UVV Universal Corp

RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --  

HIGHLIGHTS

Six Months
Operating income up $18 million, to $32 million
Revenues were flat, at $732 million
Dividend increase announced for the 45^th consecutive year
Second Quarter
Operating income up $15 million, to $37 million
Net income up 50%, to $22.5 million
Diluted earnings per share of $0.81

George C. Freeman, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV), reported that net income for the first half of fiscal year 2016, which ended on September 30, 2015, was $16.5 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared with $15.7 million, or $0.35 per diluted share for the same period last year. Results for the six months ended September 30, 2015, included restructuring and impairment costs of $2.4 million ($0.07 per diluted share). Last year's results for the six months ended September 30, 2014, 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, and restructuring costs of $3.4 million ($0.09 per diluted share). Excluding those items in both years, net income for the six months increased $8.1 million ($0.37 per diluted share) compared to the same period last year. For the second fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2015, net income was $22.5 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared with net income for the prior year's second quarter of $15.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted share.

Segment operating income for the first half of fiscal year 2016 was $34.6 million, an increase of $13.7 million, and for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, was $38.1 million, an increase of $9.6 million, both compared to the same periods last fiscal year. Those increases resulted primarily from earnings improvements in the Other Regions segment, offset in part by declines in the Other Tobacco Operations segment. Consolidated revenues decreased by 1% to $731.8 million for the first half of fiscal year 2016, and by 2% to $456.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the same periods in the prior year, mostly as a result of higher volumes offset by lower average green prices, as well as lower processing revenues.

Mr. Freeman stated, "We are pleased with the performance of our operations in the first half of this year, which has progressed as expected given the lingering effects of an oversupplied market. Our results for the six months ended September 30, 2015, include higher sales volumes, lower overhead costs, and better overall margins in our key operating regions, due in part to efforts in recent years to improve efficiencies and reduce costs in our business. We continue to support supply chain efficiencies such as in Poland where we recently announced an agreement to assume processing of tobaccos in crop year 2015 for a major customer, giving rise to improved processing efficiencies in that country.                

"We still anticipate that total lamina sales volumes from the current year's crops will slightly exceed those of last year. Similar to last year, we expect strong shipments in the second half of the fiscal year, but this year we expect much heavier volumes will ship in the fourth fiscal quarter. Due to this later timing, and depending upon factors such as port and container availability, some shipments may fall into the first fiscal quarter of 2017.

"We are monitoring weather conditions around the world that will likely have a negative impact on 2016 crop quality and production levels. As a result of the recent heavy rains and hail in southern Brazil from an El Nino weather pattern, we have reduced production projections for both flue-cured and burley in that country by about 8%. The smaller crop sizes could decrease our buying program there next year. The same weather pattern may also affect Africa, decreasing rainfall and impacting crop sizes and quality. We believe that the combination of this weather pattern and reduced plantings in some origins will bring markets largely into balance in fiscal year 2017.

"Construction of the processing facility for our new food ingredients business has been substantially completed, and we expect to begin commercial production in our third fiscal quarter. In addition, as we begin the second half of our fiscal year, we believe we are well-positioned with low uncommitted inventories and a strong balance sheet, and we continue to reward our shareholders as evidenced by our 45^th consecutive annual dividend increase announced earlier today."

FLUE-CURED AND BURLEY LEAF TOBACCO OPERATIONS:
OTHER REGIONS:

Operating income for the Other Regions segment increased by $15.3 million to $26.4 million for the first half of fiscal year 2016, compared to the first half of the prior fiscal year. The improvement was largely attributable to reduced selling, general, and administrative costs, although higher sales volumes for the segment and better overall margins in most regions also contributed to the earnings increase. Sales from carryover crops in Africa and higher volumes in Asia helped mitigate declining volumes and the effect of devaluation of local currencies on U.S. dollar-translated results for the Europe region. The South America region saw positive cost comparisons in the first half of the year from the suspension of operations in Argentina last year. Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the segment improved on the absence of last year's large value-added tax valuation provision, lower incentive compensation costs, and the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar on local currency expenses. These improvements were partially offset by higher net currency remeasurement and exchange losses, mainly in Africa and Asia, and the costs incurred in the current quarter to settle third party challenges to the property rights and valuation of a large tract of forestry land.

Revenues for the Other Regions segment for the six months ended September 30, 2015 were down about 4% to $548.4 million, reflecting the higher volumes at lower average green leaf prices for the segment as a whole, as well as a decline in processing revenues.

Operating income for the Other Regions segment increased $12.6 million to $34.2 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2015, compared with the quarter ended September 30, 2014. A combination of stronger sales volumes, lower inventory writedowns, lower green leaf costs, a better product mix, and lower local-currency factory overheads contributed to improved margins for the segment. Selling, general, and administrative expenses declined slightly for this segment in the second fiscal quarter as lower incentive compensation costs and the positive effect of the stronger U.S. dollar on other local currency-denominated overheads were partly offset by the costs to settle third party challenges to the property rights and valuation of a large tract of forestry land. Revenues for the Other Regions segment declined slightly by $0.6 million to $371.0 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2015, compared with the prior year, on higher total volumes and a better mix, offset by lower average green prices and processing revenues.

