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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

[ x ]    Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Period Ended December 31, 2002

OR

[    ]    Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Transition Period From                      to                     

Commission file number 1-652

                UNIVERSAL CORPORATION                

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code  –  (804) 359-9311

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes   X           No          

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant’s classes of Common Stock as of the latest practicable date:

Common Stock, no par value – 25,200,417 shares outstanding as of February 6, 2003

PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Universal Corporation and Subsidiaries

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS

Three and Six Months Ended December 31, 2002 and 2001

(In thousands of dollars, except per share data)

See accompanying notes.

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Universal Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of dollars)

See accompanying notes.

2

Universal Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of dollars)

See accompanying notes.

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Universal Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Six months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001

(In thousands of dollars)

See accompanying notes.

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Universal Corporation and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2002

All figures contained herein are unaudited.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working capital at December 31, 2002, was $500 million compared to $432 million at June 30, 2002. The increase in working capital was the result of an increase in cash of $91 million in anticipation of funding the acquisition of JéWé in January 2003 and the repayment of $120 million of long-term debt due at the end of February 2003. We generated much of the cash increase through the issuance of medium-term notes and other long-term debt, as we will describe later. We expect to fund the remaining amounts needed for these transactions using commercial paper and bank borrowings, for which we have adequate committed back-up bank facilities. In addition, our tobacco inventories increased by $95 million during the first six months of fiscal year 2003. Inventories usually increase during the first half of the fiscal year when tobacco is received and processed in Africa and the United States, and is awaiting shipment to customers. Inventory is usually financed with a mix of cash, notes payable, and customer deposits, which depends upon our borrowing capabilities, interest rates, and exchange rates, as well as those of our customers. We generally do not purchase material quantities of tobacco on a speculative basis; thus the increase in inventory represents primarily tobacco that has been committed to customers.

With some exceptions, our international tobacco operations conduct business in U.S. dollars, thereby limiting foreign exchange risk to local processing and overhead costs. However, for those tobacco and non-tobacco subsidiaries who conduct their business in other currencies, changes in currency exchange rates can affect the translation of their financial statements, and in some cases give rise to currency gains or losses. Agri-product and lumber operations enter into foreign exchange contracts to hedge firm purchase and sales commitments for terms of less than six months. Interest rate risk is limited in the tobacco business because customers usually pre-finance purchases or pay market rates of interest for inventory purchased for their accounts. As of December 31, 2002, interest on almost 50% of our $823 million in total debt was based on floating market interest rates in order to better match the interest rates that we charge our customers.

During the first half of fiscal year 2003, we purchased nearly 1 million shares of our common stock for approximately $35 million, leaving 25.3 million shares outstanding as of December 31, 2002. Of the $450 million approved by our Board of Directors, approximately $117 million remained available for future purchases.

In the six months since June 2002, we issued a total of $99.5 million in medium-term notes with interest rates ranging from 5.1% to 6.1% and maturities ranging from five to ten years. The issuance completed the sale of all of the securities registered pursuant to a $400 million shelf registration filed in 2000.

On December 26, 2002, one of our subsidiaries entered into a secured $12 million term loan. Universal Corporation guaranteed the loan, and it is secured by an aircraft. It matures on December 31, 2007, and under some conditions, our subsidiary can exercise an extension option for an additional four years. The proceeds of these financings were used for general corporate purposes.

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We believe that our liquidity and capital resources at December 31, 2002, remain adequate to support our foreseeable operating needs.

Results of Operations

Net income for the three-month period ending December 31, 2002, was $26.7 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, compared to $29.1 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2002. For the first six months of fiscal year 2003, net earnings were $55.2 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, compared to $57.4 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, in the prior year. Results for the six months are net of a $13.5 million before-tax restructuring charge recorded in the first quarter, related to the consolidation and streamlining of U.S. operations.

Revenues were $709 million in the quarter and $1.4 billion for the first six months of fiscal year 2003 compared to $744 million and $1.4 billion, respectively, in the comparable periods of fiscal year 2002.

