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: January 22, 1998
(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 January 22, 1998 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 January 22,
1998.
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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: January 23, 1998 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 January 22, 1998.
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 January 22, 1998
Phone: (804)359-9311 8:00 A.m. EST
Fax: (804)254-3594
UNIVERSAL AND SOCOTAB TO FORM PARTNERSHIP IN ORIENTAL LEAF TOBACCO
RICHMOND, VA, January 22, 1998 / PRNEWSWIRE
Henry H. Harrell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation
announced today that N.V. Deli Universal, a Dutch subsidiary of Universal, has
reached agreement to sell all of its minority interest in a European spice
company to the majority owner, Cosun, a Dutch cooperative. The transaction is
expected to be finalized by the end of January.
The spice company, Unifine, has annual sales of approximately NLG 150 million
(about $77 million). Universal estimates that it will recognize an after-tax
gain of approximately $11 million on the transaction, which will be reflected in
Universal's third quarter earnings.
Universal Corporation is a diversified company with operations in tobacco,
lumber, and agri-products. Its gross revenues for the fiscal year that ended on
June 30, 1997, were approximately $4.1 billion.
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