of the defense or such action or such  indemnified  party or parties  shall have
reasonably  concluded  that there may be defenses  available to it or them which
are  different  from or additional to those  available to such  Underwriter  (in
which case such  Underwriter  shall not have the right to direct the  defense of
such  action on behalf of the  indemnified  party or  parties),  in any of which
events such fees and  expenses  shall be borne by such  Underwriter  and paid as
incurred  (it being  understood,  however,  that such  Underwriter  shall not be
liable for the expenses of more than one  separate  counsel in any one action or
series of related actions in the same jurisdiction  representing the indemnified
parties  who are parties to such  action).  Anything  in this  paragraph  to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  no Underwriter shall be liable for any settlement of
any  such  claim  or  action  effected  without  the  written  consent  of  such
Underwriter.

                  (c) If the  indemnification  provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable  to an  indemnified  party  under  subsections  (a)  and (b) of this
Section 8 in respect of any losses, expenses,  liabilities or claims referred to
therein,  then each applicable  indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified  party,  shall  contribute  to the  amount  paid or  payable by such
indemnified  party as a result of such losses,  expenses,  liabilities or claims
(i) in such  proportion  as is  appropriate  to reflect  the  relative  benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the  Underwriters  on the other hand
from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
(i)  above  is not  permitted  by  applicable  law,  in  such  proportion  as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative  benefits referred to in clause (i)
above  but also the  relative  fault of the  Company  on the one hand and of the
Underwriters  on the other in connection  with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses,  expenses,  liabilities or claims, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
on the one hand and the  Underwriters  on the other shall be deemed to be in the
same  proportion as the total  proceeds  from the offering (net of  underwriting
discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company
bear  to the  total  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  received  by the
Underwriters.  The  relative  fault  of the  Company  on the one hand and of the
Underwriters  on the other shall be  determined  by  reference  to,  among other
things,  whether the untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or  omission or alleged  omission  relates to  information  supplied by the
Company or by the  Underwriters  and the parties'  relative  intent,  knowledge,
access to  information  and  opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.  The  amount  paid or  payable  by a party as a result of the  losses,
expenses, liabilities and


                                      -23-

<PAGE>



claims  referred  to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or
expenses  reasonably  incurred by such party in connection with investigating or
defending any claim or action.

                  (d) The Company and the  Underwriters  agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined
by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters  were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of
the   equitable   considerations   referred   to  in   subsection   (c)   above.
Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of this  Section  8, no  Underwriter  shall be
required  to  contribute  any  amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities  underwritten by such  Underwriter and distributed
to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which
such  Underwriter  has  otherwise  been required to pay by reason of such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person
guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent  misrepresentation.  The Underwriter's obligations to contribute
pursuant  to this  Section  8 are  several  in  proportion  to their  respective
underwriting commitments and not joint.

                  (e) The indemnity  and  contribution  agreements  contained in
this Section 8 and the covenants,  warranties and representations of the Company
contained in this Agreement and the Terms  Agreement  shall remain in full force
and  effect  regardless  of  any  investigation  made  by or on  behalf  of  any
Underwriter,  or any person who controls any  Underwriter  within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the  Exchange  Act, or by or on behalf of
the Company,  its  directors and officers or any person who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the  Exchange  Act,
and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery
of the Securities. The Company and each Underwriter agree promptly to notify the
others of the  commencement  of any litigation or proceeding  against it and, in
the case of the Company,  against any of the Company's officers and directors in
connection with the issuance and sale of the  Securities,  or in connection with
the Registration Statement or Prospectus.

                  9.       Notices.  Except as otherwise herein provided, all
statements,  requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing or by telegram
and, if to the Underwriters, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or
sent to Dillon,  Read & Co. Inc.,  535 Madison  Avenue,  New York,  N.Y.  10022,
Attention:  Syndicate Department or to any other Underwriters at their addresses
furnished to the Company in the Terms Agreement and, if to

                                      -24-

<PAGE>



the  Company,  shall be  sufficient  in all respects if delivered or sent to the
Company at the  offices of the  Company at 1501 N.  Hamilton  Street,  Richmond,
Virginia 23230, Attention: James M. White, III, Secretary and General Counsel.

