Please note that brokers may not vote your shares on the election of directors and most other proposals in the absence of your specific instructions as to how to vote. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. Registered shareholders may vote by signing, dating, and returning the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction, or they may vote over the Internet or by telephone. Instructions for using these convenient services are set forth in the instructions for voting that are attached to the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction. Beneficial owners of shares of our Common Stock held in street name through a bank or brokerage account should follow the enclosed instructions for voting their shares. I hope you will be able to attend the Annual Meeting, but even if you cannot, please vote your shares as promptly as possible.

Please note that brokers may not vote your shares on the election of directors, the advisory vote on executive compensation, the advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation, the approval of the Universal Corporation 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, or on the shareholder proposal, in the absence of your specific instructions as to how to vote. Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person, it is important that you vote and we urge you to vote online, by phone or complete, sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy in the envelope provided.

We make available free of charge through our Internet website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which is referred to herein as the Exchange Act, as well as reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed by our directors and executive officers pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information on our Internet website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this Proxy Statement or incorporated into any other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In accordance with our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, the Board of Directors is divided into three classes. The term of office of one of the three classes of directors expires each year, and each class is elected for a three-year term.

SixFive members of our board of directors have previously been elected to terms expiring in 20172018 or 2018,2019, as indicated below. The Compensation and Governance Committee has recommended to our Board of Directors, and our Board of Directors has approved, the twonomination of the three remaining nominees for directorincumbent directors set forth below to be elected for three-year terms at the Annual Meeting.

The following pages set forth certain information for each nominee, and eachas well as all other incumbent directordirectors, as of March 31, 2016,2017, except as otherwise noted. All of the nominees and incumbent directors listed below except for Mr. Lawton are directors previously elected by the shareholders. Each nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. Mr. Chester A. Crocker's and Mr. Charles H. Foster, Jr.'s current terms expire at the Annual Meeting, and they will not stand for re-election as they have reached retirement age as set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines.

The election of each nominee for director requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock cast in the election of directors. With a plurality vote, the nominees that receive the highest vote totals for the director positions up for election will be elected. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named in this Proxy Statement. Unless otherwise specified in the accompanying form of proxy, it is intended that votes will be cast for the election of all of the nominees as directors. If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, any nominee should be unavailable to serve as a director, it is intended that votes will be cast, pursuant to the enclosed proxy, for such substitute nominee as may be nominated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unavailable. In lieu of designating a substitute nominee, however, the Board of Directors may adopt a resolution pursuant to our Articles of Incorporation to reduce the number of directors.

Set forth below is information concerning the age, principal occupation, employment and directorships during the past five years, positions with the Company of each nominee and director, the year in which he or she first became a director of the Company and his or her term of office as a director. Also set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that each nominee and director should serve as a director as of the date of this Proxy Statement, in light of the Company's business and structure.

As Chairman of the Board, Mr. G. Freeman provides the Board of Directors with strong leadership and a considerable amount of experience. In addition, as our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. G. Freeman is able to communicate to and inform the Board about our day-to-day operations, customer relationships, management issues and industry developments. The Board believes that Mr. G. Freeman's extensive knowledge of the industry, his financial expertise and his forward-looking thinking brings an invaluable perspective on our current operations and our ongoing relationships with customers and suppliers. Through Mr. G. Freeman's years of service with us and on the Board of Directors, he has developed extensive knowledge in the areas of leadership, risk oversight, management and corporate governance, each of which provides great value to the Board of Directors.

Mr. E. Moore's strong background in accounting and finance and his leadership experience gained through managing prominent educational institutions is valuable to the Board of Directors. Mr. E. Moore's experience in the public sector brings valuable perspectives and disciplines to the Board of Directors' deliberations and decision-making processes.

Having been a director of Fauquier Bankshares, Inc. since 2003, Mr. Adams brings extensive financial and banking experience to the Board of Directors. In addition, his experience as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Bowman Companies and his other leadership roles provides the Board of Directors with valuable leadership, business and operational experience.

Through Mr. Sledd's prior experience serving as a former chief executive of a foodservice distribution company, he has gained extensive knowledge and understanding of the challenges faced by public companies. In addition, his experience in founding, expanding and taking public PFG provides the Board of Directors with a breadth of perspectives and ideas on matters of management, corporate governance and strategic growth. Having served on the board of directors of other publicly traded companies, he has gained further experience related to corporate governance matters in addition to experience in risk oversight and executive compensation.

The following table sets forth as of June 10, 20169, 2017, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by each person or group we know to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of such stock.

Our directors and executive officers are required under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of Common Stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of those reports must also be furnished to us.

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Virginia Stock Corporation Act and our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Members of the Board of Directors are kept informed of our business through discussions with the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees. The corporate governance practices we follow are summarized below.

The Board of Directors, in its business judgment, has determined that each member of the Board of Directors, except Mr. G. Freeman, our Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, is independent as defined by the NYSE listing standards and our Corporate Governance Guidelines. In reaching this conclusion and as set forth in the independence standards of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board of Directors evaluated each director or nominee for director in light of the specified independence tests set forth in the NYSE listing standards. In addition, the Board of Directors considered whether we and our subsidiaries conduct business and have other relationships with organizations of which certain members of the Board of Directors or members of their immediate families are or were directors or officers. There has been no such business or relationships for the past three fiscal years.

