10-Q 1 uvv-10qx20140930.htm 10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
| OR |
o 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: 001-00652
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Virginia (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |  | 54-0414210 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
9201 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia (Address of principal executive offices) |  | 23235 (Zip Code)

804-359-9311
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer þ | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o | Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
As of October 31, 2014, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding was 23,183,259.

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item No. |  | Page
| PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
1. | Financial Statements | 3
2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 23
3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 28
4. | Controls and Procedures | 29
| PART II - OTHER INFORMATION |
1. | Legal Proceedings | 30
1A. | Risk Factors | 30
2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 31
6. | Exhibits | 32
| Signatures | 33

2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Six Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
|  | (Unaudited) |  | (Unaudited)
Sales and other operating revenues |  | $ | 464,116 |  |  | $ | 650,869 |  |  | $ | 735,588 |  |  | $ | 1,084,397 |
Costs and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of goods sold |  | 379,045 |  |  | 531,557 |  |  | 594,977 |  |  | 893,617 |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  | 59,809 |  |  | 68,455 |  |  | 123,586 |  |  | 135,074 |
Other income |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (81,619 | )
Restructuring costs |  | 3,350 |  |  | 1,308 |  |  | 3,350 |  |  | 1,308 |
Operating income |  | 21,912 |  |  | 49,549 |  |  | 13,675 |  |  | 136,017 |
Equity in pretax earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates |  | 3,317 |  |  | (1,563 | ) |  | 3,918 |  |  | (34 | )
Interest income |  | 67 |  |  | 143 |  |  | 210 |  |  | 404 |
Interest expense |  | 4,852 |  |  | 6,160 |  |  | 8,872 |  |  | 11,466 |
Income before income taxes |  | 20,444 |  |  | 41,969 |  |  | 8,931 |  |  | 124,921 |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | 4,960 |  |  | 12,139 |  |  | (7,078 | ) |  | 41,178 |
Net income |  | 15,484 |  |  | 29,830 |  |  | 16,009 |  |  | 83,743 |
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries |  | (459 | ) |  | (4,386 | ) |  | (267 | ) |  | 10 |
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation |  | 15,025 |  |  | 25,444 |  |  | 15,742 |  |  | 83,753 |
Dividends on Universal Corporation convertible perpetual preferred stock |  | (3,713 | ) |  | (3,713 | ) |  | (7,425 | ) |  | (7,425 | )
Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders |  | $ | 11,312 |  |  | $ | 21,731 |  |  | $ | 8,317 |  |  | $ | 76,328 |
Earnings per share attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | $ | 0.49 |  |  | $ | 0.94 |  |  | $ | 0.36 |  |  | $ | 3.28 |
Diluted |  | $ | 0.48 |  |  | $ | 0.90 |  |  | $ | 0.35 |  |  | $ | 2.95 |
Weighted average common shares outstanding: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | 23,178,082 |  |  | 23,207,043 |  |  | 23,200,589 |  |  | 23,261,604 |
Diluted |  | 23,508,427 |  |  | 28,336,545 |  |  | 23,521,571 |  |  | 28,400,666 |
Total comprehensive income, net of income taxes |  | $ | 4,954 |  |  | $ | 61,024 |  |  | $ | 6,303 |  |  | $ | 116,441 |
Less: comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income taxes |  | (178 | ) |  | (4,375 | ) |  | (230 | ) |  | 347 |
Comprehensive income attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes |  | $ | 4,776 |  |  | $ | 56,649 |  |  | $ | 6,073 |  |  | $ | 116,788 |
Dividends declared per common share |  | $ | 0.51 |  |  | $ | 0.50 |  |  | $ | 1.02 |  |  | $ | 1.00 |

See accompanying notes.
3

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands of dollars)

|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |  | March 31,
|  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014
|  | (Unaudited) |  | (Unaudited) |  |
ASSETS |  |  |  |  |  |
Current assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 29,567 |  |  | $ | 74,631 |  |  | $ | 163,532 |
Accounts receivable, net |  | 290,162 |  |  | 365,777 |  |  | 468,015 |
Advances to suppliers, net |  | 70,296 |  |  | 62,013 |  |  | 134,621 |
Accounts receivable—unconsolidated affiliates |  | 98,707 |  |  | 70,175 |  |  | 7,375 |
Inventories—at lower of cost or market: |  |  |  |  |  |
Tobacco |  | 1,164,293 |  |  | 1,037,320 |  |  | 639,812 |
Other |  | 100,516 |  |  | 80,651 |  |  | 67,219 |
Prepaid income taxes |  | 28,138 |  |  | 28,004 |  |  | 27,866 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 34,560 |  |  | 30,751 |  |  | 22,052 |
Other current assets |  | 83,754 |  |  | 130,721 |  |  | 142,755 |
Total current assets |  | 1,899,993 |  |  | 1,880,043 |  |  | 1,673,247 |
Property, plant and equipment |  |  |  |  |  |
Land |  | 17,022 |  |  | 17,231 |  |  | 17,275 |
Buildings |  | 239,568 |  |  | 237,923 |  |  | 239,913 |
Machinery and equipment |  | 577,064 |  |  | 563,615 |  |  | 562,597 |
|  | 833,654 |  |  | 818,769 |  |  | 819,785 |
Less: accumulated depreciation |  | (528,722 | ) |  | (530,038 | ) |  | (523,239 | )
|  | 304,932 |  |  | 288,731 |  |  | 296,546 |
Other assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill and other intangibles |  | 99,291 |  |  | 99,648 |  |  | 99,453 |
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates |  | 88,841 |  |  | 99,362 |  |  | 95,305 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 18,861 |  |  | 28,026 |  |  | 14,562 |
Other noncurrent assets |  | 68,973 |  |  | 87,748 |  |  | 91,794 |
|  | 275,966 |  |  | 314,784 |  |  | 301,114 |
Total assets |  | $ | 2,480,891 |  |  | $ | 2,483,558 |  |  | $ | 2,270,907 |

See accompanying notes.
4

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands of dollars)

|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |  | March 31,
|  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014
|  | (Unaudited) |  | (Unaudited) |  |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |  |  |  |  |  |
Current liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes payable and overdrafts |  | $ | 359,349 |  |  | $ | 194,266 |  |  | $ | 62,905 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |  | 154,826 |  |  | 222,226 |  |  | 212,422 |
Accounts payable—unconsolidated affiliates |  | 1,150 |  |  | 8 |  |  | 65 |
Customer advances and deposits |  | 57,723 |  |  | 92,871 |  |  | 15,869 |
Accrued compensation |  | 20,272 |  |  | 22,152 |  |  | 31,772 |
Income taxes payable |  | 11,164 |  |  | 14,694 |  |  | 15,694 |
Current portion of long-term obligations |  | 118,750 |  |  | 213,750 |  |  | 116,250 |
Total current liabilities |  | 723,234 |  |  | 759,967 |  |  | 454,977 |
Long-term obligations |  | 230,000 |  |  | 173,750 |  |  | 240,000 |
Pensions and other postretirement benefits |  | 74,975 |  |  | 95,098 |  |  | 85,081 |
Other long-term liabilities |  | 34,567 |  |  | 35,911 |  |  | 34,457 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 39,235 |  |  | 59,373 |  |  | 45,500 |
Total liabilities |  | 1,102,011 |  |  | 1,124,099 |  |  | 860,015 |
Shareholders’ equity |  |  |  |  |  |
Universal Corporation: |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock: |  |  |  |  |  |
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, 500,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value, 220,000 shares authorized, 219,999 shares issued and outstanding (219,999 at September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2014) |  | 213,023 |  |  | 213,023 |  |  | 213,023 |
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 23,183,259 shares issued and outstanding (23,215,946 at September 30, 2013, and 23,216,312 at March 31, 2014) |  | 207,552 |  |  | 202,844 |  |  | 206,446 |
Retained earnings |  | 971,391 |  |  | 959,242 |  |  | 993,093 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | (44,001 | ) |  | (42,505 | ) |  | (34,332 | )
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity |  | 1,347,965 |  |  | 1,332,604 |  |  | 1,378,230 |
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries |  | 30,915 |  |  | 26,855 |  |  | 32,662 |
Total shareholders' equity |  | 1,378,880 |  |  | 1,359,459 |  |  | 1,410,892 |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |  | $ | 2,480,891 |  |  | $ | 2,483,558 |  |  | $ | 2,270,907 |

See accompanying notes.
5

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands of dollars)

|  | Six Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2014 |  | 2013
|  | (Unaudited)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 16,009 |  |  | $ | 83,743 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities: |  |  |  |
Depreciation |  | 17,298 |  |  | 20,034 |
Amortization |  | 816 |  |  | 835 |
Net provision for losses (recoveries) on advances and guaranteed loans to suppliers |  | (2,497 | ) |  | 3,556 |
Foreign currency remeasurement loss (gain), net |  | 7,156 |  |  | 7,009 |
Gain on favorable outcome of excise tax case in Brazil |  | — |  |  | (81,619 | )
Restructuring costs |  | 3,350 |  |  | 1,308 |
Other, net |  | (9,470 | ) |  | 2,421 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net |  | (386,404 | ) |  | (344,433 | )
Net cash used by operating activities |  | (353,742 | ) |  | (307,146 | )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |  |  |  |
Purchase of property, plant and equipment |  | (30,571 | ) |  | (19,772 | )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment |  | 983 |  |  | 334 |
Net cash used by investing activities |  | (29,588 | ) |  | (19,438 | )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |  |  |  |
Issuance (repayment) of short-term debt, net |  | 297,507 |  |  | 85,150 |
Repayment of long-term obligations |  | (7,500 | ) |  | (5,000 | )
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests |  | (1,977 | ) |  | (1,884 | )
Issuance of common stock |  | 187 |  |  | 457 |
Repurchase of common stock |  | (7,202 | ) |  | (14,145 | )
Dividends paid on convertible perpetual preferred stock |  | (7,425 | ) |  | (7,425 | )
Dividends paid on common stock |  | (23,661 | ) |  | (23,272 | )
Net cash provided by financing activities |  | 249,929 |  |  | 33,881 |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |  | (564 | ) |  | (530 | )
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |  | (133,965 | ) |  | (293,233 | )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  | 163,532 |  |  | 367,864 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |  | $ | 29,567 |  |  | $ | 74,631 |

