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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: February 26, 2001
(Date of earliest event reported)
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Virginia 1-652 54-0414210
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
1501 North Hamilton Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(804) 359-9311
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Item 5. Other Events.
On February 26, 2001, Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated,
J.P. Taylor Company, Incorporated and Southwestern Tobacco Company,
Incorporated, subsidiaries of the Company (the "Company Subsidiaries") were
served with the Third Amended Complaint, naming them and other leaf tobacco
merchants as defendants in DeLoach, et al. v. Philip Morris Inc., et al., a suit
originally filed against U.S. cigarette manufacturers in the United States
District Court for the District of Columbia and now pending in the United States
District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Greensboro Division
(Case No. 00-CV-1235) (the "DeLoach Suit"). The DeLoach Suit is a purported
class action brought on behalf of U.S. tobacco growers and quota holders that
alleges that defendants violated antitrust laws by bid-rigging at tobacco
auctions and by conspiring to undermine the tobacco quota and price support
program administered by the federal government. Plaintiffs seek injunctive
relief, trebled damages in an unspecified amount, pre- and post-judgment
interest, attorneys' fees and costs of litigation. The Company Subsidiaries
intend to join with the motion to dismiss previously filed by the manufacturer
defendants and to otherwise vigorously defend the suit.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
UNIVERSAL CORPORATION
Dated: February 26, 2001 By: /s/ George C. Freeman, III
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George C. Freeman, III
Secretary and General Counsel