Tobacco results were down in the quarter, primarily due to lower volumes shipped from Africa. Shipments from Zimbabwe, which has suffered a major contraction in the size of its flue-cured crop due to the political and economic situation in that country, were sharply lower both in the quarter and in the six-month period. In addition to the effect of Zimbabwe’s smaller crop, shipments of tobacco from Zimbabwe and Malawi were lower in the six months because carryover shipments in last fiscal year’s first quarter did not occur this year. For the six months, tobacco segment earnings were higher due to increased shipments from the large crops in Brazil and improved Argentine volumes. Argentine leaf volumes were up significantly in both the quarter and the six months reflecting an improvement in the competitiveness of Argentine tobacco due to the devaluation of the peso. In last year’s second quarter, the Company recognized a $4.7 million pre-tax charge related to the redenomination of value-added tax receivables in Argentina. European volumes were also higher in both periods.

Sales of dark tobacco were down in the quarter and for the six months, due to a decline in domestic processing volumes and because the prior year included old crop carryover shipments that were not repeated this year. Results for the oriental tobacco joint venture were down mainly due to lower sales of old crop tobacco. Tobacco revenues were $35 million lower during the quarter, primarily reflecting reduced sales from Africa, and $9 million lower for the six months, mainly due to the reduced sales from Africa and the United States, which were partially offset by higher Brazilian sales. Export volumes in the United States continue to decline, and without major changes in the federal tobacco price support program, U.S. export sales are likely to continue this trend.

Lumber and building products results were up for both the quarter and the six months as the continued appreciation of the euro against the U.S. dollar benefited both revenues and earnings, offsetting the effect of slowing volumes and wage pressures. The average euro exchange rate against the U.S. dollar increased by about 8% in the quarter and about 9.4% for the six months. Revenues were flat in the quarter and increased by $16.5 million for the six months due to the effect of the stronger euro as well as the inclusion of sales of a do-it-yourself distribution company acquired last year. Agri-product results were lower in the quarter and in the six months. While difficult markets continued for tea, rubber, canned meat, and confectionery sunflower seeds, record sales of nuts and dried fruit provided a significant contribution in both periods. Revenues for the agri-products group were down slightly for the quarter and for the six months.

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Interest expense declined in the quarter and six months due to generally lower rates in the United States.

Results for the first half of fiscal year 2003 were in line with management’s expectations. For the year, we still expect our results to reflect larger volumes in Brazil, Malawi, and a number of other African origins, offsetting a significant decline in leaf volumes in Zimbabwe. The economic situation in Zimbabwe worsens daily, and some sources estimate that the crop, which will be marketed during our fiscal year 2004, may only reach 75 – 85 million kilos, down from 166 million kilos this fiscal year. As a result of the expected smaller Zimbabwe crop, we are planning to downsize operations there, and subject to ratification by the relevant government ministry, we expect to take a charge during the second half of the year for necessary reductions in personnel. We estimate that the charge will be approximately $12.5 million, before taxes. The economic situation in Argentina also continues to be uncertain. However, the devaluation of the peso has created improved sales opportunities for Argentine leaf, and shipments from Argentina should be higher this year. Although recent rains have lowered estimates for fiscal year 2004 Brazilian flue-cured and burley crops, they are still projected to be larger than this year’s record levels. We expect worldwide leaf supply overall to be adequate to meet demand.

Lumber and building products results continue to be affected by the economic malaise in the Netherlands and in Belgium, which has led to lower construction activity. However, the appreciation of the euro has favorably impacted the results of these companies, providing some relief from slowing sales volumes and wage pressures. In addition, we expect the acquisition of JéWé, a leading distributor of lumber and building products to do-it-yourself (DIY) markets in the Netherlands and a number of other European countries, which was completed on January 16, 2003, to be accretive to earnings during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2003. Our agri-products operations continue to experience difficult markets, particularly for tea and confectionery sunflower seeds. However, the prospects for nut and dried fruits sales during the remainder of the fiscal year appear favorable.

The first half of the year showed good improvement in operating earnings before restructuring charges. Although the outlook for the remainder of the year looks to be challenging, we now expect that earnings for the full year, before restructuring charges, will be higher than last year’s levels. We continue to believe that our strategy is effective, and we remain dedicated to increasing shareholder value by generating solid long-term earnings growth and returns exceeding our cost of capital. Our focus for the remainder of this year will be on providing the highest possible levels of service to our customers, continuing to build and strengthen strategic relationships, identifying and developing new sources of tobacco to meet customer demand, and maximizing operating efficiency.

During the second quarter we purchased a total of about 642,000 shares for $22.9 million leaving 25.3 million shares outstanding. As of December 31, 2002, approximately $117 million was available out of the original $450 million authorized by the board of directors for the share repurchase program.