See accompanying notes.
6

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Universal Corporation, with its subsidiaries (“Universal” or the “Company”), is the leading global leaf tobacco merchant and processor. Because of the seasonal nature of the Company’s business, the results of operations for any fiscal quarter will not necessarily be indicative of results to be expected for other quarters or a full fiscal year. All adjustments necessary to state fairly the results for the period have been included and were of a normal recurring nature. Certain amounts in prior year statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.
NOTE 2. ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes substantially all of the current revenue recognition guidance under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). ASU 2014-09 was developed under a joint project with the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) to improve and converge the existing revenue recognition accounting guidance in U.S. GAAP and International Accounting Standards. Under ASU 2014-09, the central underlying principle is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers at an amount determined by the consideration a company expects to receive for those goods or services. The guidance outlines a five-step process for determining the amount and timing of revenue to be recognized from those arrangements. It is more principles-based than the existing guidance under U.S. GAAP, and therefore is expected to require more management judgment and involve more estimates than the current guidance.
ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including all interim periods within the year of adoption. Companies are allowed to select between two transition methods: (1) a full retrospective transition method with the application of the new guidance to each prior reporting period presented, or (2) a retrospective transition method that recognizes the cumulative effect on prior periods at the date of adoption together with additional footnote disclosures. Universal will adopt ASU 2014-09 effective April 1, 2017, which is the beginning of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and has not made any decision on the method of adoption.
NOTE 3. GUARANTEES, OTHER CONTINGENT LIABILITIES, AND OTHER MATTERS
Guarantees and Other Contingent Liabilities
Guarantees of Bank Loans and Other Contingent Liabilities
Guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers for crop financing and construction of curing barns or other tobacco producing assets have long been industry practice in Brazil and support the farmers’ production of tobacco there. During fiscal year 2013, similar arrangements were established in Malawi in connection with a shift from auction market sourcing to direct procurement in that country, but those arrangements were not continued for the crop planted in fiscal year 2014. At September 30, 2014, the Company’s total exposure under guarantees issued by its operating subsidiaries for banking facilities of farmers in Brazil was approximately $33 million ($35 million face amount including unpaid accrued interest less $2 million recorded for the fair value of the guarantees). All of these guarantees expire within one year. The subsidiaries withhold payments due to the farmers on delivery of tobacco and forward those payments to the third-party banks. Failure of farmers to deliver sufficient quantities of tobacco to the subsidiaries to cover their obligations to the third-party banks could result in a liability for the subsidiaries under the related guarantees; however, in that case, the subsidiaries would have recourse against the farmers. The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company’s subsidiaries could be required to make at September 30, 2014, was the face amount, $35 million including unpaid accrued interest ($16 million including the guarantees in Malawi at September 30, 2013, and $20 million at March 31, 2014). The fair value of the guarantees was a liability of approximately $2 million at September 30, 2014 ($4 million at September 30, 2013, and $2 million at March 31, 2014). In addition to these guarantees, the Company has other contingent liabilities, primarily related to outstanding letters of credit, totaling approximately $3 million at September 30, 2014.
Value-Added Tax Assessments in Brazil
As further discussed below, the Company’s local operating subsidiaries pay significant amounts of value-added tax (“VAT”) in connection with their normal operations. In Brazil, VAT is assessed at the state level when green tobacco is transferred between states. The Company’s operating subsidiary there pays VAT when tobaccos grown in the states of Santa Catarina and Parana are
7

transferred to its factory in the state of Rio Grande do Sul for processing. The subsidiary has received assessments for additional VAT plus interest and penalties from tax authorities for the states of Santa Catarina and Parana based on audits of the subsidiary’s VAT filings for specified periods. In June 2011, tax authorities for the state of Santa Catarina issued assessments for tax, interest, and penalties for periods from 2006 through 2009 totaling approximately $19 million based on the exchange rate for the Brazilian currency at September 30, 2014. In September 2014, tax authorities for the state of Parana issued an assessment for tax, interest, and penalties for periods from 2009 through 2014 totaling approximately $22 million based on the exchange rate at September 30, 2014. Management of the operating subsidiary and outside counsel believe that errors were made by the tax authorities for both states in determining all or significant portions of these assessments and that various defenses support the subsidiary’s positions.
With respect to the Santa Catarina assessments, the subsidiary took appropriate steps to contest the full amount of the claims. As of September 30, 2014, a portion of the subsidiary’s arguments had been accepted, and the outstanding assessments had been reduced to approximately $16 million (at the September 30, 2014 exchange rate). The subsidiary is continuing to contest the full remaining amount of the assessment. While the range of reasonably possible loss is zero up to the full $16 million remaining assessment, based on the strength of the subsidiary’s defenses, no loss within that range is considered probable at this time and no liability has been recorded at September 30, 2014.
With respect to the Parana assessment, management of the subsidiary and outside counsel have undertaken the initial steps required to contest the full amount of the claim. A significant portion of the Parana assessment is based on positions taken by the tax authorities that management and outside counsel believe deviate significantly from the underlying statutes and relevant case law. In addition, under the law, the subsidiary’s tax filings for certain periods covered in the assessment were no longer open to any challenge by the tax authorities. On that basis, the range of reasonably possible loss is considered to be zero up to a maximum of $18 million, rather than the full amount of the assessment. Based on the strength of the subsidiary's defenses, no loss within that range is considered probable at this time and no liability has been recorded at September 30, 2014.
In both states, the process for reaching a final resolution to the assessments is expected to be lengthy, and management is not currently able to predict when either case will be concluded. Should the subsidiary ultimately be required to pay any tax, interest, or penalties in either case, the portion paid for tax would generate value-added tax credits that the subsidiary may be able to recover.
Other Legal and Tax Matters
Various subsidiaries of the Company are involved in other litigation and tax examinations incidental to their business activities. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management is vigorously defending the matters and does not currently expect that any of them will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business or financial position. However, should one or more of these matters be resolved in a manner adverse to management’s current expectation, the effect on the Company’s results of operations for a particular fiscal reporting period could be material.
European Commission Fines in Italy
In 2002, the Company reported that it was aware that the European Commission (the "Commission") was investigating certain aspects of the leaf tobacco markets in Italy. One of the Company's subsidiaries, Deltafina, S.p.A. ("Deltafina"), buys and processes tobacco in Italy. The Company reported that it did not believe that the Commission investigation in Italy would result in penalties being assessed against it or its subsidiaries that would be material to the Company’s earnings. The reason the Company held this belief was that it had received conditional immunity from the Commission because Deltafina had voluntarily informed the Commission of the activities that were the basis of the investigation.
On December 28, 2004, the Company received a preliminary indication that the Commission intended to revoke Deltafina’s immunity for disclosing in April 2002 that it had applied for immunity. Neither the Commission’s Leniency Notice of February 19, 2002, nor Deltafina’s letter of provisional immunity, contained a specific requirement of confidentiality. The potential for such disclosure was discussed with the Commission in March 2002, and the Commission never told Deltafina that disclosure would affect Deltafina’s immunity. On November 15, 2005, the Company received notification from the Commission that the Commission had imposed fines totaling €30 million on Deltafina and the Company jointly for infringing European Union antitrust law in connection with the purchase and processing of tobacco in the Italian raw tobacco market. In January 2006, the Company and Deltafina each filed appeals in the General Court of the European Union ("General Court"). Deltafina’s appeal was held on September 28, 2010. For strategic reasons related to the defense of the Deltafina appeal, Universal withdrew its appeal. On September 9, 2011, the General Court issued its decision, in which it rejected Deltafina’s application to reinstate immunity. Deltafina appealed the decision of the General Court to the European Court of Justice, and a hearing was held in November 2012. Effective with the September 9, 2011 General Court decision, the Company recorded a charge for the full amount of the fine (€30 million) plus accumulated interest (€5.9 million). The charge totaled $49.1 million at the exchange rate in effect on the date of the General Court decision. Deltafina previously provided the Commission a bank guarantee in the amount of the fine plus accumulated interest in order to stay execution during the appeals process. In January 2013, the guarantee was fully collateralized with a bank deposit. On June 12, 2014, the European Court
8

of Justice issued its final decision on the matter, in which it rejected Deltafina's application to reinstate immunity. Deltafina and the Company paid the final amount of the fine and interest, approximately €38.9 million ($53.0 million), before June 30, 2014. Upon payment, the bank guarantee was terminated and the related deposit was returned. The payment of the fine and interest did not have a material impact on the Company's or Deltafina's operations.
Favorable Outcome of IPI Tax Credit Case in Brazil
During the quarter ended June 30, 2013, a longstanding lawsuit related to IPI tax credits filed by the Company's operating subsidiary in Brazil was concluded in the subsidiary's favor with a decision by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice on the final appeal filed by the Brazilian federal government. Although additional appeals by the government were expected in the case, the time period to file those appeals expired before the end of the quarter, and the decision and overall outcome of the case were confirmed.
IPI tax credits were established under Brazilian tax laws to allow recovery of a portion of the excise taxes paid on manufactured products when those products are sold in export markets. In prior years, the subsidiary paid excise taxes on the component cost of unprocessed tobacco purchased from growers, as well as the cost of electricity, packing materials, and other inputs used in its manufacturing process. Under the law, the subsidiary believed it was entitled to use IPI tax credits to recover excise taxes on the processed tobacco it exported. However, specific regulations issued by the Brazilian tax authorities did not permit the subsidiary to claim those credits. The suit filed by the subsidiary challenged the denial of the tax credits based on the law. Several decisions in lower courts were decided in the subsidiary's favor for a portion of the tax credits claimed in the suit, but those decisions were appealed on various grounds by both the government and the subsidiary. The expiration of the latest appeal period ended the matter in the courts.
The final court decision entitles the subsidiary to approximately $104 million of IPI tax credits (based on the exchange rate at the date of the decision), which it can use to offset future payments of other Brazilian federal taxes for a period of up to five years. This amount includes the tax credits generated over the period granted by the courts, as well as interest calculated from the date those credits should have been available to the subsidiary. As noted, the ability to use the tax credits to offset other Brazilian federal tax payments expires in five years, and utilization of the credits is also subject to audit by the tax authorities. Based on estimates of the tax credits that are probable of being realized, the subsidiary recorded an allowance, reducing the net book value of the credits to approximately $90 million. After deducting related legal fees and Brazilian social contribution taxes assessed on the interest portion of the total IPI tax credits received, the subsidiary recorded a net gain of $81.6 million ($53.1 million after tax, or $1.96 per diluted share) during the quarter ended June 30, 2013, as a result of the favorable outcome of the case. The gain is reported in Other Income in the consolidated statement of income. The subsidiary began using the credits to offset tax payments during the quarter ended December 31, 2013. At September 30, 2014, the remaining unused tax credits totaled approximately $52 million at the current exchange rate, and the book value of the tax credit asset was approximately $36 million, net of the valuation allowance. Management of the Company and the subsidiary regularly review the estimates and assumptions used in determining the total amount of the tax credits likely to be realized and, accordingly, it is reasonably possible that the valuation allowance could be adjusted in future reporting periods.
Advances to Suppliers
In many sourcing origins where the Company operates, it provides agronomy services and seasonal advances of seed, fertilizer, and other supplies to tobacco farmers for crop production, or makes seasonal cash advances to farmers for the procurement of those inputs. These advances are short term, are repaid upon delivery of tobacco to the Company, and are reported in advances to suppliers in the consolidated balance sheets. In several origins, the Company has made long-term advances to tobacco farmers to finance curing barns and other farm infrastructure. In some years, due to low crop yields and other factors, individual farmers may not deliver sufficient volumes of tobacco to fully repay their seasonal advances, and the Company may extend repayment of those advances into the following crop year. The long-term portion of advances is included in other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Both the current and the long-term portions of advances to suppliers are reported net of allowances recorded when the Company determines that amounts outstanding are not likely to be collected. Short-term and long-term advances to suppliers totaled $115 million at September 30, 2014, $110 million at September 30, 2013, and $190 million at March 31, 2014. The related valuation allowances totaled $38 million at September 30, 2014, $42 million at September 30, 2013, and $46 million at March 31, 2014, and were estimated based on the Company’s historical loss information and crop projections. The allowances were reduced by net recoveries of approximately $2 million in the six-month period ended September 30, 2014, but increased by net provisions for uncollectible amounts of approximately $4 million in the six-month period ended September 30, 2013. These net recoveries and provisions are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income. Interest on advances is recognized in earnings upon the farmers’ delivery of tobacco in payment of principal and interest.
9

