SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 11-K
[X] Annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 [fee required] for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.
OR
[_] Transition report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 [no fee required]
Commission file number 1-652
A. Full title of the Plan:
EMPLOYEES' STOCK PURCHASE PLAN OF UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO COMPANY,
INCORPORATED AND DESIGNATED AFFILIATED COMPANIES.
B. Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the
address of its principle executive office:
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
1501 NORTH HAMILTON STREET
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23260
(804) 359-9311
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Plan
Administrator has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
EMPLOYEES' STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
OF UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO
COMPANY, INCORPORATED AND
DESIGNATED AFFILIATED COMPANIES
DATE: June __, 2001 /s/ Hartwell H. Roper
---------------------------------
Hartwell H. Roper
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated
and Designated Affiliated Companies
Audited Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules
Years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 with Report of Independent Auditors
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated
and Designated Affiliated Companies
Audited Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules
Years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999
with Report of Independent Auditors
Table of Contents
Report of Independent Auditors........................................................................... 1
Financial Statements
Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits..................................................... 2
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits........................................... 3
Notes to Financial Statements............................................................................ 4
Supplemental Schedules
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at End of Year.................... 10
Schedule H, Line 4j - Schedule of Reportable Transactions............................................... 11
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
Human Resources Policy and Planning Team
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated
and Designated Affiliated Companies
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
of the Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies (the Plan) as of December 31,
2000 and 1999, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for
benefits for the year ended December 31, 2000. These financial statements are
the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at
December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the changes in its net assets available for
benefits for the year ended December 31, 2000, in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States.
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial
statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedules of assets
held for investment purposes at end of year as of December 31, 2000, and
reportable transactions for the year then ended, are presented for purposes of
additional analysis and are not a required part of the financial statements but
are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and
Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of
the Plan's management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the
auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in
our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the
financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ Ernst & Young
Richmond, Virginia
June 22, 2001
1
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31
2000 1999
---------------------------
Common stock of Universal Corporation $41,359,681 $27,359,031
Common stock of LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. 719,421 394,922
Fixed income fund 1,076,402 1,029,558
Temporary cash investments 6,489 25,102
---------------------------
Net assets available for benefits $43,161,993 $28,808,613
===========================
See accompanying notes.
2
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Year ended December 31, 2000
December 31,
2000
------------
Investment income:
Net appreciation in market value of investments $15,195,203
Cash dividends 1,535,893
Interest 73,887
------------
16,804,983
Contributions:
Employer 1,603,445
Employee 1,603,445
------------
3,206,890
Withdrawals and forfeitures of employees' accounts (5,658,493)
------------
Net increase 14,353,380
Net assets available for benefits:
December 31, 1999 28,808,613
------------
December 31, 2000 $43,161,993
============
See accompanying notes.
3
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Notes to Financial Statements
Year ended December 31, 2000 and 1999
1. Description of the Plan
A complete description of Plan provisions including those relating to vesting,
withdrawals and distributions is contained in the Summary Plan Description and
the Plan document which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Copies of these documents and the prospectus relating to the Plan
are available from the Universal Corporation Benefits Department. The following
summary should be read in conjunction with the aforementioned documents.
General
The Plan is a defined contribution plan sponsored by Universal Leaf Tobacco
Company, Incorporated (the Sponsor) for the benefit of certain salaried
employees of the sponsor and designated affiliated companies (Employers). The
Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974 (ERISA).
Contributions
After one year of service, employees may elect to contribute 1% to 5% of their
total pay (including overtime and bonuses) by means of monthly payroll
deductions. Employers match 100% of employee contributions except to the extent
that the employer contribution is reduced by forfeitures from nonvested
withdrawing participants.
Employees may elect to invest in the Universal Corporation Common Stock Fund,
Fixed Income Fund or to divide their contributions equally between the two
funds. Employers' contributions are invested only in the Universal Corporation
Common Stock Fund.
Participant accounts
Each participant's account consists of participant's contributions, the
Employer's matching contribution and credit from forfeitures and an allocation
of the Plan's investment income. The benefit to which a participant is entitled
is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's account.
4
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of the Plan (continued)
Vesting
Participants are fully vested in their contributions and in Employer
contributions in the event of retirement, disability or death. Otherwise,
vesting in the Employer contributions occurs according to the following
schedule:
Years of service Vesting percentage
---------------- ------------------
0-4 0%
5 100%
Benefits
Participants who retire or become disabled may receive a distribution in a
single lump sum or in annual installments over a period not to exceed ten years.
Termination
While the sponsor has not expressed any intent to terminate the Plan, it is free
to do so at any time, subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan
termination, participants will become fully vested in their accounts.
LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. Shares
During October 1991, each participant elected to either sell or hold all
LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. (formerly Lawyers Title Corporation) shares
distributed to them as a dividend from the spin-off from Universal Corporation.
Pursuant to an IRS Ruling and applicable Treasury Regulations, participants were
required to allocate their tax basis in the Universal Corporation Common Stock
held at the time of the distribution between their Universal Corporation Common
Stock and LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. Common Stock (including any
fractional share
5
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of the Plan (continued)
interest) in proportion to their relative fair market values at that time.
Based on the average of the high and low trading prices of Universal Corporation
Common Stock and LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. Common Stock on October 1,
1991, 95.343 percent of the basis was allocated to Universal Corporation Common
Stock and 4.657 percent was allocated to LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc.
Common Stock.