The Company cautions readers that any statements contained herein regarding earnings and expectations for our performance are forward-looking statements based upon management’s current knowledge and assumptions about future events, including anticipated levels of demand for and supply of the Company’s products and services; costs incurred in providing these products and services; timing of shipments to customers; changes in market structure; and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions. Lumber and building products earnings are also affected by changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the euro.

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Actual results, therefore, could vary from those expected. For more details on important factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations, see Item 1, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Item 7, and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Within the 90-day period prior to the filing of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined by Rule 13a-14(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based on and as of the date of such evaluation, the aforementioned officers have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

The Company also maintains a system of internal accounting controls that is designed to provide assurance that assets are safeguarded and that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization and properly recorded. This system is continually reviewed and is augmented by written policies and procedures, the careful selection and training of qualified personnel, and an internal audit program to monitor its effectiveness. There were no significant changes to this system of internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation or to other factors that could significantly affect those controls.

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PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

On February 26, 2001, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated, J.P. Taylor Company, Incorporated, and Southwestern Tobacco Company, Incorporated, who were subsidiaries of Universal Corporation at that time (the “Company Subsidiaries”), were served with the Third Amended Complaint, naming them and other leaf tobacco merchants as defendants in DeLoach, et al. v. Philip Morris Inc., et al., a suit originally filed against U.S. cigarette manufacturers in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and now pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Greensboro Division (Case No. 00-CV-1235) (the “DeLoach Suit”). The DeLoach Suit is a class action brought on behalf of U.S. tobacco growers and quota holders that alleges that the 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. On April 3, 2002, the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina issued an opinion and order certifying the class. The Company Subsidiaries petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for appeal of the class certification pursuant to Rule 23(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the petition was denied. Trial is currently scheduled for April, 2004. The Company Subsidiaries intend to vigorously defend the DeLoach Suit. The suit is still in its initial stages, and at this time no estimate can be made of the impact on the Company that could result from an unfavorable outcome at trial.

The Directorate General—Competition of the European Commission (“DG Comp”) is investigating the buying practices of Spanish tobacco processors with the stated aim of determining to what extent the tobacco processing companies have jointly agreed on raw tobacco qualities and prices offered to Spanish tobacco growers. After conducting an investigation, the Company believes that Spanish tobacco processors, including the Company’s Spanish subsidiary, Tabacos Espanoles, S.A. (“TAES”), have jointly agreed to the terms of sale of green tobacco and quantities to be purchased from associations of farmers and have jointly negotiated with those associations. TAES is cooperating fully with the DG Comp in its investigation and believes that there are unusual, mitigating circumstances peculiar to the highly structured market for green tobacco in Spain. Although the fine, if any, that the DG Comp may assess on TAES could be material to the Company’s earnings, the Company is not able to make an accurate assessment of the amount or timing of any such fine at this time.

The Company is also aware that the DG Comp is investigating certain practices of tobacco leaf dealers in Italy. The Company has a subsidiary, Deltafina S.p.A., that buys and processes tobacco in Italy. At this time, the Company does not believe that the DG Comp investigation in Italy will result in fines being assessed against it or its subsidiaries that would be material to the Company’s earnings.

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ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER REGARDING UNIVERSAL

CORPORATION’S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR

THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002

I, Allen B. King, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) of Universal Corporation, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Universal Corporation;

2.      Based on my knowledge, this Quarterly Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Quarterly Report;

3.      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Quarterly Report;

4.      The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

(a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report is being prepared;

(b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Quarterly Report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

(c)    presented in this Quarterly Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.      The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)    all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

(b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.      The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this Quarterly Report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:  February 7, 2003

    /s/  ALLEN B. KING                                     

Allen B. King

President and Chief Executive Officer

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CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER REGARDING UNIVERSAL

CORPORATION’S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR

THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002

I, Hartwell H. Roper, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) of Universal Corporation, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Universal Corporation;

2.      Based on my knowledge, this Quarterly Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Quarterly Report;

3.      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Quarterly Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Quarterly Report;

4.      The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

(a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report is being prepared;

(b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Quarterly Report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

(c)    presented in this Quarterly Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.      The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)    all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

(b)    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.      The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this Quarterly Report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date:  February 7, 2003

    /s/  HARTWELL H. ROPER                            

Hartwell H. Roper

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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