Recoverable Value-Added Tax Credits
In many foreign countries, the Company’s local operating subsidiaries pay significant amounts of value-added tax (“VAT”) on purchases of unprocessed and processed tobacco, crop inputs, packing materials, and various other goods and services. In some countries, VAT is a national tax, and in other countries it is assessed at the state level. Items subject to VAT vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as do the rates at which the tax is assessed. When tobacco is sold to customers in the country of origin, the operating subsidiaries generally collect VAT on those sales. The subsidiaries are normally permitted to offset their VAT payments against the collections and remit only the incremental VAT collections to the tax authorities. When tobacco is sold for export, VAT is normally not assessed. In countries where tobacco sales are predominately for export markets, VAT collections generated on downstream sales are often not sufficient to fully offset the subsidiaries’ VAT payments. In those situations, unused VAT credits can accumulate. Some jurisdictions have procedures that allow companies to apply for refunds of unused VAT credits from the tax authorities, but the refund process often takes an extended period of time and it is not uncommon for refund applications to be challenged or rejected in part on technical grounds. Other jurisdictions may permit companies to sell or transfer unused VAT credits to third parties in private transactions, although approval for such transactions must normally be obtained from the tax authorities, limits on the amounts that can be transferred are usually imposed, and the proceeds realized may be heavily discounted from the face value of the credits. Due to these factors, local operating subsidiaries in some countries can accumulate significant balances of VAT credits over time. The Company reviews these balances on a regular basis and records valuation allowances on the credits to reflect amounts that are not expected to be recovered, as well as discounts anticipated on credits that are expected to be sold or transferred. At September 30, 2014, the aggregate balance of recoverable tax credits held by the Company’s subsidiaries totaled approximately $69 million ($70 million at September 30, 2013, and $66 million at March 31, 2014), and the related valuation allowances totaled approximately $37 million ($27 million at September 30, 2013, and $30 million at March 31, 2014). The net balances are reported in other current assets and other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
NOTE 4. RESTRUCTURING COSTS
Universal continually reviews its business for opportunities to realize efficiencies, reduce costs, and realign its operations in response to business changes. Restructuring costs are periodically incurred in connection with those activities.
Six Months Ended September 30, 2014
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2015, the Company announced plans to suspend its operations in Argentina, effective December 31, 2014. In connection with that decision, during the quarter ended September 30, 2014, the Company's subsidiary in Argentina incurred costs related to employee terminations, as well as costs related to exiting its business arrangements with a supplier. The Company also initiated and completed a program to downsize certain functions at its operations in Brazil during the quarter and recorded employee termination costs in connection with that initiative. Restructuring costs recorded during the quarter totaled approximately $3.4 million on a consolidated basis. The restructuring liability at September 30, 2014, was $0.9 million, which the Company expects will be paid before the end of the current fiscal year.
Six Months Ended September 30, 2013
In July 2013, the Company's subsidiary in Brazil announced plans to close a factory and centralize all tobacco processing activities in its primary facility. In connection with this initiative, the Company recorded restructuring costs totaling $0.8 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2013, which included employee termination costs, as well as costs to relocate personnel and equipment to the main facility. In addition, during the quarter ended September 30, 2013, the Company recorded $0.5 million of restructuring costs associated with other actions taken in various areas of its worldwide operations.
All of the restructuring costs incurred to date in both fiscal years 2015 and 2014 related to operations that are part of the Other Regions reportable segment of the Company's flue-cured and burley leaf tobacco operations.
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NOTE 5. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Six Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except share and per share data) |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Basic Earnings Per Share |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Numerator for basic earnings per share |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation |  | $ | 15,025 |  |  | $ | 25,444 |  |  | $ | 15,742 |  |  | $ | 83,753 |
Less: Dividends on convertible perpetual preferred stock |  | (3,713 | ) |  | (3,713 | ) |  | (7,425 | ) |  | (7,425 | )
Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders for calculation of basic earnings per share |  | 11,312 |  |  | 21,731 |  |  | 8,317 |  |  | 76,328 |
Denominator for basic earnings per share |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average shares outstanding |  | 23,178,082 |  |  | 23,207,043 |  |  | 23,200,589 |  |  | 23,261,604 |
Basic earnings per share |  | $ | 0.49 |  |  | $ | 0.94 |  |  | $ | 0.36 |  |  | $ | 3.28 |
Diluted Earnings Per Share |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Numerator for diluted earnings per share |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders |  | $ | 11,312 |  |  | $ | 21,731 |  |  | $ | 8,317 |  |  | $ | 76,328 |
Add: Dividends on convertible perpetual preferred stock (if conversion assumed) |  | — |  |  | 3,713 |  |  | — |  |  | 7,425 |
Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders for calculation of diluted earnings per share |  | 11,312 |  |  | 25,444 |  |  | 8,317 |  |  | 83,753 |
Denominator for diluted earnings per share |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average shares outstanding |  | 23,178,082 |  |  | 23,207,043 |  |  | 23,200,589 |  |  | 23,261,604 |
Effect of dilutive securities (if conversion or exercise assumed) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Convertible perpetual preferred stock |  | — |  |  | 4,818,160 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,815,235 |
Employee share-based awards |  | 330,345 |  |  | 311,342 |  |  | 320,982 |  |  | 323,827 |
Denominator for diluted earnings per share |  | 23,508,427 |  |  | 28,336,545 |  |  | 23,521,571 |  |  | 28,400,666 |
Diluted earnings per share |  | $ | 0.48 |  |  | $ | 0.90 |  |  | $ | 0.35 |  |  | $ | 2.95 |

For the three- and six-month periods ended September 30, 2014, conversion of the Company's outstanding Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock was not assumed since the effects would have been antidilutive. The Company also had the following potentially dilutive securities (stock appreciation rights) outstanding for the six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their exercise price exceeded the market price of the Company's common stock, and thus their effect would have been antidilutive:

|  | Six Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2014 |  | 2013
Potentially dilutive securities (shares in thousands) |  | 169 |  |  | 169 |
Weighted-average exercise price |  | $ | 62.66 |  |  | $ | 62.66 |

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NOTE 6. INCOME TAXES
The Company is subject to the tax laws of many jurisdictions. Changes in tax laws or the interpretation of tax laws can affect the Company’s earnings, as can the resolution of pending and contested tax issues. The Company's consolidated effective income tax rate is affected by a number of factors, including the mix of domestic and foreign earnings, the effect of exchange rate changes on deferred taxes, and the Company’s ability to utilize foreign tax credits.
The consolidated effective income tax rate on pretax earnings was approximately 24% for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared to 29% for the quarter ended September 30, 2013. The effective rate for both quarters was lower than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate, primarily attributable to a lower effective tax rate on dividend income from unconsolidated operations, as well as the effect of changes in exchange rates on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries. The reduction in the effective rate created by those items was more significant for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, primarily because pretax earnings were lower for that period.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2014, the Company recorded a consolidated income tax benefit of $8 million, arising from the ability of its subsidiary, Deltafina S.p.A., to pay a significant portion of the European Commission fine and related interest charges in Italy that were settled during that quarter following the unsuccessful appeal of the case involving anti-competitive activities in the Italian tobacco market (see Note 3). Deltafina and Universal Corporation were jointly liable for the amounts imposed by the European Commission. The Company’s initial accrual of the fine and interest in September 2011 assumed that the entire obligation would be paid by Universal Corporation due to uncertainty with respect to Deltafina’s financial capacity to bear any significant portion of the cost upon the eventual settlement and to uncertainty as to when the payment would be made. Deltafina ultimately was able to assume responsibility for approximately $30 million of the total $53.0 million obligation for the fine and interest when those amounts were paid. Although the portion of the fine paid by Deltafina is not deductible for income tax purposes in Italy, it reduced the subsidiary’s cumulative undistributed earnings and the associated consolidated tax liability, resulting in the $8 million benefit in the Company’s consolidated income tax provision for the six months ended September 30, 2014. Excluding this discrete item, the consolidated effective income tax rate was 10% for the six months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 33% for the six months ended September 30, 2013. Similar to the rate comparison for the quarter, items that favorably impacted the effective tax rate had a more significant effect on the rate for the six months ended September 30, 2014 because pretax earnings were lower for that period.
NOTE 7. DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
Universal is exposed to various risks in its worldwide operations and uses derivative financial instruments to manage two specific types of risks – interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. Interest rate risk is managed by entering into interest rate swap agreements, and foreign currency exchange rate risk is managed by entering into forward foreign currency exchange contracts. However, the Company’s policy also permits other types of derivative instruments. In addition, foreign currency exchange rate risk is also managed through strategies that do not involve derivative instruments, such as using local borrowings and other approaches to minimize net monetary positions in non-functional currencies. The disclosures below provide additional information about the Company’s hedging strategies, the derivative instruments used, and the effects of these activities on the consolidated statements of income and the consolidated balance sheets. In the consolidated statements of cash flows, the cash flows associated with all of these activities are reported in net cash provided by operating activities.
Hedging Strategy for Interest Rate Risk
The Company has receive-floating/pay-fixed interest rate swap agreements that were designated and qualify as hedges of the exposure to changes in interest payment cash flows created by fluctuations in variable interest rates on its outstanding amortizing bank term loan. Although no significant ineffectiveness is expected with this hedging strategy, the effectiveness of the interest rate swaps is evaluated on a quarterly basis. The aggregate notional amount of the interest rate swaps is being reduced over a five-year period as payments are made on the loan. At September 30, 2014, the total notional amount of the swaps was approximately $74 million, which corresponded with the outstanding balance of the loan.
Cash Flow Hedging Strategy for Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Related to Forecast Purchases of Tobacco and Related Processing Costs
The majority of the tobacco production in most countries outside the United States where Universal operates is sold in export markets at prices denominated in U.S. dollars. However, purchases of tobacco from farmers and most processing costs (such as labor and energy) in those countries are usually denominated in the local currency. Changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the local currencies where tobacco is grown and processed affect the ultimate U.S. dollar cost of the processed tobacco. From time to time, the Company enters into forward contracts to sell U.S. dollars and buy the local currency at future dates that
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coincide with the expected timing of a portion of the tobacco purchases and processing costs. This strategy offsets the variability of future U.S. dollar cash flows for tobacco purchases and processing costs for the foreign currency notional amount hedged. This hedging strategy has been used mainly for tobacco purchases and processing costs in Brazil. The aggregate U.S. dollar notional amount of forward contracts entered for these purposes during the first six months of fiscal years 2015 and 2014, was as follows:

|  | Six Months Ended September 30,
(in millions of dollars) |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Tobacco purchases |  | $ | 53.8 |  |  | $ | 82.8 |
Processing costs |  | 12.3 |  |  | 18.5 |
Total |  | $ | 66.1 |  |  | $ | 101.3 |

