Universal Corporation announced the appointment of Anubhav Mittal as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective February 17, following the completion of its CFO search process. Mittal brings 20 years of global finance, strategy, and business transformation experience, most recently serving as CFO of ADM Nutrition, Archer Daniels Midland’s approximately $8 billion nutrition, flavors, and ingredients business. He succeeds Johan C. Kroner, who will retire as CFO on the same date and remain with the company as a senior vice president through July 1, to support a smooth transition.
Tag: Universal
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Universal CEO Presenting at ICR Conference 2026
Universal Corporation announced that members of its management team will attend the ICR Conference (ICR Conference of Consumer Growth Companies) 2026, being held in Orlando, Florida, January 12-14. Preston D. Wigner, chairman, president, and CEO, will deliver a company presentation on January 13, beginning at 2 p.m. EST.
A live webcast of the presentation will be available on Universal’s Investor Relations website.
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Universal Secures $1.4 Billion Credit Facility
Universal Corporation announced the closing of a $1.4 billion senior unsecured credit facility, effective December 9. The new 2025 Facility includes a five-year $780 million revolving credit line, a $275 million five-year term loan, and a $345 million seven-year term loan, replacing the company’s prior $1.15 billion facility.
Chairman and CEO Preston Wigner said the refinancing enhances liquidity, lowers borrowing costs, and expands banking relationships, positioning Universal to advance strategic priorities and deliver long-term shareholder value.
JPMorgan Chase, Truist Securities, and AgFirst Farm Credit Bank acted as joint bookrunners and lead arrangers for the facility.
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Universal Announces New HR Chief
Universal Corporation today (November 10) announced the appointment of Tatiana Santos Godoi as Chief Human Resources Officer. Godoi brings more than two decades of international human resources leadership experience across North America, Latin America, and global corporate functions. Prior to joining Universal, she served as vice president of human resources North America for Kerry, Inc. where she led HR for 50 sites across the U.S. and Canada, supporting approximately 6,000 employees. She previously held senior leadership roles at Kerry Latin America, Mars Incorporated, Newell Rubbermaid, Villares Metals, and LaticÍnos Bom Gosto.
“Tatiana’s appointment as Chief Human Resources Officer reflects our commitment to investing in leadership that strengthens our workforce and culture,” said Preston Wigner, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation. “Her leadership will help strengthen our organization by aligning people and culture with our business strategy, engaging and developing our workforce, and supporting our continued growth.”
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Universal Reports Strong First-Half 2026, Announced Dividend
Universal Corporation reported a 3% rise in revenue for the first half and 6% growth for Q2 FY2026, driven by higher tobacco processing volumes and stronger ingredient sales. Operating income rose 18% in the first half to $102 million, though it declined 2% in the second quarter to $68 million, reflecting product mix and currency impacts. Net income increased 64% year-over-year to $43 million.
The Tobacco Operations segment posted a 2% revenue increase to $1.16 billion, with stronger processing volumes and earlier shipments. Ingredients Operations revenue grew 11% to $184 million, supported by continued demand for value-added products despite higher fixed costs and soft consumer demand.
CEO Preston Wigner said Universal delivered “strong operational performance” and remains “well-positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities” in both tobacco and ingredients businesses. The company also advanced its sustainability goals, expanding solar power use across multiple sites as part of its transition to renewable energy.
Universal’s board of directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share on the shares of the company, payable February 2, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 12, 2026.
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Universal Announces New Board Member
Universal Corporation appointed Gregory A. Trojan to its board of directors, effective immediately. Trojan brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the restaurant, retail, and consumer products sectors. He previously served as CEO of BJ’s Restaurants from 2013 to 2021 and was a board member until September 2025. His past roles include CEO of Guitar Center and House of Blues Entertainment, along with senior positions at PepsiCo. He currently serves on the boards of Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and CEC Brands, LLC (parent of Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza).
Universal chairman, president, and CEO Preston D. Wigner said Trojan’s strategic and operational expertise will support the company’s growth priorities across its tobacco and ingredients platforms.
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Universal to Report Q2 Fiscal 2026 Results
Universal Corporation announced it will release its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results after market close on November 5, followed by a conference call at 10 a.m. ET on November 6. The call will be webcast live on www.universalcorp.com and available for replay through February 6, 2026. The call will be “listen-only.”
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Court Orders the Reopening of 26 Cigarette Factories in Pakistan
Pakistan’s Peshawar High Court has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to de-seal 26 cigarette factories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that were shut for failing to install CCTV cameras under a directive that was issued August 18 and enforced August 25. Petitioners, including Universal Tobacco Company, argued the order was discriminatory as multinationals were exempted, despite already complying with tracking-and-tracing regulations. Their lawyer contended the new CCTV requirement was excessive, with factories already under electronic monitoring and tax office supervision.
A bench led by Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Mohammad Ijaz Khan ruled that no further action be taken against the petitioners until the next hearing on September 11.
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Manolios Added to Universal’s Board
Last week, Universal Corporation announced the appointment of Fay Manolios to its board of directors effective June 1. In addition, Michael T. Lawton, who has served as an independent director since 2016, has decided to retire and will not stand for re-election to the board at Universal’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held August 5.
Manolios brings over 25 years of experience in strategy development and human resources to Universal. She held increasing roles of responsibility at Capital One Financial Corporation from 2012 to 2022, most recently as managing vice president.
“We are pleased to welcome Fay to our board,” said Preston D. Wigner, chairman, president, and CEO of Universal. “Fay is an accomplished executive with deep insight into human resources and a track record for helping to develop and reward high-performing organizations. Her expertise aligns with our commitment to setting high standards that benefit all Universal stakeholders, and we look forward to leveraging her insights as we continue to execute on our strategic initiatives across our tobacco and ingredients businesses.”
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Universal Announces Dividend Increase, Sets Annual Meeting
Universal Corporation announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share on the common shares of the company, payable August 4, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on July 14. This increase indicates an annualized rate of $3.28 per common share and a yield of approximately 5.66% based on the $58 per share closing price on May 19.
“We are pleased to announce our 55th annual dividend increase as we continue to execute our business strategy and deliver on our commitment to returning value to our shareholders,” Preston D. Wigner, chairman, president, and CEO of Universal, said. “Our focus on consistent performance and operational excellence positions us well for continued success.”
The Board of Directors set the company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for August 5, at 11 a.m. EST at the company’s headquarters.