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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: December 20, 2000
(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
Richmond, Virginia 23230
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(804) 359-9311
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Item 5. Other Events.
On December 20, 2000, the plaintiffs in Deloach, et al. v. Philip
Morris Companies Inc., et al., following the transfer of the suit from the
United States District Court for the District of Columbia to the United States
District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Greensboro Division
(Case No. 00-CV-1235) (the "Deloach Suit") filed a motion for leave to file a
third amended complaint to add as named defendants Universal Leaf Tobacco
Company, Incorporated, J.P. Taylor Company, Inc. and Southwestern Tobacco
Company, Inc., (collectively, the "Company Subsidiaries") subsidiaries of
Universal Corporation and other leaf tobacco merchants as defendants. The
Deloach Suit is a purported class action brought on behalf of U.S. tobacco
growers and quota holders that alleges that defendants violated antitrust laws
by bid-rigging at tobacco auctions and by conspiring to undermine the tobacco
quota and price support program administered by the federal government.
Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, trebled damages in an unspecified amount,
pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys' fees and costs of litigation. If the
Company Subsidiaries become defendants, they intend to join with the motion to
dismiss previously filed by the manufacturer defendants and to otherwise
vigorously defend the suit.
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SIGNATURE
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
Date: January 8, 2001 By: /s/ George C. Freeman, III
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George C. Freeman, III
Assistant Secretary