All contracts related to tobacco purchases were designated and qualify as hedges of the future cash flows associated with the forecast purchases of tobacco. As a result, except for amounts related to any ineffective portion of the hedging strategy, changes in fair values of the forward contracts have been recognized in comprehensive income as they occurred, but only recognized in earnings upon sale of the related tobacco to third-party customers. Forward contracts related to processing costs have not been designated as hedges, and gains and losses on those contracts have been recognized in earnings on a mark-to-market basis.
Purchases of the 2014 crop were completed in August 2014, and all forward contracts to hedge those purchases matured and settled by that time. For substantially all hedge gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2014, the Company expects to complete the sale of the tobacco and recognize the amounts in earnings during fiscal year 2015.
Hedging Strategy for Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Related to Net Local Currency Monetary Assets and Liabilities of Foreign Subsidiaries
Most of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries transact the majority of their sales in U.S. dollars and finance the majority of their operating requirements with U.S. dollar borrowings, and therefore use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. These subsidiaries normally have certain monetary assets and liabilities on their balance sheets that are denominated in the local currency. Those assets and liabilities can include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, advances to farmers and suppliers, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, recoverable value-added taxes, and other items. Net monetary assets and liabilities denominated in the local currency are remeasured into U.S. dollars each reporting period, generating gains and losses that the Company records in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses. The level of net monetary assets or liabilities denominated in the local currency normally fluctuates throughout the year based on the operating cycle, but it is most common for monetary assets to exceed monetary liabilities, sometimes by a significant amount. When this situation exists and the local currency weakens against the U.S. dollar, remeasurement losses are generated. Conversely, remeasurement gains are generated on a net monetary asset position when the local currency strengthens against the U.S. dollar. To manage a portion of its exposure to currency remeasurement gains and losses, the Company may enter into forward contracts to buy or sell the local currency at future dates coinciding with expected changes in the overall net local currency monetary asset position of the subsidiary. Gains and losses on forward contracts are recorded in earnings as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses for each reporting period as they occur, and thus directly offset the related remeasurement losses or gains in the consolidated statements of income for the notional amount hedged. The Company does not designate these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes. The contracts are generally arranged to hedge the subsidiary's projected exposure to currency remeasurement risk for specified periods of time, and new contracts are entered as necessary throughout the year to replace previous contracts as they mature. The Company is currently using forward currency contracts to manage its exposure to currency remeasurement risk in Brazil. The total notional amounts of contracts outstanding at September 30, 2014 and 2013, and March 31, 2014, were approximately $90 million, $49 million, and $66 million, respectively. To further mitigate currency remeasurement exposure, the Company’s foreign subsidiaries may utilize short-term local currency financing during certain periods. This strategy, while not involving the use of derivative instruments, is intended to minimize the subsidiary’s net monetary position by financing a portion of the local currency monetary assets with local currency monetary liabilities, and thus hedging a portion of the overall position.
Several of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries transact the majority of their sales and finance the majority of their operating requirements in their local currency, and therefore use their respective local currencies as the functional currency for reporting purposes. From time to time, these subsidiaries sell tobacco to customers in transactions that are not denominated in the functional currency. In those situations, the subsidiaries routinely enter into forward exchange contracts to offset currency risk for the period of time that a fixed-price order and the related trade account receivable are outstanding with the customer. The contracts are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes.
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Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Income
The table below outlines the effects of the Company’s use of derivative financial instruments on the consolidated statements of income for the three- and six-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Six Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands of dollars) |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Cash Flow Hedges - Interest Rate Swap Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Effective Portion of Hedge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | $ | 50 |  |  | $ | (256 | ) |  | $ | (109 | ) |  | $ | 54 |
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings |  | $ | (199 | ) |  | $ | (228 | ) |  | $ | (406 | ) |  | $ | (455 | )
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings |  | Interest expense
Ineffective Portion of Hedge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) recognized in earnings |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Location of gain (loss) recognized in earnings |  | Selling, general and administrative expenses
Hedged Item |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description of hedged item |  | Floating rate interest payments on term loan
Cash Flow Hedges - Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Effective Portion of Hedge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | $ | 47 |  |  | $ | (20 | ) |  | $ | 1,700 |  |  | $ | (3,352 | )
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings |  | $ | 1,208 |  |  | $ | (2,362 | ) |  | $ | 1,459 |  |  | $ | (2,437 | )
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings |  | Cost of goods sold
Ineffective Portion and Early De-designation of Hedges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) recognized in earnings |  | $ | 30 |  |  | $ | (71 | ) |  | $ | 257 |  |  | $ | (1,839 | )
Location of gain (loss) recognized in earnings |  | Selling, general and administrative expenses
Hedged Item |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description of hedged item |  | Forecast purchases of tobacco in Brazil
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges - Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) recognized in earnings |  | $ | 4,176 |  |  | $ | (4,282 | ) |  | $ | 2,881 |  |  | $ | (5,705 | )
Location of gain (loss) recognized in earnings |  | Selling, general and administrative expenses

For the interest rate swap agreements, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and any ineffective portion is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. For the forward foreign currency exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges of tobacco purchases in Brazil, a net hedge gain of approximately $1.6 million remained in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2014. That balance reflects gains and losses on settled contracts related to the 2014 and 2013 crops, less the amount reclassified to earnings related to tobacco sold through September 30, 2014. The majority of the balance in accumulated other comprehensive loss will be recognized in earnings as a component of cost of goods sold in fiscal year 2015 as the related tobaccos are sold to customers. Based on the hedging strategy, as the gain or loss is recognized in earnings, it is expected to be offset by a change in the direct cost for the tobacco or by a change in sales prices if the strategy has been mandated by the customer. Generally, margins on the sale of the tobacco will not be significantly affected.
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Effect of Derivative Financial Instruments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
The table below outlines the effects of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2014 and 2013, and March 31, 2014:

|  | Derivatives in a Fair Value Asset Position |  | Derivatives in a Fair Value Liability Position
|  | Balance Sheet Location |  | Fair Value as of |  | Balance Sheet Location |  | Fair Value as of
(in thousands of dollars) |  |  | Sept. 30, 2014 |  | Sept. 30, 2013 |  | March 31, 2014 |  |  | Sept. 30, 2014 |  | Sept. 30, 2013 |  | March 31, 2014
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate swap agreements |  | Other non-current assets |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | Other long-term liabilities |  | $ | 638 |  |  | $ | 1,170 |  |  | $ | 936 |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |  | Other current assets |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,731 |  |  | Accounts payable and accrued expenses |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 13 |
Total |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,731 |  |  |  |  | $ | 638 |  |  | $ | 1,170 |  |  | $ | 949 |
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |  | Other current assets |  | $ | 5,172 |  |  | $ | 8 |  |  | $ | 343 |  |  | Accounts payable and accrued expenses |  | $ | 109 |  |  | $ | 4,511 |  |  | $ | 3,960 |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 5,172 |  |  | $ | 8 |  |  | $ | 343 |  |  |  |  | $ | 109 |  |  | $ | 4,511 |  |  | $ | 3,960 |

Substantially all of the Company's forward foreign exchange contracts are subject to master netting arrangements, whereby the right to offset occurs in the event of default by a participating party. The Company has elected to present these contracts on a gross basis in the consolidated balance sheets.
NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Universal measures certain financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities at fair value based on applicable accounting guidance. The financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value include money market funds, trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans, interest rate swap agreements, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, and guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers. The application of the fair value guidance to nonfinancial assets and liabilities primarily includes assessments of goodwill and long-lived assets for potential impairment.
Under the accounting guidance, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The framework for measuring fair value is based on a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between observable inputs and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs require the Company to make its own assumptions about the value placed on an asset or liability by market participants because little or no market data exists. There are three levels within the fair value hierarchy:
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Level |  | Description
1 |  | quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the reporting date;
2 |  | quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
3 |  | unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

In measuring the fair value of liabilities, the Company considers the risk of non-performance in determining fair value. Universal has not elected to report at fair value any financial instruments or any other assets or liabilities that are not required to be reported at fair value under current accounting guidance.
At September 30, 2014 and 2013, and at March 31, 2014, the Company had certain financial assets and financial liabilities that were required to be measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis. These assets and liabilities are listed in the tables below and are classified based on how their values were determined under the fair value hierarchy:

|  | September 30, 2014
(in thousands of dollars) |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Money market funds |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,527 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,527 |
Trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans |  | 20,039 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 20,039 |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |  | — |  |  | 5,172 |  |  | — |  |  | 5,172 |
Total financial assets measured and reported at fair value |  | $ | 20,039 |  |  | $ | 6,699 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 26,738 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,797 |  |  | $ | 1,797 |
Interest rate swap agreements |  | — |  |  | 638 |  |  | — |  |  | 638 |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |  | — |  |  | 109 |  |  | — |  |  | 109 |
Total financial liabilities measured and reported at fair value |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 747 |  |  | $ | 1,797 |  |  | $ | 2,544 |

|  | September 30, 2013
(in thousands of dollars) |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Money market funds |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,526 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,526 |
Trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans |  | 19,174 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 19,174 |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |  | — |  |  | 8 |  |  | — |  |  | 8 |
Total financial assets measured and reported at fair value |  | $ | 19,174 |  |  | $ | 1,534 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 20,708 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4,454 |  |  | $ | 4,454 |
Interest rate swap agreements |  | — |  |  | 1,170 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,170 |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |  | — |  |  | 4,511 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,511 |
Total financial liabilities measured and reported at fair value |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5,681 |  |  | $ | 4,454 |  |  | $ | 10,135 |

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|  | March 31, 2014
(in thousands of dollars) |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Money market funds |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,527 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,527 |
Trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans |  | 19,754 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 19,754 |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |  | — |  |  | 2,074 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,074 |
Total financial assets measured and reported at fair value |  | $ | 19,754 |  |  | $ | 3,601 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 23,355 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,270 |  |  | $ | 2,270 |
Interest rate swap agreements |  | — |  |  | 936 |  |  | — |  |  | 936 |
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts |  | — |  |  | 3,973 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,973 |
Total financial liabilities measured and reported at fair value |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4,909 |  |  | $ | 2,270 |  |  | $ | 7,179 |