The independent directors of the Board of Directors meet in executive session at least annually without management or employee directors present. The independent directors designate the Lead Independent Director, who is responsible for presiding over the executive sessions of the independent directors. For fiscal year 20162017, the independent directors designated Mr. FosterE. Moore as the Lead Independent Director. The Lead Independent Director is responsible for advising the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the outcome of any decisions reached or suggestions made at these sessions. Executive sessions where non-employee directors meet on an informal basis may be scheduled either before or after each regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting.

Interested parties may at any time direct communications to the Board of Directors as a whole, to the lead independent director, who presides at the executive sessions of the non-employee directors, or to any individual member of the Board of Directors, through our Internet website or by contacting our Secretary. The “Corporate Governance - Contact the Board” section of our Internet website at http://investor.universalcorp.com/contactboard.cfm contains an e-mail submission form established for submitting communications to directors. Communications can also be delivered by mail by sending requests to our Corporate Secretary, at Universal Corporation, P. O. Box 25099, Richmond, Virginia 23260, Attention: Corporate Secretary.whose address is on page 6 of this Proxy Statement.

Shareholders making such communications are encouraged to state that they are shareholders and provide the exact name in which their shares of Common Stock are held and the number of shares held. Each individual communicating with the Board of Directors will receive a written acknowledgment from or on behalf of our Secretary after receipt of the communication sent in the manner described above. After screening such communications for issues unrelated to shareholder interests, our Secretary will distribute communications to the intended recipient(s) as appropriate. The process for such screening has been approved by our non-employeeindependent directors.

During fiscal year 20162017, there were five meetings of the Board of Directors. Each director attended 75% or more of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committees on which they served.

The Board of Directors does not have a policy on whether or not the role of the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman should be separate or, if it is to be separate, whether the Chairman should be selected from the non-employee directors or be an employee. We operate with one individual, Mr. G. Freeman, serving as Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. G. Freeman was elected by the Board of Directors as President on December 12, 2006, Chief Executive Officer on April 1, 2008 and Chairman of the Board on August 5, 2008. Prior to his election as our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. G. Freeman served as our General Counsel and Secretary from February 1, 2001 until November 2005, when he was elected Vice President. The Board of Directors believes that because Mr. G. Freeman has unique and extensive experience and understanding of our business, he is well situated to lead and execute strategy and business plans to maximize shareholder value by having a combined role of Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

The Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines permit the individual who serves as Chief Executive Officer to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In order to ensure that independent directors continue to play a leading role in our governance, however, the Board of Directors established the position of a Lead Independent Director in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. Mr. FosterE. Moore currently serves as our Lead Independent Director. The Board of Directors will elect a new Lead Independent Director upon the retirement of Mr. Foster. The Lead Independent Director is elected by the independent directors and ensures that (i) the Board of Directors operates independently of management and (ii) directors and shareholders have an independent leadership contact. The Lead Independent Director, who must satisfy our independence standards, is responsible for presiding over the executive sessions of the independent directors and performing such other duties as may be delegated to the position by the Board of Directors. The Lead Independent Director also has the following additional roles and responsibilities:

The Board of Directors also has five standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Governance Committee, the Finance Committee, the Pension Investment Committee and the Executive Committee. Each committee has a separate chairman and each of the Audit and Compensation and Governance Committees are composed solely of independent directors.

Given our current circumstances, relative size and operating strategies, we believe having a combined Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, as well as having a Lead Independent Director and independent standing Board committees, is the most appropriate structure for us and our shareholders. We believe this structure demonstrates clear leadership to our employees, shareholders, and other interested parties and eliminates potential for redundancies and confusion. The Lead Independent Director protects the role of the independent directors by providing leadership to the independent directors and working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

As part of the Board of Directors' annual assessment process, the Board of Directors evaluates our board leadership structure to ensure that it remains appropriate for us. The Board of Directors recognizes that there may be circumstances in the future that would lead it to separate the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, but believes that the absence of a policy requiring either the separation or combination of the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer provides the Board of Directors with the flexibility to determine the best leadership structure for us.

The Board of Directors is responsible for our risk oversight. Management is responsible for our risk management, including providing oversight and monitoring to ensure our policies are carried out and processes are executed in accordance with our performance goals and risk tolerances. In carrying out its risk oversight function, each of the five standing committees of the Board of Directors has five standing committees: the Audit; Compensation and Governance; Finance; Pension Investment; and Executive Committees. Each committee is responsible for risk oversight within their area of responsibility and regularly reports to the Board of Directors. In addition, management holds regular meetings in which they identify, discuss and assess financial risk from current macro-economic, industry, and company-specific perspectives.

The Audit Committee is responsible for discussing with management, the independent registered public accounting firm and the internal auditors our policies and procedures with respect to risk assessment and risk management. As part of its regular reporting process, management reports and reviews with the Audit Committee our material risks, including (i) proposed Risk Factors and other public disclosures, and (ii) mitigation strategies and our internal controls over financial reporting. The Audit Committee also engages in regular periodic discussions with the Chief Financial Officer and other members of management regarding risks as appropriate.