                  10.      Construction.  This Agreement and the Terms Agreement
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York. The Section  headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter
of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.

                  11.      Parties at Interest.  The Agreement  herein set forth
and the Terms  Agreement  have been and are made  solely for the  benefit of the
Underwriters and the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers
referred  to in  Section 8 hereof,  and their  respective  successors,  assigns,
executors and  administrators.  No other  person,  partnership,  association  or
corporation  (including  a  purchaser,  as  such  purchaser,  from  any  of  the
Underwriters)  shall  acquire  or have  any  right  under or by  virtue  of this
Agreement or the Terms Agreement.

                  12.      Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed
by the parties in counterparts which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement among the parties.

                  If the foregoing  correctly sets forth the understanding among
the Company and you,  please so  indicate  in the space  provided  below for the
purpose,  whereupon this letter and your acceptance  shall  constitute a binding
agreement between us.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

                                                     By: /s/ Karen M.L. Whelan
                                                     Title: Vice President and
                                                            Treasurer



Dillon, Read & Co. Inc.
Wheat, First Securities, Inc..
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNDERWRITERS



By:      /s/ Robert E. Weeden
Title:  Managing Director




<PAGE>



                                   SCHEDULE A


                                                          Organized
Material Subsidiary                                       Under Law of

Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,                           Virginia
Incorporated

K.R. Edwards Leaf Tobacco Company,                        Virginia
Incorporated

Casa Export Limited                                       Virginia

Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Company of                         Virginia
Pennsylvania, Inc.

Southern Processors, Incorporated                         Virginia

Southwestern Tobacco Company, Incorporated                Virginia

J. P. Taylor Company, Incorporated                        Virginia

Thorpe & Ricks, Inc.                                      Virginia

Thorpe-Greenville Export Tobacco Company                  North Carolina

Deltafina, S.p.A.                                         Italy

Universal Leaf Tobaccos Ltda.                             Brazil

Gebrueder Kulenkampff, Inc.                               Virginia

Gebrueder Kulenkampff AG                                  Germany

Universal Leaf P.H., Inc.                                 Virginia

Deli Universal, Inc.                                      Virginia

N.V. Deli Universal                                       Netherlands

Jongeneel Holding B.V.                                    Netherlands

Jongeneel B.V.                                            Netherlands

Casalee, Incorporated                                     Virginia



<PAGE>



                                   Schedule B


                                 TERMS AGREEMENT

                             [ ]% Notes Due [ ], 199


                                                              [        ], 199



Universal Corporation
1501 North Hamilton Street
Richmond, Virginia  23260

Dear Sirs:

                  Universal Corporation, a Virginia corporation (the "Company"),
and have entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting  Agreement"),
dated [ ] , 199_,  relating to the issuance  from time to time by the Company of
its debt securities under an indenture (the  "Indenture"),  dated as of February
1,  1991,  between  the  Company  and  Chemical  Bank,  as  Trustee.  This Terms
Agreement,  relating to the Securities  referred to below, is being entered into
pursuant to the Underwriting  Agreement.  Capitalized  terms used herein and not
otherwise defined have the meanings given them in the Underwriting Agreement.

                                           and the several other underwriters
named in Schedule A annexed  hereto  (the  "Underwriters")  understand  that the
Company proposes to issue and sell $[ ] aggregate principal amount of [ ]% Notes
Due [ ] (the "Securities").  Subject to the terms,  conditions,  representations
and warranties set forth or incorporated by reference herein, the Company agrees
to sell to the  Underwriters  and the  Underwriters  agree to purchase  from the
Company the  Securities  at [ ]% of the  principal  amount  thereof plus accrued
interest  from [ ] 199 , if any, to the  Closing  Date  referred  to below.  The
Prospectus  Supplement with respect to the Purchased Securities is dated [ ] and
includes the Prospectus dated [ ].

                  The  Underwriters  will pay for such  Securities upon delivery
thereof in New York,  New York at [ ] a.m.  (New York time) on [ ] (the "Closing
Date") by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or at such other time on
the Closing Date as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters.



<PAGE>



                  The Purchased  Securities  shall be issued in book-entry  form
and shall have the following terms:

         (a)     Interest:                  [  ]% per annum

         (b)     Maturity:                  [               ]

         (c)     Initial Public
                 Offering Price:            [      ]% of the principal
                                            amount of the Purchased
                                            Securities plus accrued
                                            interest from [          ],
                                            if any.