Money market funds
The fair value of money market funds, which are reported in cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets, is based on net asset value, which is computed based on amortized cost (Level 2). The fair values of these investments approximate cost due to the short-term maturities and the high credit quality of the issuers of the underlying securities.
Trading securities associated with deferred compensation plans
Trading securities represent mutual fund investments that are matched to employee deferred compensation obligations. These investments are bought and sold as employees defer compensation, receive distributions, or make changes in the funds underlying their accounts. Quoted market prices (Level 1) are used to determine the fair values of the mutual funds.
Interest rate swap agreements
The fair values of interest rate swap agreements are determined based on dealer quotes using a discounted cash flow model matched to the contractual terms of each instrument. Since inputs to the model are observable and significant judgment is not required in determining the fair values, interest rate swaps are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Forward foreign currency exchange contracts
The fair values of forward foreign currency exchange contracts are also determined based on dealer quotes using a discounted cash flow model matched to the contractual terms of each instrument. Since inputs to the model are observable and significant judgment is not required in determining the fair values, forward foreign currency exchange contracts are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers
The Company guarantees bank loans to tobacco growers in Brazil for crop financing and has previously guaranteed loans to those growers for the construction of curing barns or other tobacco producing assets, as well as loans to growers in Malawi for crop financing. In the event that the farmers default on their payments to the banks, the Company would be required to perform under the guarantees. The Company regularly evaluates the likelihood of farmer defaults based on an expected loss analysis and records the fair value of its guarantees as an obligation in its consolidated financial statements. The fair value of the guarantees is determined using the expected loss data for all loans outstanding at each measurement date. The present value of the cash flows associated with the estimated losses is then calculated at a risk-adjusted interest rate that is aligned with the expected duration of the liability and includes an adjustment for nonperformance risk. This approach is sometimes referred to as the “contingent claims valuation method.” Although historical loss data is an observable input, significant judgment is required in applying this information to the portfolio of guaranteed loans outstanding at each measurement date and in selecting a risk-adjusted interest rate. Significant increases or decreases in the risk-adjusted interest rate may result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement. The guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers are therefore classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
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A reconciliation of the change in the balance of the financial liability for guarantees of bank loans to tobacco growers (Level 3) for the six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is provided below.

|  | Six Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands of dollars) |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | 2,270 |  |  | $ | 4,235 |
Payments under the guarantees and transfers to allowance for loss on direct loans to farmers (removal of prior crop year loans from portfolio) |  | (2,392 | ) |  | (5,202 | )
Provision for loss or transfers from allowance for loss on direct loans to farmers (addition of current crop year loans) |  | 2,022 |  |  | 5,498 |
Change in discount rate and estimated collection period |  | 36 |  |  | 25 |
Currency remeasurement |  | (139 | ) |  | (102 | )
Balance at end of period |  | $ | 1,797 |  |  | $ | 4,454 |

During the six months ended September 30, 2013, additional loss provisions related to guaranteed loans in Malawi were recorded, and payments were made to third-party banks under those guarantees.
Long-term Obligations
The fair value of the Company’s long-term obligations, including the current portion, was approximately $350 million at September 30, 2014, $393 million at September 30, 2013, and $360 million at March 31, 2014. The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term obligations using Level 2 inputs which are based upon quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current interest rates available to the Company for debt of similar terms and maturities.
NOTE 9. PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
The Company sponsors several defined benefit pension plans covering U.S. salaried employees and certain foreign and other employee groups. These plans provide retirement benefits based primarily on employee compensation and years of service. The Company also sponsors defined benefits plans that provide postretirement health and life insurance benefits for eligible U.S. employees attaining specific age and service levels.
The components of the Company’s net periodic benefit cost were as follows:

|  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Postretirement Benefits
|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Three Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands of dollars) |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Service cost |  | $ | 1,327 |  |  | $ | 1,197 |  |  | $ | 114 |  |  | $ | 131 |
Interest cost |  | 2,656 |  |  | 2,865 |  |  | 481 |  |  | 508 |
Expected return on plan assets |  | (3,535 | ) |  | (3,543 | ) |  | (26 | ) |  | (30 | )
Curtailment gain |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,503 | ) |  | — |
Net amortization and deferral |  | 780 |  |  | 2,447 |  |  | (133 | ) |  | (17 | )
Net periodic benefit cost |  | $ | 1,228 |  |  | $ | 2,966 |  |  | $ | (1,067 | ) |  | $ | 592 |

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|  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Postretirement Benefits
|  | Six Months Ended September 30, |  | Six Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands of dollars) |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Service cost |  | $ | 2,661 |  |  | $ | 2,392 |  |  | $ | 228 |  |  | $ | 269 |
Interest cost |  | 5,325 |  |  | 5,722 |  |  | 965 |  |  | 1,040 |
Expected return on plan assets |  | (7,227 | ) |  | (7,085 | ) |  | (52 | ) |  | (60 | )
Curtailment gain |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,503 | ) |  | — |
Net amortization and deferral |  | 1,560 |  |  | 4,894 |  |  | (266 | ) |  | (34 | )
Net periodic benefit cost |  | $ | 2,319 |  |  | $ | 5,923 |  |  | $ | (628 | ) |  | $ | 1,215 |

The curtailment gain reflected in the above table for the quarter and six months ended September 30, 2014 was attributable to the elimination of postretirement life insurance coverage for active U.S. employees. During the six months ended September 30, 2014, the Company made contributions of approximately $4.3 million to its pension plans. Additional contributions of approximately $3.4 million are expected during the remaining six months of fiscal year 2015, including $2.7 million to the Company's ERISA-regulated U.S. plan and $0.7 million to its non-ERISA regulated and other plans.
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NOTE 10. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Universal’s shareholders have approved Executive Stock Plans (“Plans”) under which officers, directors, and employees of the Company may receive grants and awards of common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance share awards (“PSAs”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), incentive stock options, and non-qualified stock options. The Company’s practice is to award grants of stock-based compensation to officers on an annual basis at the first regularly-scheduled meeting of the Executive Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) in the fiscal year following the public release of the Company’s financial results for the prior year. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s Plans consistently, following previously defined guidelines. Awards of restricted stock, RSUs, PSAs, and SARs are currently outstanding under the Plans. The SARs have an exercise price equal to the closing price of a share of the Company's common stock on the grant date. They are settled in shares of common stock, vest in equal one-third tranches one, two, and three years after the grant date, and expire ten years after the grant date, except that SARs granted after fiscal year 2007 expire on the earlier of three years after the grantee’s retirement date or ten years after the grant date. The RSUs vest five years from the grant date and are then paid out in shares of common stock. Under the terms of the RSU awards, grantees receive dividend equivalents in the form of additional RSUs that vest and are paid out on the same date as the original RSU grant. The PSAs vest three years from the grant date, are paid out in shares of common stock at the vesting date, and do not carry rights to dividends or dividend equivalents prior to vesting. Shares ultimately paid out under PSA grants are dependent on the achievement of predetermined performance measures established by the Compensation Committee and can range from zero to 150% of the stated award. The Company’s outside directors automatically receive restricted stock units or shares of restricted stock following each annual meeting of shareholders. RSUs awarded to outside directors vest three years after the grant date, and restricted shares vest upon the individual’s retirement from service as a director.
During the six-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, Universal issued the following stock-based awards, representing the regular annual grants to officers and outside directors of the Company:

|  | Six Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2014 |  | 2013
RSUs: |  |  |  |
Number granted |  | 79,950 |  |  | 61,600 |
Grant date fair value |  | $ | 52.78 |  |  | $ | 60.12 |
PSAs: |  |  |  |
Number granted |  | 48,450 |  |  | 52,400 |
Grant date fair value |  | $ | 46.41 |  |  | $ | 53.56 |

As indicated in the table above, the Compensation Committee awarded only grants of RSUs and PSAs in both the current and prior fiscal years, and did not award any other types of stock-based compensation.
Fair value expense for stock-based compensation is recognized ratably over the period from grant date to the earlier of: (1) the vesting date of the award, or (2) the date the grantee is eligible to retire without forfeiting the award. For employees who are already eligible to retire at the date an award is granted, the total fair value of all non-forfeitable awards is recognized as expense at the date of grant. As a result, Universal typically incurs higher stock compensation expense in the first quarter of each fiscal year when grants are awarded to officers than in the other three quarters. For PSAs, the Company generally recognizes fair value expense ratably over the performance and vesting period based on management’s judgment of the ultimate award that is likely to be paid out based on the achievement of the predetermined performance measures. For the six-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded total stock-based compensation expense of approximately $3.8 million and $3.9 million, respectively. The Company expects to recognize stock-based compensation expense of approximately $2.1 million during the remaining six months of fiscal year 2015.
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NOTE 11. OPERATING SEGMENTS
The principal approach used by management to evaluate the Company’s performance is by geographic region, although the dark air-cured and oriental tobacco businesses are each evaluated on the basis of their worldwide operations. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on operating income after allocated overhead expenses (excluding significant non-recurring charges or credits), plus equity in the pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.
Operating results for the Company’s reportable segments for each period presented in the consolidated statements of income were as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Six Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands of dollars) |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
SALES AND OTHER OPERATING REVENUES |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Flue-cured and burley leaf tobacco operations: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
North America |  | $ | 53,308 |  |  | $ | 80,967 |  |  | $ | 85,006 |  |  | $ | 145,118 |
Other regions (1) |  | 371,669 |  |  | 530,610 |  |  | 569,241 |  |  | 826,870 |
Subtotal |  | 424,977 |  |  | 611,577 |  |  | 654,247 |  |  | 971,988 |
Other tobacco operations (2) |  | 39,139 |  |  | 39,292 |  |  | 81,341 |  |  | 112,409 |
Consolidated sales and other operating revenues |  | $ | 464,116 |  |  | $ | 650,869 |  |  | $ | 735,588 |  |  | $ | 1,084,397 |
OPERATING INCOME |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Flue-cured and burley leaf tobacco operations: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
North America |  | $ | 4,278 |  |  | $ | 8,539 |  |  | $ | 5,957 |  |  | $ | 10,894 |
Other regions (1) |  | 21,661 |  |  | 42,454 |  |  | 11,086 |  |  | 37,270 |
Subtotal |  | 25,939 |  |  | 50,993 |  |  | 17,043 |  |  | 48,164 |
Other tobacco operations (2) |  | 2,640 |  |  | (1,699 | ) |  | 3,900 |  |  | 7,508 |
Segment operating income |  | 28,579 |  |  | 49,294 |  |  | 20,943 |  |  | 55,672 |
Deduct: Equity in pretax loss (earnings) of unconsolidated affiliates (3) |  | (3,317 | ) |  | 1,563 |  |  | (3,918 | ) |  | 34 |
Restructuring costs (4) |  | (3,350 | ) |  | (1,308 | ) |  | (3,350 | ) |  | (1,308 | )
Add: Other income (5) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 81,619 |
Consolidated operating income |  | $ | 21,912 |  |  | $ | 49,549 |  |  | $ | 13,675 |  |  | $ | 136,017 |

(1) | Includes South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia regions, as well as inter-region eliminations.