The Finance Committee assists the Board of Directors in control of the Company's financial policies and resources and monitors our financial strategic direction. As part of its responsibilities, the Finance Committee oversees our financial policies, including financial risk management, and reviews and approves significant financial policies and transactions.

In addition to the Audit Committee and Finance Committee, each of the other committees of the Board of Directors considers risks within its area of responsibility. The Compensation and Governance Committee considers succession planning, human resources risks, corporate governance risks and risks that may be a result of our executive compensation programs. In addition, the Pension Investment Committee has oversight of the investments in the Company's ERISA - regulated pension and savings plans. Each of the committees regularly reports to the Board of Directors.

We believe the current leadership structure of the Board of Directors supports the risk oversight functions described above by providing independent leadership at the committee level, with ultimate oversight by the full Board of Directors as led by the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer and the Lead Independent Director. Our Board of Directors is committed to fostering a culture of high ethical standards.

The standing committees of the Board of Directors are the Audit Committee, the Executive Committee, the Compensation and Governance Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Pension Investment Committee.

The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. E. Moore (Chairman), Adams, L. Freeman, Lawton, and Sledd. The Board of Directors has determined that each of the Audit Committee members is independent as defined under the applicable independence standards set forth in regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NYSE listing standards. The Board of Directors has also determined that all of the Audit Committee members are financially literate as defined by the NYSE listing standards. Finally, in accordance with the applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Board of Directors has further determined that the Audit Committee contains at least one “audit committee financial expert” as defined by such regulations. That person is Mr. E. Moore, the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The fact that the Board of Directors did not identify additional Audit Committee members as “audit committee financial experts” does not in any way imply that other members do not meet that definition.

The members of the Compensation and Governance Committee are Messrs. FosterJohnson (Chairman), L. Freeman and Johnson.Mrs. Cantor. The Compensation and Governance Committee performs the responsibilities of the Board of Directors relating to compensation of our executives. The Compensation and Governance Committee's responsibilities include reviewing and setting or approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, evaluating the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers in light of those goals and objectives, and determining and approving compensation levels for the Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers based on this evaluation; making recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to annual and long-term incentive compensation plans; evaluating the performance of, and determining the salaries, incentive compensation, and executive benefits for senior management; and administering our equity-based and other executive compensation plans.

The Chairman of the Compensation and Governance Committee works with our Chief Financial Officer to establish the agenda for Compensation and Governance Committee meetings. The Chief Financial Officer and management personnel reporting to him prepare data and materials for review by the Compensation and Governance Committee using market data from both broad-based and targeted national and regional compensation surveys. Competitive industry analysis is enhanced through review of peer company proxy data, professional research consortiums, and nationally recognized compensation databases provided by the Compensation and Governance Committee's external compensation consultant.

The Compensation and Governance Committee periodically meets with the Chief Financial Officer and other members of executive management in order to assess progress toward meeting long-term objectives approved by the Board of Directors. The Compensation and Governance Committee reviews the performance and compensation of the Chief Executive Officer with input from both the full Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer's self evaluation. The Compensation and Governance Committee approves the compensation of the other executive officers, based upon the evaluation and recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer. Where it deems appropriate, the Compensation and Governance Committee engages its independent compensation consultant or other appropriate advisors to analyze compensation trends and competitiveness of pay packages and to support the Compensation and Governance Committee's duty to establish each of the executive officers' targeted overall compensation levels.

The Compensation and Governance Committee reports regularly to the Board of Directors on matters relating to the Compensation and Governance Committee's responsibilities. In addition, the Compensation and Governance Committee follows regulatory and legislative developments and considers corporate governance best practices in performing its duties. For additional information regarding the compensation-related activities of the Compensation and Governance Committee, see the sections entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Report of the Executive Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee” beginning on pages 19 and 38 of this Proxy Statement, respectively.

The Compensation and Governance Committee evaluates all director candidates in accordance with the director membership criteria described in the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Compensation and Governance Committee does not differentiate between Board of Directors candidates submitted by Board of Directors members or those submitted by shareholders with respect to evaluating candidates. All Board of Directors candidates are considered based upon various criteria, such as their broad-based business skills and experience, prominence and reputation in their profession, their global business and social perspective, concern for the long-term interests of the shareholders, knowledge of our industry or related industries, diversity, and personal and professional integrity, ethics, and judgment - all in the context of an assessment of the perceived needs of the Board of Directors at that point in time. Because the needs of the Board of Directors change from time to time, the Compensation and Governance Committee evaluates the totality of the merits of each prospective nominee that it considers and has not established specific minimum qualifications that must be met by potential new directors. The Board of Directors, however, believes that as a matter of policy there should be a substantial majority of independent directors on the Board of Directors.

It also is important to the Compensation and Governance Committee that the members of the Board of Directors work together in a cooperative fashion. When considering a director standing for re-election as a nominee, in addition to the attributes described above, the Compensation and Governance Committee also considers that individual's past contribution and future commitment to us. The Compensation and Governance Committee will also seek to ensure that the Board of Directors, and consequently the Audit Committee, have at least three independent members that satisfy the NYSE financial and accounting experience requirements and at least one member who qualifies as an audit committee financial expert.