NORTH AMERICA:
North America segment operating income of $7.2 million for the six months ended September 30, 2015, increased by $1.2 million, compared with the same period in the previous year. The improvement was driven by higher domestic volumes, mainly from carryover crop sales in the first fiscal quarter. Selling, general and administrative costs were higher for the period, but were flat as a percentage of sales. Segment revenues for the first half of fiscal year 2016 increased by $13.0 million to $98.0 million on those higher volumes, offset by modest declines in processing revenues and a less favorable product mix.

Segment operating income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2016 of $3.8 million was down by $0.5 million from last year's comparable quarter. The earnings decline was mainly driven by higher selling, general, and administrative costs, including variances related to provisions for supplier advances and currency remeasurement losses in Mexico. Second quarter fiscal year 2016 revenues declined by about 7% to $49.4 million for the segment, mainly from lower sales and processing volumes.

OTHER TOBACCO OPERATIONS:
For the first half of fiscal year 2016, the Other Tobacco Operations segment's operating income decreased by $2.8 million to $1.1 million from results for the same period last fiscal year. Earnings improved for the dark tobacco operations on higher volumes, as well as better margins and lower compensation costs. That improvement was offset by reduced earnings for the oriental joint venture due to lower volumes, partly resulting from later shipments this fiscal year, and higher currency remeasurement losses. In addition, the special services group incurred losses primarily on continuing startup costs for the new food ingredients business. Selling, general, and administrative costs for the segment were flat for the first half of the current fiscal year compared with the previous year. Revenues for the Other Tobacco Operations segment increased by $4.0 million to $85.4 million for the first half of fiscal year 2016, as the stronger volumes for the dark tobacco operations were partly offset by volume declines due to the timing of shipments of oriental tobaccos into the United States.

The Other Tobacco Operations segment operating income declined by $2.5 million to $0.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, compared with the same period for the previous fiscal year. Results for the dark tobacco business improved slightly for the second fiscal quarter, on better margins and stronger service cutting volumes. Selling, general, and administrative costs in the second fiscal quarter for the segment were negatively impacted by higher costs for the special services group and from higher currency remeasurement and exchange losses, mainly in the dark tobacco operations. Results in the fiscal quarter were down for the oriental joint venture on reduced volumes, due in part to shipments delayed into the second half of the fiscal year, and higher currency remeasurement losses, despite lower administrative costs for the period. Revenues for the segment declined by $3.2 million to $35.9 million for the second fiscal quarter as the improvements for the dark tobacco business were outweighed by lower sales volumes due to the timing of shipments of oriental tobaccos into the United States, compared to the same period in the prior year.

OTHER ITEMS:
Cost of goods sold decreased by about 2% to $585.3 million for the first half, and by about 5% to $358.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2016. For both periods, the reductions reflect the lower revenues in the respective periods, from lower overall leaf prices, and improved margins. The second fiscal quarter was also influenced by an improved product mix and lower inventory writedowns.

Selling, general, and administrative costs decreased by $11.5 million in the first half of fiscal year 2016 and increased by $1.0 million for the second fiscal quarter compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. In both periods, benefits were achieved from a combination of items, including favorable comparisons to last year's accruals for value-added tax reserves, lower loss provisions on advances to suppliers, lower incentive compensation costs, and reductions in local currency-denominated expenses from devaluation of foreign currencies, mainly in South America and Africa. Expense increases in the periods were driven by larger currency remeasurement losses, mainly in Africa and Asia, and the costs incurred in the current quarter to settle third party challenges to the property rights and valuation of a large tract of forestry land.

The consolidated effective income tax rates were approximately 27% and 24% for the quarters ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The consolidated effective tax rate for the six-month period ended September 30, 2015, was approximately 24%. 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 rates for all periods were lower than the 35% federal statutory rate because of lower net effective tax rates on income from certain foreign subsidiaries, as well as effects of changes in local currency exchange rates on deferred income tax balances.

Additional information

Amounts included in the previous discussion are attributable to Universal Corporation and exclude earnings related to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries. In addition, the total for segment operating income referred to in this discussion 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. A reconciliation of the total for segment operating income to consolidated operating income is in Note 3. Segment Information, included in this earnings release. The Company evaluates its segment performance excluding certain significant charges or credits. The Company believes this measure, which excludes these items that it believes are not indicative of its core operating results, provides investors with important information that is useful in understanding its business results and trends.

This information includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions readers that any statements contained herein regarding earnings and expectations for its performance are forward-looking statements based upon management's current knowledge and assumptions about future events, including anticipated levels of demand for and supply of its 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; and general economic, political, market, and weather conditions. Actual results, therefore, could vary from those expected. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties, and other factors can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, and in other documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This information should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.

At 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on November 5, 2015, the Company will host a conference call to discuss these results. Those wishing to listen to the call may do so by visiting www.universalcorp.com at that time. A replay of the webcast will be available at that site through February 2, 2016. A taped replay of the call will be available through November 19, 2015, by dialing (855) 859-2056. The confirmation number to access the replay is 68333154.

Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Universal Corporation is the leading global leaf tobacco supplier and conducts business in more than 30 countries. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, were $2.3 billion. For more information on Universal Corporation, visit its website at www.universalcorp.com.

NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Universal Corporation, which together with its subsidiaries is referred to herein as "Universal" or the "Company," is the leading global leaf tobacco supplier. 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, 2015.

NOTE 2.   EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

NOTE 3. SEGMENT INFORMATION

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:

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SOURCE Universal Corporation