         (d)     Interest Payment
                 Dates:                     [       ] and [       ],
                                            commencing [    ]

         (e)     Regular Record
                 Dates:                     [          ] and [       ]

         (f)     Optional Redemption:       [                        ]


                 All  provisions  contained in the  Underwriting  Agreement  are
incorporated  by  reference  herein in their  entirety and shall be deemed to be
part of this  Agreement  to the same extent as if such  provisions  had been set
forth in full herein.

                 This   Agreement   shall  be  governed  by,  and  construed  in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

                 This  instrument  may be signed by the parties in  counterparts
which together shall  constitute one and the same agreement  between the parties
and shall become effective at such time as each of the parties shall have signed
such counterparts and shall have notified the other party thereof.


                                       B-2

<PAGE>



                 Please confirm your agreement  herewith by having an authorized
officer sign a copy of this Agreement in the space provided below:

                                            Very truly yours,


                                               as Representative


                                            By:


Accepted and Agreed to as of
the Date First Above Written:

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION


By:


                                       B-3

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A


                                                                Principal
                                                                Amount of
                   Name                                           Notes

[                   ].............................        $
[                   ].............................
[                   ].............................
                                            Total:        $



                                       B-4









                                 TERMS AGREEMENT

                       6 1/2% Notes Due February 15, 2006


                                                              February 14, 1996



Universal Corporation
1501 North Hamilton Street
Richmond, Virginia  23260

Dear Sirs:

                  Universal Corporation, a Virginia corporation (the "Company"),
and  Dillon,   Read  &  Co.  Inc.  and  Wheat,   First  Securities,   Inc.  (the
"Underwriters")  have entered into an Underwriting  Agreement (the "Underwriting
Agreement"),  dated February 14, 1996 relating to the issuance from time to time
by the Company of its debt  securities  under an  indenture  (the  "Indenture"),
dated as of February 1, 1991, between the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee.
This Terms  Agreement,  relating to the Securities  referred to below,  is being
entered into  pursuant to the  Underwriting  Agreement.  Capitalized  terms used
herein  and  not  otherwise   defined  have  the  meanings  given  them  in  the
Underwriting Agreement.

                  The Underwriters understand that the Company proposes to issue
and sell $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Notes Due February 15,
2006 (the "Securities").  Subject to the terms, conditions,  representations and
warranties set forth or incorporated by reference herein,  the Company agrees to
sell to the Underwriters  and the Underwriters  severally agree to purchase from
the  Company  the  principal  amount of the  Securities  set forth  next to such
Underwriter's  name in  Exhibit  A hereto at  99.723%  of the  principal  amount
thereof plus accrued  interest  from  February 20, 1996,  if any, to the Closing
Date referred to below. The Prospectus  Supplement with respect to the Purchased
Securities is dated  February 14, 1996 and includes the Basic  Prospectus  dated
February 5, 1996.

                  The  Underwriters  will pay for such  Securities upon delivery
thereof in New York, New York at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on February 20, 1996
(the "Closing Date") by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or at such
other time on the  Closing  Date as shall be agreed  upon by the Company and the
Underwriters.



<PAGE>



                  The Purchased  Securities  shall be issued in book-entry  form
and shall have the following terms:

         (a)     Interest:                  6.50% per annum

         (b)     Maturity:                  February 15, 2006

         (c)     Initial Public
                 Offering Price:            99.723% of the principal
                                            amount of the  Purchased  Securities
                                            plus accrued  interest from February
                                            20, 1996, if any.

         (d)     Interest Payment
                 Dates:                     February 15 and August 15,
                                            commencing August 15, 1996.

         (e)     Regular Record
                 Dates:                     February 1 and August 1
                                            next preceding such interest
                                            payment date.

         (f)     Optional Redemption:       None.


                 All  provisions  contained in the  Underwriting  Agreement  are
incorporated  by  reference  herein in their  entirety and shall be deemed to be
part of this  Agreement  to the same extent as if such  provisions  had been set
forth in full herein.