After completing potential director nominees' evaluations, the Compensation and Governance Committee makes a recommendation to the full Board of Directors as to the persons who should be nominated by the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors determines the nominees after considering the recommendation and report of the Compensation and Governance Committee. There is no difference in the manner by which the Compensation and Governance Committee evaluates prospective nominees for director based upon the source from which the individual was first identified.

Messrs. JohnsonG. Freeman, L. Freeman and LawtonE. Moore were each recommended by the Compensation and Governance Committee for nomination for election at the Annual Meeting as directors to serve a three-year term until their respective successors are elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal. The Compensation and Governance Committee did not receive any Board of Director recommendations from any shareholder in connection with the Annual Meeting.

The Pension Investment Committee retains and monitors the performance of an investment manager and, with the assistance of the investment manager, establishes investment objectives and policies, and monitors the performance of investments of the retirement plans and other qualified employee benefit plans of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated, which we refer to as Universal Leaf. The members of the Pension Investment Committee are Messrs. Sledd (Chairman), Adams, Crocker,Lawton, E. Moore and Mrs. Cantor. The Pension Investment Committee met four times during fiscal year 2016.2017.

Although oversupplied markets during the past two fiscal years have been less than optimal,Despite supply headwinds, most notably from weather-reduced crop sizes in Brazil and ongoing challenging market conditions in Tanzania, we performed welldelivered solid results again this year, reported improved results and our underlying business and customer relationships remain strong.year. Net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 20162017, was $106.3 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, compared with fiscal year 2016's net income of $109.0 million, or $3.92 per diluted share. The fiscal year 2017 results included a one-time reduction of earnings available to common shareholders of $74.4 million, or $2.99 per diluted share, for purposes of determining the amounts reported for basic and diluted earnings per share, from the conversion for cash of the remaining outstanding shares of our Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock under the mandatory conversion in January 2017. Excluding that one time reduction and certain other non-recurring items, diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year of $3.97 increased $0.07 compared withto the same period last year's netyear. Operating income of $114.6$178.4 million or $4.06 per diluted share. This year's results included restructuring and impairment cotsfor the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, was down $3.3 million compared to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. Segment operating income, which excludes non-recurring items, was $188.5 million for fiscal year 2017, an increase of $2.4 million ($.06 per diluted share) and a gain of $3.4 million ($.08 per diluted share) on remeasuring the Company's interest in a tobacco processing joint venture to fair value upon acquiring our partner's 50% ownership. Last year's results included a gain of $12.7 million before tax ($.29 per diluted share) arising from the favorable outcome of litigation in Brazil related to previous years' excise tax credits reported in fiscal year 2014, an income tax benefit of $8.0 million ($.28 per diluted share) arising from a subsidiary's payment of a fine following the unsuccessful appeal of a long-running court case and restructuring costs of $4.9 million ($.11 per diluted share). Operating income was $181.6 million, up $13.7 million or 9% compared to the prior year.

The following charts show a five-year history of our diluted earnings per share and our operating income:

The following charts show a five-year history of our dividends declared per share of Common Stock and the market price of our Common Stock:

    

We believe our compensation philosophy is appropriate and aligned with the interests of our shareholders, as demonstrated by our Common Stock performance. The following performance graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on our Common Stock for the last three fiscal years with the cumulative total return for the same period of the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index and the peer group index. The peer group represents Alliance One International, Inc. The graph assumes that $100 was invested in Universal Corporation Common Stock at the end of the Company's 20132014 fiscal year, and in each of the comparative indices, in each case with dividends reinvested.

The following charts show the relative components of total compensation for our Chief Executive Officer and our other named executive officers in terms of Base Salary, Short-Term Performance Pay, and Long-Term Performance Pay:

Our annual cash incentive payments under the Annual Incentive Plan (i.e., our Short-Term Performance Pay) are based on the Company's achievement against pre-established performance goals for adjusted diluted earnings per share and economic profit. In fiscal year 2016,2017, our reported performance was better than expected and exceeded our performance goals. That performance corresponded to a weighted payout of 111.6%131.05% of an executive's individual target cash bonus opportunity amount based on the pre-approved percent-of-target performance tables.

We do not use, offer, or provide our executives with many of the types of perquisites that other companies offer their executives, such as:

We currently maintain only three Change of Control Agreements, each of which contains a “double trigger” as well as non-competition and non-solicitation clauses, but do not contain any obligations to gross-up severance payments. We have a recoupment or “clawback” provision applicable to all performance-based compensation, and we have adopted a policy prohibiting hedging and derivatives trading in our Common Stock.

The Compensation and Governance Committee reports regularly to the Board of Directors on matters relating to the Compensation and Governance Committee's responsibilities. In addition, the Compensation and Governance Committee follows regulatory and legislative developments and considers corporate governance best practices in performing its duties.

