CONTACT:                                                                RELEASE:
KAREN M. L. WHELAN                                                   IMMEDIATELY
(804) 359-9311

                    UNIVERSAL CORPORATION NAMES NEW DIRECTORS

RICHMOND,VA  February 11, 2000/PRNEWSWIRE/---

         The Board of Directors of Universal  Corporation  today  announced  the
election  of two new  directors.  The new  members of the Board,  who will serve
until the next annual meeting of  shareholders,  are: Walter A. Stosch,  and Dr.
Eugene P. Trani.

         In  announcing  this  action,  Henry H.  Harrell,  Chairman  and  Chief
Executive  Officer of Universal  Corporation  noted,  "We are  delighted to have
individuals of such high caliber and recognized leadership abilities joining our
Board of Directors.  We look forward to the new insights and  perspectives  that
they will bring to the work of the Board."

         Senator Walter A. Stosch, a retired partner of Deloitte & Touche,  is a
Principal  with the firm of  Stosch,  Dacey  and  George,  PC. He earned a BS in
Accounting  and an  MBA  from  the  University  of  Richmond  and is a  licensed
Certified Public  Accountant.  Senator Stosch served as a member of the Virginia
House of  Delegates  from 1983 to 1991,  and has been a member of the  Senate of
Virginia since 1992. He currently serves as Senate Majority Leader.

         Dr.  Eugene  P.  Trani  has been  President  of  Virginia  Commonwealth
University  since 1990,  and has  overseen  the  establishment  of the School of
Engineering and the Virginia  Biotechnology Research Park. Dr. Trani, a graduate
of the University of Notre Dame,  earned his master's and doctoral  degrees from
Indiana  University.  He is a  specialist  in U. S. foreign  affairs.  Dr. Trani
serves on numerous  corporate  and civic  boards in the Richmond  area,  and was
chair of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce for 1997--1998.

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

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