                 This   Agreement   shall  be  governed  by,  and  construed  in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

                 This  instrument  may be signed by the parties in  counterparts
which together shall  constitute one and the same agreement  between the parties
and shall become effective at such time as each of the parties shall have signed
such counterparts and shall have notified the other party thereof.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                 Please confirm your agreement  herewith by having an authorized
officer sign a copy of this Agreement in the space provided below:

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            DILLON, READ & CO. INC.
                                            WHEAT, FIRST SECURITIES, INC.
                                               as Underwriters


                                            By:  Robert E. Weeden
                                                 Managing Director


Accepted and Agreed to as of
the Date First Above Written:

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION


By: Karen M.L. Whelan
    Vice President and Treasurer


                                       -3-

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A


                                                 Principal Amount
            Name                                    of Notes

Dillon, Read & Co. Inc.....................       $ 70,000,000
Wheat, First Securities, Inc...............         30,000,000
                                                  ------------

                                    Total:        $100,000,000



                                       -4-






                                                            EXHIBIT 4(a)

THIS  SECURITY IS A  BOOK-ENTRY  SECURITY  WITHIN THE  MEANING OF THE  INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER  REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A U.S. DEPOSITORY OR A
NOMINEE OF A U.S.  DEPOSITORY.  THIS  SECURITY IS  EXCHANGEABLE  FOR  SECURITIES
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE U.S. DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE
ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF
THIS  SECURITY  (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER  OF THIS  SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE U.S.
DEPOSITORY  TO A NOMINEE  OF THE U.S.  DEPOSITORY  OR BY A  NOMINEE  OF THE U.S.
DEPOSITORY TO THE U.S. DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE U.S. DEPOSITORY) MAY
BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL  OWNERS OF THIS PERMANENT  GLOBAL SECURITY
SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE  PAYMENT OF INTEREST  HEREON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS HEREOF.

         Unless this Certificate is presented by an authorized representative of
The Depository Trust Company,  a New York  corporation  ("DTC") to the Issuer or
its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate
issued  is  registered  in the  name of  Cede & Co.  or  such  other  name as is
requested  by an  authorized  representative  of DTC (and any payment is made to
Cede  &  Co.  or  to  such  other  entity  as  is  requested  by  an  authorized
representative  of DTC),  ANY TRANSFER,  PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE  BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS  WRONGFUL  inasmuch  as the  registered  owner
hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.


                               -------------------

                              UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

                               -------------------

                            PERMANENT GLOBAL SECURITY
                                  $100,000,000
                        6-1/2% Note Due February 15, 2006

                               -------------------



No. 1                                                        CUSIP No. 913456AB5




<PAGE>



         This permanent  global  Security is one of a duly  authorized  issue of
securities (herein called the "Securities") of Universal Corporation, a Virginia
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company", which term includes any successor
corporation  under the  Indenture  hereinafter  referred  to),  unlimited  as to
aggregate principal amount,  issued and to be issued in one or more series under
an  indenture,  dated as of February 1, 1991,  between the Company and  Chemical
Bank, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture (as  hereinafter  defined)),  to which indenture and
all indentures  supplemental  hereto (the indenture as supplemented being herein
called  the  "Indenture")  reference  is  hereby  made  for a  statement  of the
respective rights thereunder of the Company,  the Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities  and of the terms  upon  which  the  Securities  are,  and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This permanent global Security is one of the series
of Securities  designated on the face hereof, which series has been issued in an
aggregate initial principal amount of One Hundred Million United States Dollars.
This permanent global Security  represents an aggregate initial principal amount
of One Hundred  Million  United States Dollars (as adjusted from time to time in
accordance  with the terms and provisions  hereof and as set forth on Schedule A
hereto,  the  "Principal  Amount") of the  Securities  of such series,  with the
Interest Payment Dates, date of original issuance, and Maturity specified herein
and bearing  interest on said  Principal  Amount at the interest rate  specified
herein.