The goal of our executive compensation and benefits program is to attract, motivate, reward and retain the management talent required to achieve our business objectives, at compensation levels that are fair, equitable and competitive with those of

In addition to the stated goal of our executive compensation and benefits program, the following objectives serve as guiding principles for all compensation decisions:

The Compensation and Governance Committee also believes that the various elements of our compensation program effectively achieve the objective of aligning compensation with performance measures that are directly related to our financial goals and creation of shareholder value, without encouraging executives to take unnecessary and excessive risks.

The Compensation and Governance Committee has sole authority to retain experts, consultants and other advisors to aid in the discharge of its duties. The Compensation and Governance Committee meets privately with its independent outside advisor from time to time without management present to discuss developments and best practices in executive compensation matters. All work completed by the outside advisor, whether for the Compensation and Governance Committee or management, is subject to the approval of the Compensation and Governance Committee. The outside advisor's role with the Compensation and Governance Committee is to provide independent advice and counsel. The Compensation and Governance Committee has considered the six independence factors specified under The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”) and believes that Willis Towers Watson qualifies as being fully independent. The Compensation and Governance Committee does not delegate authority to its outside advisor or to other parties. In January 2016, Willis Group Holdings and Towers Watson merged to form Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company. Willis Towers Watson is engaged by the Company to provide consulting services for the Company's health and welfare benefit plans at an estimated annual cost of approximately $120,000. The Compensation and Governance Committee assessed the independence of Willis Towers Watson pursuant to Item 407(e)(3)(iv) of Regulation S-K and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prohibit Willis Towers Watson from independently representing the Compensation and Governance Committee. Effective January 1, 2017, Willis Towers Watson was also to provide investing consulting services for the Company's International Savings Plan at an estimated annual cost of approximately $23,000,

For fiscal year 20162017, Willis Towers Watson continued to serve as the Compensation and Governance Committee's independent outside advisor. Willis Towers Watson's role as outside advisor is to review the analyses and recommendations prepared by the Compensation and Governance Committee and management, to provide alternative market data and guidance on policy development and administration, and to undertake special projects at the request of the Compensation and Governance Committee. To maintain the independence of the outside advisor, management is not permitted to use Willis Towers Watson without the prior approval of the Compensation and Governance Committee. Willis Towers Watson participated in Compensation and Governance Committee meetings during fiscal year 20162017, reviewed materials in advance and provided to the Compensation and Governance Committee additional data on market trends and overall compensation design.

During fiscal year 2017, the Compensation and Governance Committee will review its current peer group for appropriateness and ask its independent advisor to prepare a new benchmark analysis.

The Compensation and Governance Committee believes it is important to align the interests of members of senior management with those of our shareholders. While the Compensation and Governance Committee considers this principle when determining the appropriate mix of base salary, annual cash incentive awards, and long-term equity awards, the Compensation and Governance Committee also established stock ownership guidelines that encourage the accumulation and retention of Common Stock.

Our current stock ownership guidelines are expressed as a multiple of base salary, ranging from 2.5 to 6.0 times base salary. The Compensation and Governance Committee believes this methodology provides for greater individualization of ownership guidelines. The guidelines work in concert with the long-term incentive plan and are intended to foster strong executive ownership of our Common Stock. The Compensation and Governance Committee believes that it is important to achieve and maintain these guideline amounts as minimum target levels of ownership. The Compensation and Governance Committee reviews compliance with our stock ownership guidelines on an annual basis.

Under our stock ownership guidelines, executives must comply within five years from the date of the executive's appointment to a qualifying position and certain executives are provided additional time when they receive promotions that result in higher ownership targets. The guidelines apply to our named executive officers in the following manner:

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for compensation of more than $1 million paid in any year (not including amounts deferred) to a company's chief executive officer and to the fourour three other most highly compensated executive officers.officers other than our chief financial officer. The statute, however, exempts qualifying performance-based compensation from the deduction limit if certain requirements are met. In this regard, we have attempted to take appropriate actions to maximize the deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code of annual cash incentive awards, Performance Shares and restricted stock unit awards. The rules and regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code are complicated and subject to change from time to time, sometimes with retroactive effect. There can be no guarantee, therefore, that amounts potentially subject to the Section 162(m) limitations will be treated by the Internal Revenue Service as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and/or deductible by us. A number of requirements must be met under Section 162(m) of the Code in order for particular compensation to so qualify for the exception such that there can be no assurance that “qualified performance-based” compensation will be fully deductible under all circumstances. While our policy is generally to preserve corporate tax deductions by qualifying compensation over $1 million paid to executive officers as performance-based, the Compensation and Governance Committee may, from time to time, conclude that compensation arrangements are in our best interests and the best interests of our shareholders despite the fact that such arrangements might not, in whole or part, qualify for tax deductibility.

Management has also implemented additional effective controls to minimize potential unintended or willful reporting errors. In addition, the Compensation and Governance Committee also has the discretion to reduce or eliminate an executive's incentive compensation and equity awards or seek a recoupment of the same, in the event of ethical misconduct. The Compensation and Governance Committee will review all cash incentive payments, performance-based equity awards, and other performance-based awards that are made to all current and former officers on the basis of having met or exceeded performance goals. Appropriate action will be taken after considering all factors and circumstances.

