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                  KAREN M. L. WHELAN                                 IMMEDIATELY
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     UNIVERSAL LEAF NORTH AMERICA REPORTS FLOOD DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE FLOYD

         RICHMOND, VA September 20, 1999/PRNEWSWIRE/---- Universal Leaf North
America, a subsidiary of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc., today reported
that its operations in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, have suffered catastrophic
flooding due to the impact of Hurricane Floyd. Universal believes that it
carries adequate insurance on the facility; however access is currently hampered
by flood waters and the extent of damage cannot yet be assessed. Tobacco
processing and sales and administrative functions will be carried out at one or
more of Universal's other facilities.

         R.E. Foy, Jr., President of Universal Leaf North America, noted, "As
the flood waters recede, we will begin to evaluate the situation in order to
determine the exact extent of damage and the condition of the facility. Our
hearts go out to the people of Rocky Mount who have suffered significant losses
in this disaster."

          Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc. is a subsidiary of Universal
Corporation (NYSE-UVV), a diversified company with operations in tobacco,
lumber, and agri-products. Universal Corporation's gross revenues for the fiscal
year that ended on June 30, 1999, were approximately $4 billion. For more
information on Universal Corporation, visit its web site at
www.universalcorp.com.
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