(2) | Includes Dark Air-Cured, Special Services, and Oriental, as well as inter-company eliminations. Sales and other operating revenues for this reportable segment include limited amounts for Oriental because its financial results consist principally of equity in the pretax earnings of an unconsolidated affiliate.

(3) | Equity in pretax (earnings) loss of unconsolidated affiliates is included in segment operating income (Other Tobacco Operations segment), but is reported below consolidated operating income and excluded from that total in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

(4) | Restructuring costs are excluded from segment operating income, but are included in consolidated operating income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

(5) | Other income represents the gain on the favorable outcome of the IPI tax credit case in Brazil. This item is excluded from segment operating income, but is included in consolidated operating income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

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NOTE 12. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances for each component of accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to the Company for the six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

|  | Six Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands of dollars) |  | 2014 |  | 2013
Foreign currency translation: |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | (8,476 | ) |  | $ | (15,555 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation: |  |  |  |
Net gain (loss) on foreign currency translation (net of tax (expense) benefit of $4,921 and $(3,007)) |  | (9,138 | ) |  | 5,582 |
Less: Net loss (gain) on foreign currency translation attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | (37 | ) |  | 337 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes |  | (9,175 | ) |  | 5,919 |
Balance at end of period |  | $ | (17,651 | ) |  | $ | (9,636 | )
Foreign currency hedge: |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | 769 |  |  | $ | (855 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation: |  |  |  |
Net loss on derivative instruments (net of tax benefit of $571 and $339) |  | (1,060 | ) |  | (631 | )
Reclassification of (gain) loss to earnings (net of tax expense (benefit) of $385 and $(859)) (1) |  | (715 | ) |  | 1,596 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes |  | (1,775 | ) |  | 965 |
Balance at end of period |  | $ | (1,006 | ) |  | $ | 110 |
Interest rate hedge: |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | (608 | ) |  | $ | (1,091 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation: |  |  |  |
Net gain (loss) on derivative instruments (net of tax (expense) benefit of $38 and $(19)) |  | (69 | ) |  | 36 |
Reclassification of loss to earnings (net of tax benefit of $(142) and $(159)) (2) |  | 263 |  |  | 295 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes |  | 194 |  |  | 331 |
Balance at end of period |  | $ | (414 | ) |  | $ | (760 | )
Pension and other postretirement benefit plan: |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | (26,017 | ) |  | $ | (58,039 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation: |  |  |  |
Gains arising during the period (net of tax expense of $5,600) (3) |  | — |  |  | 10,400 |
Prior service credit arising during the period (net of tax expense of $6,809) (3) |  | — |  |  | 12,646 |
Amortization included in earnings (net of tax benefit of $(550) and $(1,493)) (4) |  | 1,087 |  |  | 2,774 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes |  | 1,087 |  |  | 25,820 |
Balance at end of period |  | $ | (24,930 | ) |  | $ | (32,219 | )
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at end of period |  | $ | (44,001 | ) |  | $ | (42,505 | )

(1) Gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedges is reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to cost of goods sold when the related tobacco is sold to customers. See Note 7 for additional information.
(2) Gain (loss) on interest rate cash flow hedges is reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to interest expense when the related interest payments are made on the debt. See Note 7 for additional information.
(3) The Company remeasured the assets and liabilities of its U.S. pension plans during the quarter ended September 30, 2013 to reflect the impact of the plan amendments adopted during the quarter. These items arise from the plan remeasurement. See Note 9 for additional information.
(4) This accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) component is included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See Note 9 for additional information.
NOTE 13. CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS IN SUBSIDIARIES
A reconciliation of the changes in Universal Corporation shareholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries for the six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:

|  | Six Months Ended September 30, 2014 |  | Six Months Ended September 30, 2013
(in thousands of dollars) |  | Universal Corporation |  | Non-controlling Interests |  | Total |  | Universal Corporation |  | Non-controlling Interests |  | Total
Balance at beginning of year |  | $ | 1,378,230 |  |  | $ | 32,662 |  |  | $ | 1,410,892 |  |  | $ | 1,258,571 |  |  | $ | 29,086 |  |  | $ | 1,287,657 |
Changes in common stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock |  | 187 |  |  | — |  |  | 187 |  |  | 457 |  |  | — |  |  | 457 |
Repurchase of common stock |  | (1,143 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1,143 | ) |  | (2,049 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2,049 | )
Accrual of stock-based compensation |  | 3,755 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,755 |  |  | 3,938 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,938 |
Withholding of shares from stock-based compensation for grantee income taxes (Stock Options, SARs, RSUs, and PSAs) |  | (2,009 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2,009 | ) |  | (2,372 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2,372 | )
Dividend equivalents on RSUs |  | 316 |  |  | — |  |  | 316 |  |  | 291 |  |  | — |  |  | 291 |
Changes in retained earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  | 15,742 |  |  | 267 |  |  | 16,009 |  |  | 83,753 |  |  | (10 | ) |  | 83,743 |
Cash dividends declared |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Series B 6.75% convertible perpetual preferred stock |  | (7,425 | ) |  | — |  |  | (7,425 | ) |  | (7,425 | ) |  | — |  |  | (7,425 | )
Common stock |  | (23,644 | ) |  | — |  |  | (23,644 | ) |  | (23,208 | ) |  | — |  |  | (23,208 | )
Repurchase of common stock |  | (6,059 | ) |  | — |  |  | (6,059 | ) |  | (12,096 | ) |  | — |  |  | (12,096 | )
Dividend equivalents on RSUs |  | (316 | ) |  | — |  |  | (316 | ) |  | (291 | ) |  | — |  |  | (291 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) |  | (9,669 | ) |  | (37 | ) |  | (9,706 | ) |  | 33,035 |  |  | (337 | ) |  | 32,698 |
Other changes in noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders |  | — |  |  | (1,977 | ) |  | (1,977 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1,884 | ) |  | (1,884 | )
Balance at end of period |  | $ | 1,347,965 |  |  | $ | 30,915 |  |  | $ | 1,378,880 |  |  | $ | 1,332,604 |  |  | $ | 26,855 |  |  | $ | 1,359,459 |