In addition to the clawback provision, our Benefit Restoration Plan includes a forfeiture provision whereby a participant will forfeit all rights in and to any benefits payable under the Benefit Restoration Plan if we terminate the participant's employment as a result of a participant's fraud, dishonesty or embezzlement where the participant has been materially, unjustly enriched by such conduct.

The Compensation and Governance Committee, and subsequently our shareholders at our 2007 Annual Meeting, approved and adopted the Universal Corporation 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, which we call the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan. This plan replaced our 2002 Executive Stock Plan. The 2007 Stock Incentive Plan as amended and restated in fiscal year 2011 and reapproved in fiscal year 2012, serves as the core program for the performance-based compensation components of our named executive officers' total compensation. The 2007 Stock Incentive Plan defines the incentive arrangements for eligible participants and:

The Compensation and Governance Committee targets a specific mix of compensation components, with the intent to make each component of total direct compensation competitive with other companies of similar size and operational characteristics while also linking compensation to individual and corporate performance and encouraging stock ownership by senior management. The major components of our executive compensation program are the following:

In determining executive compensation, the Compensation and Governance Committee reviews all components of the Chief Executive Officer's and each other named executive officer's total compensation, including retirement benefits and the costs of all perquisites received to ensure such compensation meets the goals of the program. As a part of this review, the Compensation and Governance Committee considers corporate performance information, compensation survey data, the advice of its independent advisor, and the recommendations of management. The Compensation and Governance Committee also takes into consideration individual and overall company operating performance to ensure executive compensation reflects past performance as well as future potential and adequately differentiates between employees, based on the scope and complexity of the employee's job position, market comparisons, individual performance and experience, and our ability to pay. The Chief Executive Officer's performance is reviewed annually by the Compensation and Governance Committee prior to considering changes in base salary, annual cash incentive awards, long-term equity awards, and total direct compensation. The Chief Executive Officer's performance is evaluated in light of company performance (as described in greater detail below) and non-financial goals and strategic objectives selected by the Compensation and Governance Committee. Based on its review, the Compensation and Governance Committee believes total compensation for each of the named executive officers is reasonable and not excessive.

Each executive officer participating in the Annual Incentive Plan is eligible to receive an annual cash incentive award based on a percentage of his or her base salary, which we call the target bonus opportunity percentage. The target bonus opportunity percentage for each executive officer, except the Chief Executive Officer, is initially set by our Chief Executive Officer and is based on the executive officer's experience in his or her present position and job responsibilities. Our Chief Executive Officer submits the recommended target bonus opportunity percentages to the Compensation and Governance Committee for its review and approval each year. For our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation and Governance Committee determines the target bonus opportunity percentage. The Compensation and Governance Committee also reviews its outside advisor's compensation data for our peer group when evaluating the recommended target bonus opportunity percentages.

Each year, the Compensation and Governance Committee approves percent-of-target performance tables for each performance measure. As Company performance deviates from targeted performance, the percentages in the tables increase or decrease at an accelerated rate. Once the economic profit and adjusted earnings per share performance measures have been calculated for the applicable fiscal year, the Compensation and Governance Committee compares the calculated performance to the preapproved tables to determine the percentage to apply to the executives' target bonus opportunity amounts. The Compensation and Governance Committee applies the resulting percentage to the target bonus opportunity amount to determine the annual cash incentive award each executive is eligible to receive. Annual cash incentive awards are capped at two times the target bonus opportunity percentage for each criterion, regardless of how much the Company's performance exceeded the target level for either criteria. In addition, the Compensation and Governance Committee reserves the right to exercise negative discretion in adjusting any incentive awards, but the Compensation and Governance Committee has no discretion to increase the awards. The Compensation and Governance Committee does not award any discretionary, non-performance based annual cash incentive awards if the performance goals are not achieved.

The Compensation and Governance Committee administers Universal Corporation's 1997 and 2002 Executive Stock Plans, and the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, pursuant to which the Compensation and Governance Committee grants to key executive officers SARs, restricted stock units and Performance Shares and options to purchase shares of our Common Stock, based upon a determination of competitive aggregate compensation levels. The primary objectives of issuing such equity awards are to encourage significant ownership of Common Stock by management and to provide long-term financial incentives linked directly to market performance of our Common Stock. Long-term equity awards are aligned with the interests of our shareholders as the awards deliver value based on shareholder return

With the exception of new hires, long-term incentives are awarded annually on a day between two and twelve business days following the public release of our annual earnings. The Compensation and Governance Committee selected this timing, because it enables us to consider the prior year performance of the Company and the participants and our expectations for the next performance period, while also guaranteeing that normal awards will be made after we publicly disclose our performance for the year. The awards also are made as early as practicable in our fiscal year in order to maximize the time period for the incentives associated with the awards. The Compensation and Governance Committee's schedule is determined between six and twelve months in advance, and the proximity of any awards to market events other than earnings announcements is coincidental.