         The Company, for value received,  hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co.,
or registered  assigns,  the Principal Amount hereof on February 15, 2006 and to
pay interest  (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day  months)
thereon, from February 20, 1996 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to
which  interest  has been  paid or duly  provided  for,  or, if the date of this
permanent global Security is an Interest Payment Date to which interest has been
paid or duly provided for, then from the date hereof semi-annually in arrears on
February  15 and August 15, in each year  commencing  August  15,  1996,  and at
Maturity,  at the rate of 6.50% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or
duly made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or
duly  provided  for,  on any  Interest  Payment  Date will,  as provided in such
Indenture,  be paid to the Person in whose name this permanent  global  Security
(or one or more  Predecessor  Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such  interest,  which shall be the February 1 or
August 1 (whether or not a Business  Day),  as the case may be,  next  preceding
such  Interest  Payment Date.  Any such interest not so punctually  paid or duly
provided for shall  forthwith  cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular
Record Date and shall be paid either to the Person in whose name this  permanent
global  Security (or one or more  Predecessor  Securities)  is registered at the
close of  business  on a Special  Record Date to be fixed by the Trustee for the
payment of such Defaulted Interest,  notice whereof shall be given to the Holder
of this  permanent  global  Security not less than 10 days prior to such Special
Record Date, or at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements  of any securities  exchange on which the Securities of this series
may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange,  all as
more fully provided in such Indenture.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  interest
payable  on this  Security  at  Maturity  will be  payable to the person to whom
principal is payable.


                                        2

<PAGE>



         This  permanent   global  Security  is   exchangeable   for  definitive
Registered Securities of this series and of like tenor and of an equal aggregate
principal  amount,  registered in the name of, and a transfer of this  permanent
global Security may be registered to, any Person other than the U.S.  Depository
or its nominee,  only if (x) the U.S.  Depository with respect to the Securities
of this series (the "U.S. Depository") notifies the Company that it is unwilling
or unable to continue as U.S.  Depository for this permanent  global Security or
if at any time the U.S.  Depository  ceases to be a clearing  agency  registered
under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  (y) the Company in its
sole  discretion  determines  that this  permanent  global  Security shall be so
exchangeable  and executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order providing
that this permanent  global Security shall be so  exchangeable  and the transfer
thereof so  registrable  or (z) there shall have  happened and be  continuing an
Event of Default or any event  which,  after  notice or lapse of time,  or both,
would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of the series of
which this  permanent  global  Security is a part.  In the event this  permanent
global Security is exchangeable  pursuant to the preceding sentence, it shall be
exchanged in whole for definitive  Registered Securities of this series, of like
tenor and of an equal aggregate  principal amount in denominations of $1,000 and
integral  multiples of $1,000 in excess  thereof,  provided that, in the case of
clauses (y) and (z) above,  definitive Registered Securities of this series will
be issued in exchange for this permanent global Security only if such definitive
Registered Securities were requested by written notice to the Security Registrar
by or on behalf of a Person  who is a  beneficial  owner of an  interest  herein
given through the Holder  hereof.  Any  definitive  Registered  Security of this
series issued in exchange for this permanent global Security shall be registered
in the  name  of or  names  of,  and the  transfer  of  such  Securities  may be
registered  to such Person or Persons as the Holder  hereof  shall  instruct the
Security Registrar.  Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in
this permanent global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery
of Securities in definitive  form and will not be considered the Holders thereof
for any purpose under Indenture.

         Any exchange of this  permanent  global  Security or portion hereof for
one or more definitive  Registered Securities of this series will be made at the
New York office of the Security Registrar.  Upon exchange of any portion of this
permanent  global Security for one or more definitive  Registered  Securities of
this series,  the Security  Registrar shall endorse Schedule A of this permanent
global  Security to reflect the reduction of its  Principal  Amount by an amount
equal to the aggregate principal amount of the definitive  Registered Securities
of this series so issued in exchange,  whereupon  the  Principal  Amount  hereof
shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged  and noted.  Except
as otherwise  provided  herein or in the Indenture,  until exchanged in full for
one or more  definitive  Registered  Securities of this series,  this  permanent
global  Security  shall in all  respects be subject to and  entitled to the same
benefits  and  conditions  under  the  Indenture  as a  duly  authenticated  and
delivered definitive Registered Security of this series.