Participants continuing to hold LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. shares may
elect to sell 100% of their holdings as part of their regular semi-annual
elections and have the proceeds invested in Universal Corporation Common Stock.
No additional investments in LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. Common Stock are
permitted under the Plan.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
The Plan's investments are held by a bank-administered trust fund which changed
from Wachovia to Bank of New York during 2000. Investments in the Common Stock
Funds are carried at market value based upon quotations from the New York Stock
Exchange. Dividends are recorded on the record date, and interest is accrued as
earned.
The fixed income fund is primarily invested in the Stable Value Fund I, a pooled
fund of investment contracts managed by Wachovia Asset Management. The
investment contracts are valued at contract value, which approximates market
value. The rate of return of the fund is based on the crediting rate of the
underlying guaranteed investment contracts. These contracts generally provide
for a fixed rate of return over the term of the contract. During 2000 the
average yield for the fund was 6.48% (6.13% in 1999), and at December 31, 2000
the crediting rating was 6.60% (6.26% at December 31, 1999).
6
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
3. Investments
During 2000, the Plan's investments in common stock (including investments
purchased, sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in fair value by
$15,195,203.
Information about the net assets and the significant components of changes in
net assets related to the nonparticipant-directed investments is as follows:
December 31,
2000 1999
--------------------------
Investments at fair value:
Universal Corporation common stock $41,359,681 $27,359,031
Temporary cash investments 6,489 25,102
--------------------------
$41,366,170 $27,384,133
==========================
Year ended
December 31,
2000
-------------
Change in net assets:
Contributions $ 3,034,140
Dividends 1,535,893
Interest 6,962
Net appreciation in market value 14,778,832
Withdrawals and forfeitures (5,387,019)
Transfers between funds 13,229
------------
$13,982,037
============
7
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
4. Differences Between Financial Statements and Form 5500
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the
financial statements to the Form 5500:
December 31,
2000
------------
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements $43,161,993
Amounts allocated to withdrawn participants (543,141)
------------
Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500 $42,618,852
============
The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to participants per the
financial statements to the Form 5500:
Year ended
December 31,
2000
------------
Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements $ 5,658,493
Add: Amounts allocated on Form 5500 to withdrawn participants at
December 31, 2001 543,141
------------
Benefits paid to participants per the Form 5500 $ 6,201,634
=============
Amounts allocated to withdrawn participants are recorded on the Form 5500 for
benefit claims that have been processed and approved for payment prior to year
end but not yet paid.
5. Income Taxes
The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service
dated July 7, 1995, stating the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") and, therefore, the related trust is exempt
from taxation. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity
with the Code to maintain its qualification. The Plan Sponsor has indicated
that it will take the necessary steps, if any, to maintain the Plan's qualified
status.
8
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
5. Income Taxes (continued)
Until such time as a participant or his beneficiary withdraws from the Plan, no
income tax is payable by the participant on contributions made by his employer
on his behalf or interest and dividends added to his account. The income tax
ramifications to employees with respect to the Plan are described in the
Prospectus covering the Plan which is available to all employees.
6. Related Party Transactions
The administrative expenses of the Plan, which included the Trustee's fees
($38,711 in 2000) are paid by the Sponsor and are not included in the
accompanying financial statements.
Under the provisions of the Plan, shares of Universal Corporation Common Stock
may be purchased from employees, including officers, at the closing price on the
New York Stock Exchange on the date of purchase. Purchases from employees
totaled $297,522 during the year ended December 31, 2000. Included in this
amount are purchases from officers which amounted to $50,311.
9
Supplemental Schedules
Schedule 1
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company,
Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at
End of Year
December 31, 2000
Description of
Investment Including
Number of Shares,
Maturity Date, Rate of
Identity of Issue, Borrower, Interest, Collateral, Market
Lessor or Similar Party Par or Maturity Value Cost Value
--------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Universal Corporation Common Stock Fund
Common stock of Universal Corporation* 1,181,705 $28,021,334 $41,359,681
Temporary cash investments 6,489 6,489 6,489
----------------------------
$28,027,823 $41,366,170
============================
LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc.
Common Stock Fund
Common stock of LandAmerica Financial
Group, Inc. 17,816 ** $ 719,421
Fixed Income Fund
Investments in a fund consisting of
guaranteed investment contracts 1,076,402 ** 1,076,402
-----------
$43,161,993
===========
*Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan.
** Participant - directed investment.
11
SCHEDULE 2
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan of
Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated
and Designated Affiliated Companies
Schedule H, Line 4j - Schedule of Reportable Transactions
December 31, 2000
(h) Current
Value of Asset (i) Net Gain
(a) Identity of (c) Purchase (d) Selling (g) Cost of on Transaction or (Loss)
Party Involved (b) Description Price Price Asset Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category (iii) - Series of Transactions in Excess of 5% of Plan Assets
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Universal Corporation Stock $4,514,865 $ - $4,514,865 $4,514,865 $ -
- 1,996,614 1,747,788 1,996,614 248,826
Wachovia DTF Short Term Investment Fund 1,612,409 - 1,612,409 1,612,409 -
- 1,619,144 1,619,144 1,619,144 -
Bank of New York Collective Short Term Investments Fund
5,935,842 - 5,935,842 5,935,842 -
- 5,914,221 5,914,221 5,914,221 -
There were no category (i), (ii), or (iv) reportable transactions during 2000.
Columns (e) and (f) are not applicable.
** Transactions made on market.
12