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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000916641-00-000376.txt : 20000411
<SEC-HEADER>0000916641-00-000376.hdr.sgml : 20000411
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000916641-00-000376
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20000329
ITEM INFORMATION:		
ITEM INFORMATION:		
FILED AS OF DATE:		20000329

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNIVERSAL CORP /VA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000102037
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-FARM PRODUCT RAW MATERIALS [5150]
		IRS NUMBER:				540414210
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00652
		FILM NUMBER:		582935

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1501 NORTH HAMILTON STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 25099
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23230
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8043599311

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 25099
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23260

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIVERSAL LEAF TOBACCO CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880314
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                         Date of Report: March 29, 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


<PAGE>


Item 5.      Other Events.

             The press  release  issued  by the  Registrant  on March  29,  2000
             attached hereto as Exhibit 99 is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.      Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

     (c)     Exhibits.

             No.               Description
             ---               -----------

             99       Press Release Announcing Earnings Projections.*

- -------------
*Filed Herewith

<PAGE>

                                   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:  March 29, 2000            By: /s/ James M. White, III
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                     James M. White, III
                                     Vice President, Secretary & General Counsel

<PAGE>
                                  Exhibit Index


Exhibit
Number                              Document
- ------                              --------

  99                      Press Release Announcing Earnings Projections.*

- -------------
*Filed Herewith
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING EARNINGS PROJECTIONS.
<TEXT>


CONTACT:                                                               RELEASE:
KAREN M.L. WHELAN                                                      Immediate
Phone:      (804) 359-9311
Fax:        (804) 254-3594



              UNIVERSAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES EARNINGS PROJECTIONS

RICHMOND, VA, March 29, 2000 / PRNEWSWIRE

    Henry  H.  Harrell,  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Universal
Corporation,  announced  today that the company  expects  that  earnings for its
fiscal quarter ending on March 31, 2000, will be substantially higher than those
of last year's third  quarter,  between  $1.20 and $1.30,  primarily  due to the
timing of customer shipments. The company also expects that, for the fiscal year
that will end on June 30, 2000, earnings per share will be in the range of $3.45
to $3.65, which is somewhat higher than current market expectations. This annual
earnings estimate includes the $7 million pre-tax severance cost related to U.S.
plant closures that were recently announced.

    Mr. Harrell noted," World tobacco markets remain in an oversupply condition.
However, our international tobacco operations continue to perform well, and with
our recent closure of facilities in the United States due to smaller U.S. crops,
we believe  that  Universal  is  positioned  to continue to do well through this
period of market imbalance."

    Universal's  share  repurchase  program  is  continuing.   Since  May  1998,
approximately  6.9 million  shares have been  purchased for $189 million.  As of
March 29, 2000, about 28.6 million shares remained outstanding.

    The company cautions readers that any forward-looking  statements  contained
herein are 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,  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.
Actual results,  therefore,  could vary from those expected. For more details on
factors that could affect  expectations,  see the  Management's  Discussion  and
Analysis  section of the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
June 30, 1999, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Universal  Corporation is a diversified  company with operations in tobacco,
lumber, and agri-products.  Its gross revenues for the fiscal year that ended on
June 30,  1999,  were  approximately  $4 billion.  For more  information,  visit
Universal's web site at www.universalcorp.com.

                                      # # #





</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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