         The  principal  and any  interest  in  respect  of any  portion of this
permanent  global Security  payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date or at
the Stated  Maturity  thereof,  in each case occurring  prior to the exchange of
such portion for a definitive  Registered Security or Securities of this series,
will be  paid,  as  provided  herein,  to the  Holder  hereof.  If a  definitive
Registered

                                        3

<PAGE>



Security or Registered  Securities of this series are issued in exchange for any
portion of this  permanent  global  Security  after the close of business at the
office or agency where such exchange  occurs on (i) any Regular  Record Date and
before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest
Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business
at such office or agency on the related  proposed  date for payment of Defaulted
Interest,  interest  or  Defaulted  Interest,  as the case  may be,  will not be
payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment,  as the case
may be, in  respect  of such  Registered  Security,  but will be payable on such
Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment,  as the case may be, only to
the Holder hereof.

         Payment of the  principal  of and any such  interest on this  permanent
global  Security will be made at the offices of Chemical  Bank, as Paying Agent,
in the Borough of  Manhattan,  The City of New York,  or at such other office or
agency of the Company as may be designated by it for such purpose in the Borough
of  Manhattan,  The City of New York,  in such coin or  currency  of the  United
States  of  America  as at the time of  payment  shall be legal  tender  for the
payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest
may be made at the option of the Company by United States dollar check mailed to
the addresses of the Persons  entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in
the  Security  Register  or  by  transfer  to a  United  States  dollar  account
maintained  by the  payee  with,  a bank in The City of New York (so long as the
applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing).

         This permanent  global  Security is not subject to redemption  prior to
Maturity.

         If an Event of Default with respect to  Securities of this series shall
occur  and be  continuing,  the  principal  of the  Securities  of  this  series
(including  this permanent  global  Security) may be declared due and payable in
the manner and with the effect  provided in the  Indenture.  Upon payment (i) of
the amount of  principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any
overdue  principal  and  overdue  interest  (in each case to the extent that the
payment of such  interest  shall be legally  enforceable),  all of the Company's
obligations  in respect of the payment of the  principal  of and any interest on
the Securities of this series  (including this permanent  global Security) shall
terminate.

         The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the
entire  obligations of the Company under this permanent  global Security and (b)
certain  restrictive  covenants and the related  defaults and Events of Default,
upon  compliance  with certain  conditions set forth therein,  which  provisions
shall apply to this permanent global Security.

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment  thereof and the  modification  of the rights and  obligations  of the
Company  and the rights of the  Holders of the  Securities  of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series affected  thereby.  The
Indenture  also  contains   provisions   permitting  the  Holders  of  specified
percentages  in aggregate  principal  amount of the Securities of each series at
the time Outstanding on behalf

                                        4

<PAGE>



of the  Holders of all  Securities  of such  series to waive  compliance  by the
Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under
the Indenture and their  consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder
of this  permanent  global  Security  shall be conclusive  and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders of this permanent global Security, and of any
Security issued in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of
such consent or waiver is made upon this permanent global Security.

         As set forth in, and subject to, the  provisions of the  Indenture,  no
Holder of any  Security  of this  series  will have any right to  institute  any
proceeding  with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy  thereunder,  unless
such  Holder  shall have  previously  given to the Trustee  written  notice of a
continuing  Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series,  the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate  principal  amount of the  Outstanding
Securities  of  this  series  shall  have  made  written  request,  and  offered
reasonable  indemnity,  to the Trustee to institute such  proceeding as trustee,
and the  Trustee  shall not have  received  from the  Holders of a  majority  in
aggregate  principal  amount  of the  Outstanding  Securities  of this  series a
direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such
proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply
to a suit  instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the
principal of or any interest on this permanent  global  Security on or after the
respective due dates expressed herein.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this permanent
global  Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company,  which is absolute and  unconditional,  to pay the principal of and any
interest on this permanent global Security at the times,  places,  and rate, and
in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
and herein set forth,  the transfer of  Registered  Securities  of the series of
which this permanent global Security is a part may be registered on the Security
Register of the Company,  upon surrender of such Securities for  registration of
transfer  at  the  office  of the  Security  Registrar,  duly  endorsed  by,  or
accompanied  by a written  instrument  of transfer in form  satisfactory  to the
Company and the Security  Registrar  duly executed by the Holder  thereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this  series and of like tenor,  of  authorized  denominations  and for the same
aggregate  principal  amount,  will be issued to the  designated  transferee  or
transferees.

         No service charge shall be made for any such  registration  of transfer
or exchange of Securities as provided above, but the Company may require payment
of a sum  sufficient to cover any tax or other  governmental  charge  payable in
connection therewith.