We currently use restricted stock units and Performance Shares as the preferred forms of long-term equity participation. Restricted stock units are used as a cost-effective addition to the compensation mix because such awards do not require the issuance of Common Stock until vesting. Our use of Performance Shares as a long-term equity award places greater emphasis on our long-term financial performance and subjects a higher percentage of the long-term incentive awards to risk based on such performance. The addition of Performance Shares is intended to focus greater attention and rewards on the key underlying drivers of shareholder value. Performance Shares are granted annually, with overlapping multi-year performance cycles. Performance Shares vest on the last day of the performance period selected by the Compensation and Governance Committee and are earned and paid out based on the Company's achievement of certain performance measures selected by the Compensation and Governance Committee. Performance Shares do not carry any dividend rights. Similar to annual cash incentive awards under the Annual Incentive Plan, as the actual performance exceeds the performance measure threshold selected by the Compensation and Governance Committee, the amount of Performance Share payout increases, with 100% payout occurring if performance reaches a target level set by the Compensation and Governance Committee. Payout can exceed 100% if the performance exceeds the target level, but it is capped at a maximum of 150%. Conversely, the payout is reduced if actual performance falls short of the selected performance measure threshold. At the time of vesting, the vested Performance Shares are payable in shares of Common Stock.

For awards granted in fiscal years 2015-2017,2016-2018, the Compensation and Governance Committee selected average adjusted earnings per share as the appropriate criterion for use with Performance Shares and set the performance period at three fiscal years, which began April 1 of each fiscal year. Adjusted earnings per share is calculated in the same manner as it is with Annual Incentive Plan awards. The threshold levels for adjusted earnings per share performance were set based on levels of performance that were believed to be achievable. The target levels for adjusted earnings per share performance were set based on levels of performance that were believed to be aggressive, but obtainable. The maximum levels for adjusted earnings per share performance were set based on levels of performance that were believed to be realizable with exceptional performance.

The Compensation and Governance Committee, after consulting with its outside advisor, reaffirmed that a portion of our executive officers' total compensation should be paid in equity awards through our long-term incentive plans. For fiscal year 20162017 long-term equity awards, the Compensation and Governance Committee determined that one-half should consist of Performance Shares and the remaining one-half should consist of five-year restricted stock units. The Compensation and Governance Committee used an equal mix of Performance Shares and restricted stock units because it believes that such mix represents the appropriate balance for our Company in rewarding stock appreciation and relative shareholder return, while also placing sufficient emphasis on our overall financial performance. In order to allocate compensation among the two forms of equity participation, the Compensation and Governance Committee values restricted stock unit awards at the fair market value on the date of grant of the equivalent number of shares of Common Stock. All restricted stock units are awarded with five-year cliff vesting and earn dividend equivalent units during such period. These dividend equivalent units only vest when the underlying award of restricted stock units vest. In addition, our named executive officers have additional vesting restrictions or holding period requirements on their restricted stock unit awards in order to preserve deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Compensation and Governance Committee values Performance Shares at the fair market value on the date of grant of the equivalent number of shares of Common Stock. As described above, Performance Shares vest on the last day of

On June 5, 2012,May 24, 2013, we awarded Performance Shares for the three-year performance period from April 1, 20122013 through March 31, 2015.2016. Those awards vested on March 31, 20152016 and the payout was approved by the Compensation Committee on May 22, 2015.27, 2016. The performance measure was the three-year average adjusted earnings per share with earnings per share calculated in the same manner as it is with the Annual Incentive Plan awards. We generated average adjusted earnings per share for the performance period covering fiscal years 20132014 through 20152016 that exceeded the threshold, target levels and maximum levels. The following table sets forth the threshold, target and maximum levels for the adjusted earnings per share metrics applicable for the fiscal year 20132014 award:

The following table lists the target Performance Share opportunities, the maximum Performance Share opportunities and the actual number of shares of Common Stock paid out:

The Compensation and Governance Committee believes employee benefits are an essential component of our competitive total compensation package. These benefits are designed to attract and retain our employees. The named executive officers may participate in the same benefit plans as our salaried employees, which include health, dental and life insurance, disability benefits, and our 401(k) savings plan. Our 401(k) savings plan includes a defined company match component, and we have disclosed all company matches for our named executive officers in Column (i), “All Other Compensation”, in the “Summary Compensation Table”, and separately disclosed each amount in Footnote 5 to that table on page 39 of this Proxy Statement.

In addition, we provide certain other benefits to our executives, including our named executive officers. The Compensation and Governance Committee believes these other benefits provide security for current and future needs of the executives and their families and therefore assist in attracting and retaining them. These other benefits are structured to be within the competitive range relative to our peer group. In general, we do not provide our executives with many of the types of perquisites that other companies offer their executives, such as the personal use of a corporate aircraft, car allowances, social memberships or club dues, or preventative health evaluations. We also do not utilize tax gross-ups. The Compensation and Governance Committee re-evaluates and has approved the very limited types of perquisites that we offer on a regular basis. The additional benefits we provide or have provided to some of our executives during fiscal year 20162017 consist of the following and are included in the amounts set forth in Column (i), “All Other Compensation”, in the “Summary Compensation Table”, and separately disclosed in Footnote 5 to that table on page 39 of this Proxy Statement: financial planning and tax preparation services and matching gifts from the Company's charitable foundation.

