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: April 3, 2002
(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
Item 5. Other Events.
On February 26, 2001, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated,
J.P. Taylor Company, Incorporated and Southwestern Tobacco Company,
Incorporated, who are subsidiaries of Universal Corporation (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 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. 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
intend to petition 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. Regardless of the outcome of such petition and any consequent appeal,
the Company Subsidiaries intend to vigorously defend the DeLoach Suit. The suit
is still in its initial stages, and at this time no estimate of the impact on
the Company that could result from an unfavorable outcome at trial can be made.
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: April 5, 2001 By: /s/ George C. Freeman, III
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George C. Freeman, III
General Counsel and Secretary