         Prior to due  presentment  of a  Registered  Security  (including  this
permanent  global  Security)  for  registration  of transfer,  the Company,  the
Trustee  and any agent of the  Company  or the  Trustee  may treat the Person in
whose name such  Security is  registered  as the owner thereof for all purposes,
whether or not such  Security be overdue,  and neither the Company,  the Trustee
nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

                                        5

<PAGE>




         The Securities of this series of which this permanent  global  Security
is a part are issuable only in registered form without coupons, in denominations
of $1,000.00 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and
the  Officers'  Certificate  setting  forth the terms of the  Securities of this
series and subject to certain  limitations  therein set forth, the Securities of
this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities
of this  series and of like tenor of a  different  authorized  denomination,  as
requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

         The  Securities  of  this  series   (including  this  permanent  global
Security) shall be dated the date of their authentication.

         All terms used in this permanent global Security and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

         Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or
on behalf of Chemical Bank,  the Trustee under the Indenture,  or its successors
thereunder,  by the manual  signature of one of its  authorized  officers,  this
permanent  global  Security  shall  not be  entitled  to any  benefit  under the
Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:  February 20, 1996                     UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

[Seal]
                                              By: /s/ Hartwell H. Roper
                                              Title: Vice President and Chief
                                                       Financial Officer
Attest:

/s/ James M. White, III
         Secretary



                                        6

<PAGE>



                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION



This is one of the  Securities of a series issued under the Indenture  described
herein.


CHEMICAL BANK, as Trustee




By:
         Authorized Officer

                                        7

<PAGE>


                                                                    SCHEDULE A

                            SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                               Principal amount            Remaining               Notation made on
                              exchanged for one         principal amount              behalf of
                             or more definitive          following such              the [Trustee]
 Date exchange made               Securities               exchange               [Security Registrar]
=====================       ====================       ==================        ======================
<S>                         <C>                        <C>                       <C>

- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------


- ---------------------       --------------------       ------------------        ----------------------

</TABLE>



                                                                  EXHIBIT 4(b)



                              UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

                       6-1/2% Notes Due February 15, 2006

                              Officers' Certificate



         Pursuant  to  the   Indenture   dated  as  of  February  1,  1991  (the
"Indenture"),  between Universal  Corporation (the "Company") and Chemical Bank,
as  Trustee  (the  "Trustee"),  resolutions  adopted by the  Company's  Board of
Directors  on  December  7,  1995,  and the  Finance  Committee  of the Board of
Directors  (the  "Finance  Committee")  on February  14,  1996,  this  Officers'
Certificate is being delivered to the Trustee to establish the terms of a series
of Securities in accordance with Section 301 of the Indenture,  to establish the
forms  of the  Notes  of such  series  in  accordance  with  Section  201 of the
Indenture,  and to provide to the Trustee the certification  required by Section
102 of the Indenture in connection with the  authentication  of the $100,000,000
aggregate  principal  amount of the Company's 6-1/2% Notes Due February 15, 2006
(the "Notes").

         Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise  defined  herein shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

         All conditions  precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the
establishment of a series of Notes and to the authentication and delivery of the
Notes  have  been  complied  with.  The  Company  is  authorized  to issue up to
$100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

         A.       Establishment of Series pursuant to Section 301 of Indenture.

         There is hereby established  pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture a
series of Notes which shall have the following terms:

                  (1) The Notes of such  series  shall  bear the  title  "6-1/2%
Notes Due February 15, 2006".

                  (2) The Notes of such series shall be limited to $100,000,000
in aggregate principal amount.



<PAGE>



                  (3) The Notes shall be issued as  Registered  Securities  only
and as  Book-Entry  Securities.  The  Depository  Trust Company shall be the U.S
Depository  with  respect  to the  Notes.  The Notes  shall be  exchangeable  as
provided in the Indenture and in the form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit
A.

                  (4)  Interest  shall be  payable to the person in whose name a
Note (or any  predecessor  Note) is  registered  at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date (as defined  below) next  preceding the applicable  Interest
Payment Date (as defined below);  provided,  however,  that interest  payable at
Maturity will be payable to the Person to whom principal shall be payable.

                  (5) The principal of the Notes shall be payable on 
February 15, 2006.