Our named executive officers are covered by a defined benefit retirement plan, a supplemental retirement plan, deferred income plans, and a 401(k) savings plan. Certain of our named executive officers also have Change of Control Agreements addressing a change of control in our company. These items are defined and summarized below. Additional details and all amounts earned by our named executive officers or contributed by us to our named executive officers through those benefits are disclosed in this Proxy Statement where noted below.

Our salaried employees, including our named executive officers, participate in a defined benefit retirement plan, the Employees' Retirement Plan of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated and Designated Affiliated Companies, which we refer to as the Pension Plan. The Pension Plan is a company-funded, qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code, with the purpose of providing a fixed benefit for the life of the participant (and/or the spouse if the joint and survivor option is elected) beginning at the time of the participant's retirement or termination. The Pension Plan also has survivor benefits for participants' spouses.

Covered compensation, for purposes of the excess benefit, is defined as the average of the Social Security Taxable Wage Base for the 35 calendar-year period ending December 31, 2013.

Benefits are paid as a straight life annuity for the participant's lifetime for a single participant, or a 50% joint and survivor annuity, if elected, for married participants for their joint lifetime. Benefits are normally payable when the participant reaches age 65; however, participants may begin receiving early retirement benefits when they reach age 55 and elect to retire with at least five years of service. If benefits are paid prior to age 65, the benefit is reduced based on the participant's age. Prior to 2014, the benefit reduction for early retirement was based on the participant's age and years of service. This was changed as of January 1, 2014 to a more standard reduction schedule that is based only on age.

Further detail regarding the Pension Plan and disclosure of the estimated value of pension benefits for our named executive officers is set forth in the “Pension Benefits” table and related footnotes beginning on page 46 of this Proxy Statement.

To the extent benefits payable to our employees at retirement pursuant to the Pension Plan exceed amounts that may be payable under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, such benefits will be paid under our supplemental retirement plan called the Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Incorporated 1996 Benefit Restoration Plan, which we refer to as the Benefit Restoration Plan. The Benefit Restoration Plan is a non-qualified defined benefit pension plan that provides eligible individuals the difference between the benefits they would actually accrue under the Pension Plan, but for the maximum benefit limitations and the limitation on compensation pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code that may be recognized under the Pension Plan and deferrals of their compensation under the Deferred Income Plans, our two non-qualified deferred income plans, which are defined and discussed below. Benefits under the Benefit Restoration Plan are paid in one lump sum payment at retirement except where Section 409A restrictions apply, and benefits under the Deferred Income Plans are paid out at or after retirement in accordance with the election option chosen by a participant prior to deferral. The purpose of the Benefit Restoration Plan is not to provide employees with additional benefits but to ensure that our employees who earn more than the amounts set forth in the Internal Revenue Code for maximum benefit limitations receive a retirement benefit that is proportionately equivalent to the benefit provided to our other salaried employees participating in the Pension Plan. We maintain the Pension Plan and Benefit Restoration Plan to ensure an overall competitive compensation and benefits offering and to attract and retain top talent. Our Compensation and Governance Committee believes it is essential that our overall compensation and benefits, including retirement benefits, be competitive in the market.

Retirement benefits under the Benefit Restoration Plan mirror those of the Pension Plan and as such, identical changes to the Pension Plan described in the previous section were implemented to this plan effective January 1, 2014. The Compensation and Governance Committee approved all changes to both the Pension Plan and the Benefit Restoration Plan after completing their evaluation and ensuring that the reduction in retirement benefits were consistently applied to all participants, inclusive of our named executive officers.

Certain participants in the Benefit Restoration Plan, including our named executive officers, entered into agreements with Universal Leaf that provided for taxable cash compensation payments to be made by Universal Leaf to the participant to partially fund their Benefit Restoration Plan payment upon retirement. Under such agreements, the participant directed Universal Leaf to deposit the payments on behalf of the participant directly into an irrevocable trust established by the participant for this purpose. During fiscal year 2010, the Compensation and Governance Committee decided to discontinue all future payments by Universal Leaf in connection with the Benefit Restoration Plan and notified participants that it would not make a payment for benefits earned after January 1, 2010.

During fiscal year 2014, with the approval of the Compensation and Governance Committee, we made the decision to offer all participants covered by the above agreements the opportunity to terminate their individual trust accounts. The termination of these trusts allowed the Company to simplify the distribution process and reduce trust/asset management fees, but maintain the right to offset the benefit payable to the participant under the Benefit Restoration Plan at retirement. The ultimate offset amount will be determined by using the trust account balance on the termination date multiplied and compounded annually by an appropriate interest rate. All participants, including our named executive officers, elected to accept our offer and the trusts were terminated as of October 31, 2013.

The retirement benefit under the Benefit Restoration Plan is paid in a lump sum. Like the Pension Plan, the benefit payable under the Benefit Restoration Plan normally is distributed when the participant reaches age 65. Participants may receive an early distribution of their retirement benefit when they reach age 55 and elect to retire with at least five years of service, but such early retirement benefit is reduced based on the participant's age. Prior to 2014, the benefit reduction for early retirement was based on the participant's age and years of service. This was changed as of January 1, 2014 to a more standard reduction schedule that is based only on age.