SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: August 6, 1997
(Date of earliest event reported)
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Virginia 1-652 54-0414210
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
1501 North Hamilton Street 23230
Richmond, Virginia (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(804) 359-9311
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Item 5. Other Events.
The press release issued by the Registrant on August 6, 1997 and attached
hereto as Exhibit 99 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
99 Press release issued by the Registrant on August 6, 1997.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: August 21, 1997 By: /s/ William J. Coronado
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William J. Coronado
Controller
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Exhibit Index
Number Document
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99 Press release issued by the Registrant on August 6, 1997.
Exhibit 99
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NEWS
P.O. Box 25099 Phone: (804)359-9311
Richmond, VA 23260 Fax: (804)254-3584
Contact: Release:
KAREN M.L. WHELAN August 6, 1997
Phone: (804)359-9311 9:00 A.m. EDT
Fax: (804)254-3594
UNIVERSAL AND SOCOTAB TO FORM PARTNERSHIP IN ORIENTAL LEAF TOBACCO
RICHMOND, VA and NEW YORK, August 6, 1997 / PRNEWSWIRE
Henry H. Harrell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation,
Richmond, Virginia and Harold S. Wertheimer, President of Socotab Leaf Tobacco
Company, Inc., New York, New York today announced the signing of a letter of
intent to combine both companies' oriental leaf tobacco businesses into a
partnership. The resulting company, Socotab Leaf Tobacco Company, L.L.C, will be
the leading oriental leaf tobacco merchant in the world with global revenues in
excess of $300 million.
Oriental tobacco is an integral component of American blend cigarettes. The new
company will have enhanced capabilities to serve the growing world demand for
oriental leaf.
The new company's Board of Directors will have representation from each of the
two partners. Mr. Harold S. Wertheimer will be Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of the new company, which will have its operational and financial
headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The company will have operations in Turkey,
Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece, the major sources of oriental style tobacco. The
transaction is subject to final approvals of the respective Boards of Directors
and should be completed within 90 days.
Universal Corporation is a diversified company with operations in leaf tobacco,
lumber, and agri-products. Socotab Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc., founded in 1923,
is one of the world's leading oriental leaf tobacco merchants.
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