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the following “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Among other things, these statements relate to the Company’s financial condition, results of operation, and future business plans, operations, opportunities, and prospects. In addition, the Company and its representatives may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in reports to shareholders. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of words such as we “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “predict,” “estimate,” and similar expressions or words of similar import. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current knowledge and assumptions about future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, prospects, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, anticipated levels of demand for and supply of our products and services; costs incurred in providing these products and services; timing of shipments to customers; changes in market structure; government regulation; product taxation; industry consolidation and evolution; changes in exchange rates and interest rates; regulation and litigation impacts on our customers; and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions. For a further description of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements as these statements speak only as of the date when made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this report. This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
The first half of the year is generally a period of significant working capital investment in both Africa and South America as crops are delivered by farmers. We funded our working capital needs for the six months ended September 30, 2014, using a combination of cash on hand, short-term borrowings, customer advances, and operating cash flows. Our working capital requirements were higher in the first half of fiscal year 2015 compared to the same period last fiscal year. Market oversupply conditions, which delayed purchasing, processing, and crop shipments this year, extended the duration of our working capital needs in some origins, although lower green leaf tobacco prices partially mitigated some of these effects.
Our liquidity and capital resource requirements are predominantly short term in nature and relate to working capital for tobacco crop purchases. Working capital needs are seasonal within each geographic region. The geographic dispersion and the timing of working capital needs permit us to predict our general level of cash requirements, although crop sizes, prices paid to farmers, shipment and delivery timing, and currency fluctuations affect requirements each year. Peak working capital requirements are generally reached during the first and second fiscal quarters. Each geographic area follows a cycle of buying, processing, and shipping, although in many regions, we also provide agricultural materials to farmers during the growing season. The timing of the elements of each cycle is influenced by such factors as local weather conditions and individual customer shipping requirements, which may change the level or the duration of crop financing. Despite a predominance of short-term needs, we maintain a relatively large portion of our total debt as long-term to reduce liquidity risk. We also periodically have large cash balances that we utilize to meet our working capital requirements.
Operating Activities
We used $353.7 million in net cash flows to fund our operating activities during the six months ended September 30, 2014. That amount was $46.6 million higher than the level we required during the same period last fiscal year, as market conditions delayed processing and delivery of shipping instructions this year. Tobacco inventory increased by $524.5 million from March 31, 2014 levels to $1.2 billion at September 30, 2014, on seasonal leaf purchases. Tobacco inventories were $127.0 million above September 30, 2013 levels, principally due to later timing of shipments, partially offset by lower green leaf prices in most origins. Inventory is usually financed with a mix of cash, notes payable, and customer deposits, depending on our available cash balances, 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. The majority of our inventories are not considered to be at risk as they are committed for sale to customers. At September 30, 2014, our uncommitted inventories were $171.5 million, or about 15% of total tobacco inventory, compared to $171.4 million, or about 27% of our March 31, 2014 inventory, and $134.2 million, or about 13% of our September 30, 2013 inventory. The level of these uncommitted inventories is influenced by timing of farmer deliveries of new crops, as well as the timing of customer purchases.
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Our balance sheet accounts reflected seasonal patterns in the six months ended September 30, 2014, on deliveries of crops by farmers in both South America and Africa. Cash and cash equivalent balances decreased by $134.0 million from March 31, 2014 levels, as we used cash to fund seasonal working capital needs. Accounts receivable decreased by $177.9 million compared to March 31, 2014, reflecting collections on prior shipments, net of new current crop receivables. Advances to suppliers were $70.3 million at September 30, 2014, a reduction of $64.3 million from March 31, 2014, as crops were delivered in payment of those balances. Conversely, accounts receivable from unconsolidated affiliates were up $91.3 million from March 31, 2014 levels, reflecting seasonal increases. Customer advances and deposits of $57.7 million were up $41.9 million over March 31, 2014 levels, reflecting deposits against upcoming crop shipments.
Compared to the same six-month period last fiscal year, cash and cash equivalent balances are down $45.1 million largely due to increased working capital requirements. Compared to September 30, 2013 levels, accounts receivable decreased by $75.6 million, reflecting later shipment timing, and accounts receivable - unconsolidated affiliates was up $28.5 million on higher purchase volumes and delayed shipments in certain origins.
In the quarter ended June 30, 2014, following our unsuccessful appeal, we paid the European Commission fine related to market activities in Italy. In order to stay execution during the appeals process, we had put in place a bank guarantee in favor of the Commission in the amount of the fine plus accumulated interest and had collateralized that guarantee with a bank deposit. Following payment of the fine and the return of the bank deposit, other current assets and accounts payable and accrued expenses were reduced by approximately $54 million.
Investing Activities
During the six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, we invested about $30.6 million and $19.8 million, respectively, in our property, plant, and equipment. Depreciation expense was approximately $17.3 million and $20.0 million, respectively, for the six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. Generally, our routine capital spending is at a level below depreciation expense in order to maintain strong cash flow. However, from time to time, we undertake projects that increase capital spending beyond those limits when we identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, add value for our customers, and position ourselves for future growth. The expansion in Africa that we announced a year ago is near completion. Over the next twelve months, we currently plan to spend approximately $75 to $80 million on maintenance of our facilities, construction of a new manufacturing facility for our food ingredients business, and other investment opportunities to grow and improve our tobacco business.
Financing Activities
We consider the sum of notes payable and overdrafts, long-term debt (including the current portion), and customer advances and deposits, less cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments on our balance sheet to be our net debt. We also consider our net debt plus shareholders' equity to be our net capitalization. Net debt increased by about $464.8 million to $736.3 million during the six months ended September 30, 2014, primarily due to seasonal working capital requirements. Net debt as a percentage of net capitalization of approximately 35% at September 30, 2014, was up from the September 30, 2013 level of approximately 31%, and reflected higher working capital requirements this fiscal year due to market oversupply conditions that extended the duration of our working capital needs, and was also up from about 16% at March 31, 2014, reflecting normal seasonal expansion. As of September 30, 2014, we were in compliance with all covenants of our debt agreements, which require us to maintain certain levels of tangible net worth and observe restrictions on debt levels. We had $190.0 million available under a committed revolving credit facility that will mature in November 2016 and $29.6 million in cash and cash equivalents. Our short-term debt totaled $359.3 million, and we had $118.8 million of current maturities of long-term debt. In addition, we had about $230 million in unused, uncommitted credit lines.
Our seasonal working capital requirements typically increase significantly between March and September and decline after mid-year. Available capital resources from our cash balances, committed credit facility, and uncommitted credit lines exceed our normal working capital needs, current maturities of long-term debt, and currently anticipated capital expenditure requirements over the next twelve months. We may explore issuing additional long-term debt in order to better control liquidity risk.
Our Board of Directors approved our current share repurchase program in November 2013. The program expires in November 2015 and authorizes purchases of up to $100 million of our common stock. Under the authorization, we may purchase shares from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at prices not exceeding prevailing market rates. During the six months ended September 30, 2014, we purchased 130,000 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $7.2 million (average price per share of $55.40), based on trading dates. In determining our level of common share repurchase activity, our intent is to use only cash available after meeting our anticipated capital investment, dividend, and working capital requirements. Repurchases of shares under the repurchase program may vary based on management discretion, as well as changes in cash flow generation and availability. As of September 30, 2014, our available authorization under the program was $92.8 million and approximately 23.2 million common shares were outstanding.
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Derivatives
From time to time, we use interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates. At September 30, 2014, the fair value of our outstanding interest rate swap agreements was a liability of about $0.6 million, and the notional amount swapped was approximately $74 million. These agreements were entered into to eliminate the variability of cash flows in the interest payments on our variable-rate amortizing term loan. Under the swap agreements, we receive variable rate interest and pay fixed rate interest. The swaps are accounted for as cash flow hedges.
We also enter forward contracts from time to time to hedge certain foreign currency exposures, primarily related to forecast purchases of tobacco and related processing costs in Brazil, as well as our net monetary asset exposure in local currency there. We generally account for our hedges of forecast tobacco purchases as cash flow hedges. At September 30, 2014, we had no open hedge contracts for those purposes. We had other forward contracts outstanding that were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes, and the fair value of those contracts was an asset of about $5 million at September 30, 2014.
Results of Operations
Amounts described as net income and earnings per diluted share in the following discussion are attributable to Universal Corporation and exclude earnings related to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries. The total for segment operating income referred to in the discussion below is a non-GAAP measure. This measure is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash from operating activities or any other operating performance measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. We have provided a reconciliation of the total for segment operating income to consolidated operating income in Note 11. "Operating Segments" to the consolidated financial statements in Item 1. We evaluate our segment performance excluding certain significant charges or credits. We believe this measure, which excludes these items that we believe are not indicative of our core operating results, provides investors with important information that is useful in understanding our business results and trends.
Net income for the first half of fiscal year 2015, which ended on September 30, 2014, was $15.7 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared with $83.8 million, or $2.95 per diluted share for the same period last year. Last year’s results included a non-recurring gain in the first fiscal quarter of $81.6 million before tax ($53.1 million after tax, or $1.96 per diluted share), which resulted from the favorable outcome of litigation in Brazil related to excise tax credits. Results for the current fiscal year included an income tax benefit of $8.0 million (or $0.34 per diluted share) arising from a subsidiary’s payment of a portion of a fine following the unsuccessful appeal of a long-running court case. Excluding those items in both years, net income for the six months decreased $23.0 million compared to the same period last year. For the second fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2014, net income was $15.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared with net income for the prior year’s second quarter of $25.4 million, or $0.90 per diluted share.
Segment operating income for the first half of fiscal year 2015 was $20.9 million, a decrease of $34.7 million, and for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, was $28.6 million, a decrease of $20.7 million, both compared to the same periods last fiscal year. Those declines resulted primarily from reduced volumes due to market conditions which have pushed shipments into the second half of the fiscal year. Consolidated revenues decreased by 32% to $735.6 million for the first half of fiscal year 2015, and by 29% to $464.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the same periods in the prior year, mostly as a result of the lower volumes and lower average prices.
Flue-cured and Burley Leaf Tobacco Operations
Other Regions
Operating income for the Other Regions segment was $11.1 million for the first half of fiscal year 2015, compared to $37.3 million in the first half of the prior fiscal year. The reduction was driven by lower volumes in all regions. The volume reductions were mainly attributable to delays of current crop shipments into the second half of the fiscal year. Gross profit margins for the segment were improved for the period, despite approximately $10 million of inventory writedowns on certain styles of tobacco that were in excess of demand. Although volumes were down for the Africa region on processing and shipment delays, shipments from Mozambique had caught up with prior year levels by September 30, 2014. Better margins in Brazil, compared with last year’s volatile pricing situation that pressured margins, partially offset declines from lower volumes there. Selling, general, and administrative expenses for this segment were down for the six months ended September 30, 2014, as beneficial comparisons to the prior year’s heavy foreign currency remeasurement and exchange losses, mostly in the Philippines and South America, and lower supplier provisions, were partially offset by a large value-added tax valuation allowance in South America. Revenues for the segment were down about 31% to $569.2 million, reflecting those lower volumes and lower average green leaf prices.
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Operating income for the Other Regions segment was down 49% to $21.7 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared with the prior year. Similar to the six-month period ended September 30, 2014, the decline was primarily related to lower volumes in most origins as well as inventory writedowns on certain styles of tobacco that were in excess of demand and partially offset by lower selling, general, and administrative expenses largely due to lower supplier provisions. Revenues for the Other Regions segment declined by 30% to $371.7 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared with the prior year, mainly as a result of the reduced volumes.
North America
North America segment operating income of $6.0 million for the six months ended September 30, 2014, decreased by $4.9 million, compared with the same period in the previous year, on reduced sales and processing volumes. The reductions were mainly due to timing, as a result of shipment orders delayed into the second half of the fiscal year, as well as the later harvesting of current crops in the United States due to this year’s weather conditions. Revenues for the segment declined by $60.1 million to $85.0 million on those lower volumes.
Similarly, segment operating income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2015 of $4.3 million was down $4.2 million compared with last year’s comparable period, on lower sales volumes in Mexico and Guatemala, mainly due to later timing of shipments and delays at the ports. Those factors were partly offset by reduced selling, general, and administrative costs, mostly on lower postretirement benefit costs. The volume reduction also influenced second quarter fiscal year 2015 revenues, which declined by 34% to $53.3 million for the segment.
Other Tobacco Operations
For the first half of fiscal year 2015, the Other Tobacco Operations segment’s operating income decreased by $3.6 million to $3.9 million from results for the same period last fiscal year. The dark tobacco operations saw declines primarily as a result of lower overall volumes and higher provisions on supplier advances. Those declines were partially mitigated by improved results for the oriental joint venture on better margins from product mix and the absence of the prior fiscal year’s currency exchanges losses from devaluation of the Turkish lira. The segment results were also impacted this fiscal year by operational startup costs incurred by our new liquid nicotine and food ingredients businesses. Selling, general, and administrative costs for the segment were lower on reduced foreign currency exchange and remeasurement losses, principally in Indonesia. Revenues for the Other Tobacco Operations segment were down about 28% to $81.3 million for the first half of fiscal year 2015, primarily attributable to the lower volumes in the dark tobacco operations.
The Other Tobacco Operations segment operating income improved by $4.3 million to $2.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, compared with the same period for the previous fiscal year. Results for the dark tobacco business improved slightly for the second fiscal quarter, as benefits from favorable comparisons to last year’s Indonesian foreign currency remeasurement and exchange losses were offset by lower sales volumes of wrapper tobaccos in that origin due to adverse weather conditions that reduced the availability of wrapper in the crop. Results in the fiscal quarter increased for the oriental joint venture on higher volumes, better margins from product mix, and lower selling, general and administrative costs. Revenues for the segment of $39.1 million for the second fiscal quarter were relatively flat, as the lower volumes for the dark tobacco business were offset by volume increases due to the timing of shipments of oriental tobaccos into the United States.
Other Information
Cost of goods sold decreased by about 29% to $379.0 million for the second quarter, and by about 33% to $595.0 million for the first half of fiscal year 2015. The percentage reductions in both periods are comparable to the revenue reductions and reflect the lower sales volumes in the respective periods, as well as lower green leaf prices.
Selling, general, and administrative costs decreased by $11.5 million and by $8.6 million in the first half and second quarter of fiscal year 2015, respectively. In both periods, the declines were chiefly due to favorable comparisons to the previous year’s currency remeasurement and exchange losses, mainly in Asia and South America, lower loss provisions on advances to suppliers, and lower incentive compensation costs. Those benefits for the six-month period were partly offset by higher value-added tax valuation allowances in South America.
The consolidated effective income tax rates were approximately 24% and 29% for the quarters ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Income taxes for the first half of fiscal year 2015 were impacted by a non-recurring benefit of $8.0 million arising from the partial payment of the European Commission fine by our Italian subsidiary in June 2014. Excluding that item, the consolidated effective tax rate for the six months ended September 30, 2014, was approximately 10%. The consolidated effective tax rate for the six-month period ended September 30, 2013, was 33%. The rates for all periods were lower than the 35% federal
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statutory rate because of lower effective tax rates on income from certain foreign subsidiaries. The effective tax rate for the six months ended September 30, 2013, was also lower than the federal statutory rate because of changes in exchange rates on deferred income tax assets and liabilities.
General Overview
Current Fiscal Year
Our results continue to be impacted by an oversupply in tobacco leaf markets and the effects of softer demand from our customers. As is typical under these conditions, markets have developed slowly in some origins, with a later start to purchasing and processing, as well as delayed receipt of shipping instructions from customers. While we usually ship a large portion of our volumes in the second half of our fiscal year, this year significantly more volume is being pushed into this period. Improvements that we have made in Africa, including the opening of our second processing line in Mozambique, will help to move shipments out prior to our current fiscal year end, barring any unexpected logistical challenges. We expect modestly lower lamina volumes in fiscal year 2015 compared to the prior fiscal year due to soft customer demand, but we believe we remain well-positioned in the industry with our strong customer relationships, increasing customer satisfaction with our products and services, and our solid market share. Revenues for the fiscal year are also expected to be down compared to the previous fiscal year primarily due to declining prices and the soft demand that is typical of an oversupply environment. We are confident in our ability to adapt and manage through this period, as we have demonstrated in the past. In addition, we continue to work to balance anticipated global leaf tobacco supply and demand and to minimize our uncommitted inventories, which remained within our normal range at the end of September.
We were also able to reward our shareholders for the 44th consecutive year with an annual dividend increase as announced November 6, 2014.
Industry Trends
Looking forward, we continue to monitor market challenges in the global tobacco industry that may impact our customers as we explore ways to provide more value-added services, make our operations more efficient, and reduce sourcing complexity. On November 5, 2014, we announced that our subsidiary, Universal Leaf North America U.S., Inc. will increase its direct purchases of flue-cured and burley tobaccos, expanding its support of United States tobacco growers, as part of a new leaf supply agreement with Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”). Currently, PMI purchases tobacco in the United States through a direct farmer contracting model. Under our new leaf supply agreement, effective for the 2015 crop, we will be selling PMI processed grades of tobaccos. This new arrangement will broaden our leaf purchasing and grower support activities in the United States and is expected to have a positive material impact on the results of our North America segment in fiscal year 2016. Since most manufacturers are unable to use all the leaf grades and styles produced in farmers' crops, we believe that purchasing tobacco through leaf suppliers rather than under a direct sourcing model adds efficiency to the markets. The leaf tobacco supplier plays a vital role in the industry by finding buyers for all of the leaf grades and styles of tobacco. We believe moves by manufacturers away from direct sourcing models signal recognition of the value and efficiencies provided by leaf suppliers.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rates
After inventory is purchased, interest rate risk is limited in our business because customers usually pre-finance purchases or pay market rates of interest for inventory purchased for their accounts. We bill our customers interest on tobacco purchased for their order at certain points in the inventory cycle. That interest is paid at rates based on current markets for variable rate debt. If we fund our committed tobacco inventory with fixed-rate debt, we might not be able to recover interest at that fixed rate if current market interest rates were to fall. As of September 30, 2014, tobacco inventory of $1.164 billion included $993 million in inventory that was committed for sale to customers and $172 million that was not committed. Committed inventory, after deducting about $58 million in customer deposits, represents our potential net exposure of about $935 million. We normally maintain a portion of our debt at variable interest rates in order to mitigate such interest rate risk related to carrying fixed-rate debt. We also periodically have large cash balances that we use to fund seasonal purchases of tobacco. These cash balances reduce our financing needs. Debt carried at variable interest rates was approximately $359 million at September 30, 2014. Although a hypothetical 1% change in short-term interest rates would result in a change in annual interest expense of approximately $4 million, that amount would be at least partially mitigated by changes in charges to customers. Our policy is to work toward a level of floating-rate liabilities, including customer deposits, that reflects our average committed inventory levels over time.
Currency
The international leaf tobacco trade generally is conducted in U.S. dollars, thereby limiting foreign exchange risk to that which is related to leaf purchase and production costs, overhead, and income taxes in the source country. We also provide farmer advances that are directly related to leaf purchases and are denominated in the local currency. Any currency gains or losses on those advances are usually offset by decreases or increases in the cost of tobacco, which is priced in the local currency. However, the effect of the offset may not occur until a subsequent quarter or fiscal year. Most of our tobacco operations are accounted for using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency. Because there are no forward foreign exchange markets in many of our major countries of tobacco origin, we often manage our foreign exchange risk by matching funding for inventory purchases with the currency of sale, which is usually the U.S. dollar, and by minimizing our net local currency monetary position in individual countries. We are vulnerable to currency remeasurement gains and losses to the extent that monetary assets and liabilities denominated in local currency do not offset each other. In addition to foreign exchange gains and losses, we are exposed to changes in the cost of tobacco due to changes in the value of the local currency in relation to the U.S. dollar. We routinely enter forward currency exchange contracts to hedge against the effects of currency movements on purchases of tobacco to reduce the volatility of costs. In addition, from time-to-time we enter forward contracts to hedge balance sheet exposures.
In certain tobacco markets that are primarily domestic, we use the local currency as the functional currency. Examples of these markets are Hungary, Poland, and the Philippines. In other markets, such as Western Europe, where export sales have been primarily in local currencies, we also use the local currency as the functional currency. In each case, reported earnings are affected by the translation of the local currency into the U.S. dollar.
Derivatives Policies
Hedging interest rate exposure using swaps and hedging foreign exchange exposure using forward contracts are specifically contemplated to manage risk in keeping with management's policies. We may use derivative instruments, such as swaps, forwards, or futures, which are based directly or indirectly upon interest rates and currencies to manage and reduce the risks inherent in interest rate and currency fluctuations. When we use foreign currency derivatives to mitigate our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, we may choose not to designate them as hedges for accounting purposes, which may result in the effects of the derivatives being recognized in our earnings in periods different from the items that created the exposure.
We do not utilize derivatives for speculative purposes, and we do not enter into market risk-sensitive instruments for trading purposes. Derivatives are transaction specific so that a specific debt instrument, forecast purchase, contract, or invoice determines the amount, maturity, and other specifics of the hedge. We routinely review counterparty risk as part of our derivative program.
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports we file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluated, with the participation of other members of management, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting identified in connection with this evaluation that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
European Commission Fines in Italy
In 2002, we reported that we were aware that the European Commission (the "Commission") was investigating certain aspects of the leaf tobacco markets in Italy. One of our subsidiaries, Deltafina, S.p.A. ("Deltafina"), buys and processes tobacco in Italy. We reported that we did not believe that the Commission investigation in Italy would result in penalties being assessed against us or our subsidiaries that would be material to our earnings. The reason we held this belief was that we had received conditional immunity from the Commission because Deltafina had voluntarily informed the Commission of the activities that were the basis of the investigation.
On December 28, 2004, we received a preliminary indication that the Commission intended to revoke Deltafina’s immunity for disclosing in April 2002 that it had applied for immunity. Neither the Commission’s Leniency Notice of February 19, 2002, nor Deltafina’s letter of provisional immunity, contains a specific requirement of confidentiality. The potential for such disclosure was discussed with the Commission in March 2002, and the Commission never told Deltafina that the disclosure would affect Deltafina’s immunity. On November 15, 2005, we received notification from the Commission that the Commission had imposed fines totaling €30 million on Deltafina and Universal Corporation jointly for infringing European Union antitrust law in connection with the purchase and processing of tobacco in the Italian raw tobacco market. In January 2006, Universal Corporation and Deltafina each filed appeals in the General Court of the European Union ("General Court"). Deltafina’s appeal was held on September 28, 2010. For strategic reasons related to the defense of the Deltafina appeal, we withdrew our appeal. On September 9, 2011, the General Court issued its decision, in which it rejected Deltafina’s application to reinstate immunity. Deltafina appealed the decision of the General Court to the European Court of Justice, and a hearing was held in November 2012. Effective with the September 9, 2011 General Court decision, we recorded a charge for the full amount of the fine (€30 million) plus accumulated interest (€5.9 million). The charge totaled $49.1 million at the exchange rate in effect on the date of the General Court decision. Deltafina previously provided the Commission a bank guarantee in the amount of the fine plus accumulated interest in order to stay execution during the appeals process. In January 2013, the guarantee was fully collateralized with a bank deposit. On June 12, 2014, the European Court of Justice issued its final decision on the matter, in which it rejected Deltafina's application to reinstate immunity. We and Deltafina paid the final amount of the fine and interest, approximately €38.9 million ($53.0 million), before June 30. Upon payment, the bank guarantee was terminated and the related deposit was returned. The payment of the fine and interest did not have a material impact on our operations or the operations at Deltafina.
Other Legal Matters
In addition to the above-mentioned matter, some of our subsidiaries are involved in other litigation or legal matters incidental to their business activities. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, we are vigorously defending them and do not currently expect that any of them will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial position. However, should one or more of these matters be resolved in a manner adverse to our current expectation, the effect on our results of operations for a particular fiscal reporting period could be material.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
As of the date of this report, there are no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2014. In evaluating our risks, readers should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or operating results, in addition to the other information set forth in this report and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
As indicated in the following table, we did not repurchase shares of our common stock during the three-month period ended September 30, 2014:

Period (1) |  | Total Number of Shares Repurchased |  | Average Price Paid Per Share (2) |  | Total Number of Shares Repurchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (3) |  | Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (3)
July 1, 2014 to July 31, 2014 |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — |  |  | $ | 92,797,411 |
August 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014 |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 92,797,411 |
September 1, 2014 to September 30, 2014 |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 92,797,411 |
Total |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — |  |  | $ | 92,797,411 |

(1) | Repurchases are based on the date the shares were traded. This presentation differs from the consolidated statement of cash flows, where the cost of share repurchases is based on the date the transactions were settled.

(2) | Amounts listed for average price paid per share include broker commissions paid in the transactions.

(3) | A stock repurchase plan, which was authorized by our Board of Directors, became effective and was publicly announced on November 5, 2013. This stock repurchase plan authorizes the purchase of up to $100 million in common stock in open market or privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors. This stock repurchase program will expire on the earlier of November 15, 2015, or when we have exhausted the funds authorized for the program.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

12 |  | Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges, and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preference Dividends.*
31.1 |  | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2 |  | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.1 |  | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.*
32.2 |  | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.*
101.0 |  | Interactive Data File (Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)).*
|  | Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the three and six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2014, September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2014, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and (iv) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

__________
*Filed herewith
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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.

Date: | November 6, 2014 |  | UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
|  |  | (Registrant)
|  |  | /s/ David C. Moore
|  |  | David C. Moore, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|  |  | (Principal Financial Officer)
|  |  | /s/ Robert M. Peebles
|  |  | Robert M. Peebles, Vice President and Controller
|  |  | (Principal Accounting Officer)

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