Universal Corporation Approves Several New Capital Projects in Africa

George C. Freeman, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation

, announced today that the Company has approved several new capital projects in Africa which will increase and enhance the Company's infrastructure in that region.  Universal currently operates in six African nations. The largest of the new projects is in Mozambique, where the Company is expanding tobacco production and processing capabilities to meet strong customer demand.     The Mozambique project includes the addition of a second processing line at the Company's factory in Tete which will double processing capacity there.  Universal opened its state-of-the-art facility in Mozambique in 2006, where it processes leaf tobacco purchased from more than 100,000 Mozambique farmers. The expansion costs will be reduced through efficient redeployment of idled equipment from Brazil, where the Company recently consolidated operations.  In addition, the Mozambique project includes agronomy investments to support the expanded crop production.  The projected capital expenditure to expand the crop and upgrade the factory is expected to be between $40 and $45 million over the next two years.  The new processing line is targeted to be operational in September 2014.  The other