                  (6) The Notes shall bear interest  (computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve  30-day  months) from  February 20, 1996 or from the most
recent  Interest  Payment Date to which  interest has been paid or duly provided
for, at the rate of 6.50% per annum, until the principal thereof is paid or duly
made available for payment.  Interest shall be payable in arrears  semi-annually
on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 1996 (each such
date, an "Interest  Payment  Date"),  to the person in whose name a Note (or any
predecessor  Note) is  registered  at the close of  business  on the  applicable
preceding  February  1 or August 1 (each such date,  a "Regular  Record  Date");
provided,  however,  that interest  payable at Maturity  shall be payable to the
person to whom principal shall be payable.

                  (7)  Principal of and interest on the Notes will be payable at
the office of the Paying  Agent,  in the Borough of  Manhattan,  The City of New
York, provided that payments of interest,  other than interest at Maturity,  may
be made at the  option of the  Company  by check  mailed to the  address  of the
person  entitled  thereto as it appears on the registry  books of the Company at
the close of business on the Regular Record Date  corresponding  to the relevant
Interest Payment Date. Upon the terms,  conditions and circumstances provided in
the Indenture and in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, the transfer
of the Notes will be registrable and Notes will be exchangeable for Notes of any
authorized  denominations and of a like tenor at the corporate trust office of a
security  registrar  selected  by the  Company,  initially  Chemical  Bank  (the
"Security Registrar"), in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

                  (8)  The Notes are not redeemable prior to Maturity.

                  (9)  The Notes are not subject to redemption or purchase
pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions.

                  (10) The  denomination  of the Notes of such  series  shall be
$1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.


                                        2

<PAGE>



                  (11) Payments of principal of and interest on the Notes shall
be made in United States dollars.

                  (12) The  principal  of and interest on the Notes shall not be
payable in any currency other than United States dollars.

                  (13) The amount of payments of principal of or interest on the
Notes shall not be determined with reference to an index.

                  (14) The  portion of the  principal  amount of the Notes which
shall be payable upon  declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof shall
be the principal amount thereof.

                  (15) There is no limitation on the application of Sections 
1402 and 1403 of the Indenture to the Notes.

                  (16) Section 311 of the Indenture shall not apply to the 
Notes.

         B.       Establishment of Note Forms pursuant to Section 201 of
Indenture.

         It is hereby  established,  pursuant to Section  201 of the  Indenture,
that the  Notes  shall be  substantially  in the  form of the  permanent  global
security attached as Exhibit A hereto.

         C.       Other Matters.

         Attached as Exhibit B hereto are true and correct copies,  certified by
the  Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of the Company,  of  resolutions  duly
adopted by the Board of  Directors  of the Company at a meeting  duly called and
held on December 7, 1995 at which a quorum was present and acting throughout and
resolutions  duly  adopted by the Finance  Committee  at a meeting  duly called,
convened  and held on February 14, 1996 at which a quorum was present and acting
throughout;  such  resolutions  have  not been  amended,  modified,  revoked  or
rescinded and remain in full force and effect; and such resolutions are the only
resolutions  and  authorizations  adopted by the Company's Board of Directors or
any committee thereof relating to the offering and sale of the Notes.

                                      * * *

         Each of the undersigned has read the sections of the Indenture  setting
forth  the  conditions  precedent  to the  authentication  of the  Notes and the
definitions  related  thereto  contained  therein.  Each of the  undersigned has
examined  the  resolutions  adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and
the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors  relating to the  authorization,
issuance, authentication and delivery

                                        3

<PAGE>



of the Notes and has conducted such  additional  examinations  as each considers
necessary.  In the opinion of each of the  undersigned,  he or she has made such
examination  or  investigation  as is  necessary  for him or her to  express  an
informed  opinion  as  to  whether  or  not  the  conditions  precedent  to  the
establishment and authentication of a series of Notes contained in the Indenture
have been  complied  with. In the opinion of each of the  undersigned,  all such
conditions have been complied with.

Dated: February 20, 1996

                                       UNIVERSAL CORPORATION



                                       By: /s/ Hartwell H. Roper
                                       Title: Vice President and Chief
                                                 Financial Officer


                                       By: /s/ James M. White, III
                                       Title:    Secretary and General Counsel




                                        4



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