http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/org/uvv.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aZsrQj8CceTw http://tobacco.org/news/267432.html Universal Corp., the world's biggest tobacco-leaf merchant, forecast global output of the top grade of the commodity at 3.936 billion kilograms (8.7 billion pounds) this year, little changed from last month's projection. The estimate is less than 0.1 percent higher than last month's forecast of 3.933 billion kilograms and 1.8 percent above last year's production of 3.868 billion kilograms of flue-cured tobacco, Richmond, Virginia-based Universal said on its Web site. The projection for Canada's crop was increased by 2.6 million kilograms and Italy's by 2.2 million kilograms, Universal said. Global burley tobacco production will probably be 708 million kilograms, compared with last month's forecast of 711, Universal said. The latest projection is 14 percent higher than last year's output of 620 million kilograms. Bloomberg News clourens@bloomberg.net (Carli Lourens) Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.richmond.com/business/24372 http://tobacco.org/news/266037.html What is this, trounce on Gene Trani month? The New York Times unloaded on Virginia Commonwealth University, and by implication the school's president Eugene Trani, last week when it concocted a story about VCU's "secretive" research contract with Philip Morris USA. (See "NY Times Slimes VCU.") Now Style Weekly has followed up with a short article, describing Trani's "deep" connections to the tobacco industry by highlighting his membership on the Universal Corp. board of directors. . . . As a member of the Universal board of directors, Trani receives a retainer of $40,000, including stock options, plus a fee of $2,000 for each board meeting he attends and $1,500 for committee meetings. Universal is a global trader and processor of tobacco leaf. And the implication is--? "I don't see any connection between these two," university spokesperson Pam Lepley told Style. "And his being on the board doesn't really pertain to the university." Lepley was too mild. First of all, Philip Morris didn't "give" VCU $1.3 million. It paid VCU $1.3 million for research services. Richmond.com Rbizeditor@richmond.com (James A. Bacon Richmond.com) Thu, 29 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-27-2008/0004820897&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/266025.html George C. Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), said today, "Despite lower fourth quarter results due to shipment timing, we are pleased with our performance for fiscal year 2008 as we reported last week. We are confident in the long-term future of the Company. We know of no reason for last week's unusual activity in the Company's stock." PR Newswire Tue, 27 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17075 http://tobacco.org/news/265993.html Eugene Trani's connection to the tobacco industry runs deep. The New York Times reported last week that Virginia Commonwealth University inked a controversial research deal with Philip Morris USA in 2006. The deal prohibits researchers at the public university from publishing their findings without a longer-than-usual review process from the company. Between the restricted contract and other moneys, Philip Morris gave $1.3 million to VCU last year. But Trani, VCU's president, has gotten more from the tobacco industry than a million bucks. In fact, Trani is the tobacco industry. As a member of the board of directors of Universal Corp., Trani receives an annual retainer of $40,000, including stock options. He also receives a fee of $2,000 for each board of directors' meeting he attends and another $1,500 for attending committee meetings. . . . "I don't see any connection between these two," university spokeswoman Pam Lepley says. "And his being on the board doesn't really pertain to the university." Style Weekly Wed, 28 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-22-2008/0004819598&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/265852.html George C. Freeman, III,President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), announced today that the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of forty-five cents ($0.45) per share on the common shares of the Company, payable August 11, 2008, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on July 14, 2008. In addition, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $16.875 per share PR Newswire Thu, 22 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-20-2008/0004817920&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/265659.html Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) will webcast its conference call on May 22, 2008, following the release of its results for fiscal year 2008 after market close on that date. The conference call will begin at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and will be hosted by Karen M. L. Whelan, Vice President and Treasurer. PR Newswire Tue, 20 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-07-2008/0004751893&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/259499.html Allen B. King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), announced that income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, which ended on December 31, 2007, increased by 42% to $50.8 million, or $1.56 per diluted share. In the same quarter last year, continuing operations earned $35.8 million, or $1.17 per diluted share. For fiscal year 2008, the third quarter's results reflected higher earnings in the Other Regions segment of the flue-cured and burley operations, as well as Other Tobacco Operations. PR Newswire Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-05-2008/0004750076&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/259325.html Allen B. King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), announced today that the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of forty-five cents ($0.45) per share on the common shares of the Company, payable May 12, 2008, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on April 14, 2008. PR Newswire Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-04-2008/0004748914&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/259217.html Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) will webcast its conference call on February 7, 2008, following the release of its results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 after market close on that date. The conference call will begin at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and will be hosted by Karen M. L. Whelan, Vice President and Treasurer. PR Newswire Mon, 04 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-11-2007/0004720873&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/256552.html Hartwell H. Roper, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), has announced his plans to retire effective August 31, 2008. The Board of Directors has elected David C. Moore, currently Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, to succeed Mr. Roper as Chief Financial Officer as of September 1, 2008. Mr. Moore has been with Universal since 1978, and began his career in the areas of finance and international operations. He served the company in assignments of increasing complexity and responsibility, which included oversight of the company's European offices from 1999 to 2005, and became Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Universal Corporation in April 2006. PR Newswire Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-12-2007/0004703313&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/255270.html Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) will host a live audio webcast of the Company's New York presentation to investors at http://www.universalcorp.com on Wednesday, November 14, 2007. The webcast will air a presentation by George C. Freeman PR Newswire Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/596576 http://tobacco.org/news/255189.html THE trade ministry is investigating Uganda Leaf Tobacco Company Ltd for engaging in marketing malpractices. The ministry is furious that the firm contravened the Tobacco Control and Marketing Regulation 1996 by buying tobacco leaf in Kibaale district from farmers sponsored by Continental Tobacco (U) Ltd, a rival company. "This office has received allegations suggestive of the fact that your company has been involved in marketing malpractices by buying tobacco from farmers in Kibaale district where you have only been introduced to conduct feasibility studies but have not been issued a Tobacco Buyers' Certificate. "It is further alleged that in Kyebando Unit, you bought tobacco at night without issuing receipts. The New Vision Uganda Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-07-2007/0004700266&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/254991.html Allen B. King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), announced that income from continuing operations for the second quarter of fiscal year 2008, which ended on September 30, 2007, increased by 9% to $40.5 million, or $1.25 per diluted share. Last year, continuing operations earned $37.2 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, in the same quarter. The quarter's results reflected improvements primarily in Africa due to lower provisions for farmer receivables and lower inventory valuation adjustments, which in aggregate declined by $27 million in that region. That improvement was offset in part by lower margins due to smaller crops that caused higher purchase prices for leaf and higher unit processing and agronomic costs. Earnings also benefited from significantly lower net interest expense. Net income for the quarter, including results from discontinued operations, was $39.8 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, compared to $3.1 million, or $0.09 per diluted share last year. PR Newswire Wed, 07 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-07-2007/0004641164&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/250989.html Allen B. King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), announced that income from operations for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, which ended on June 30, 2007, was $18.2 million, or $0.52 per diluted share. That performance represented a significant improvement over last year's results, which reflected a loss of $13.7 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, from continuing operations. PR Newswire Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-08-2007/0004642035&EDATE= http://tobacco.org/news/250987.html Allen B. King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), said today, "We are pleased with our first quarter performance as reported yesterday, and are confident in the long-term future of the Company. We know of no reason for the recent unusual activity in the Company's stock." PR Newswire Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT