Supporting Growers and Communities Across Brazil

Universal Leaf Tabacos works with approximately 21,000 integrated growers throughout Southern Brazil and employs around 3,000 permanent and seasonal employees. The company’s operations include a processing facility and headquarters in Santa Cruz do Sul, an Agronomic Research Center in Rio Pardo, and purchasing branches in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná.

The company’s field teams work directly alongside growers throughout the production cycle by providing certified seeds, agronomic guidance, technical support, and training on Good Agricultural Practices and Agricultural Labor Practices. This hands-on support helps growers improve productivity, maintain product quality, and strengthen environmental stewardship while supporting long-term farm stability.

Brazil remains one of the world’s most important tobacco-producing regions, and the country’s integrated production model has become globally recognized for its traceability, grower support, and production standards. Universal Leaf Tabacos plays an important role within that system, helping connect growers to international markets while reinforcing responsible agricultural practices across the supply chain.

Advancing Sustainability Through Action

Sustainability is embedded throughout Universal Leaf Tabacos’ operations and supply chain. Across Universal Corporation’s global operations, sustainability initiatives focus on environmental stewardship, human rights, operational resilience, and long-term community impact.

In Brazil, one example is the company’s approach to forestry management and curing fuel. Contracted growers used planted eucalyptus forests to supply wood for tobacco curing, reducing pressure on native forests while creating an additional source of income for farming families. Universal’s field technicians also monitor wood sourcing and support growers in maintaining traceable and sustainable forestry practices.

The company also works closely with growers on crop rotation, diversification, and resource efficiency. Across Universal’s broader operations, sustainability programs include water stewardship initiatives, renewable energy investments, greenhouse gas reduction goals, and efforts to strengthen biodiversity and climate resilience.

Investing in Agricultural Labor Practices and Farmer Well-Being

Universal Leaf Tabacos’ approach extends beyond production. The company supports programs focused on worker safety, education, and responsible labor practices throughout the supply chain.

Universal Corporation’s Agricultural Labor Practices framework establishes standards related to child labor prevention, fair treatment, workplace safety, freedom of association, and compliance with labor laws. Field technicians conduct regular farm visits and training sessions to reinforce these principles and support continuous improvement across contracted farms.

The company also promotes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), provides guidance on safe crop protection practices, and supports initiatives designed to improve the well-being of farming families and rural communities.

Innovation Driving the Future of Agriculture

Like much of modern agriculture, tobacco production continues to evolve through technology and innovation. Universal Leaf Tabacos is adopting tools and practices that help growers improve efficiency, strengthen traceability, and support more informed decision-making in the field.

Across Universal Corporation’s global supply chain, digital tools such as MobiLeaf^TM help field technicians capture agronomic and sustainability data in real time, supporting greater transparency and operational insight. Mechanization, irrigation improvements, renewable energy systems, and precision agriculture technologies are also helping growers adapt to changing labor dynamics and environmental conditions.

These advancements are helping create a more resilient agricultural supply chain while supporting the long-term success of growers and rural communities.

A Legacy of Trust, A Future Focused on Growth

For more than five decades, Universal Leaf Tabacos has combined agricultural expertise, operational discipline, and strong grower relationships to support Brazil’s role in the global tobacco supply chain.

Today, the company continues to build on that foundation by advancing sustainable agriculture, investing in people and communities, and helping cultivate long-term growth across the value chain.

As part of Universal Corporation’s global network, Universal Leaf Tabacos reflects the company’s broader commitment to communities, supporting responsible agriculture, and delivering innovative agriproduct solutions around the world.

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Harnessing the Power of the Sun

Deltafina has installed solar panel systems at several processing and operational facilities across Europe, transforming rooftops and open land into renewable energy hubs. These installations now supply a significant portion of the facilities’ daytime electricity needs, reducing dependence on conventional power grids and cutting overall CO₂ emissions.

The panels capture the abundant sunlight available during the region’s long summer days, converting it into clean, renewable energy that powers everything from production equipment to office systems. Any surplus electricity generated is redirected into local energy networks, supporting nearby communities and contributing to the broader transition toward sustainable energy in agriculture and manufacturing.

A Model for Sustainable Operations

The European solar projects represent an important step in Universal’s global environmental roadmap. Each installation is part of a long-term plan to minimize environmental impact through energy efficiency, renewable sourcing, and smarter infrastructure design. 

In addition to lowering carbon output, the solar systems help stabilize energy costs, ensuring greater predictability in operations and supporting Universal’s long-standing commitment to responsible growth. The approach demonstrates that economic performance and environmental responsibility can advance hand in hand – a core principle of Universal’s sustainability philosophy.

Innovation Rooted in Responsibility

Beyond immediate energy savings, Deltafina’s solar investments are driving a cultural shift in how operations view resource use. The sites now serve as demonstration models for other Universal subsidiaries exploring renewable energy solutions from pilot projects in Southern Africa to energy-efficiency studies in the Americas and Asia. By integrating solar energy into its day-to-day operations, Deltafina reinforces the broader Universal vision: advancing agriproducts while connecting communities to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Looking Ahead

As Universal Corporation continues to expand its renewable energy footprint, Deltafina’s European solar projects illustrate what’s possible when innovation and environmental stewardship intersect. Each solar panel installed represents more than a commitment to sustainability – it is a visible reflection of the company’s values in action.

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RICHMOND, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) (“Universal” or the “Company”), a leading global business-to-business agriproducts company, today announced that Steven S. Diel, has been appointed Senior Vice President and CFO of Universal Corporation, effective April 1, 2026.

Mr. Diel brings over 25 years of experience in finance, corporate development, and business strategy expertise. Mr. Diel joined Universal Corporation in 2018 as Vice President of Business Development, where he led the Company’s financial planning and analysis and corporate development functions. In that role, he was responsible for acquisitions totaling more than $350 million that established the Company’s ingredients segment and gained a deep understanding of the Company’s tobacco and ingredients business and operations. His was recently promoted to Vice President and CFO of Universal Ingredients, which reflects the meaningful contributions he has made to the organization throughout his tenure, as well as his expertise in combining financial discipline with operational and strategic insight.

“Steve is a trusted Universal leader with significant financial expertise, a strong command of our business, and a proven record of strategic execution,” said Preston D. Wigner, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal. “His appointment as CFO reflects our confidence in his ability to lead our global finance organization, strengthen enterprise performance, and drive long-term value creation. I look forward to partnering with Steve as he steps into this role and helps accelerate our strategy and unlock additional value for our shareholders.”

“I am honored to become the CFO of Universal and look forward to building on the strength of our finance organization and supporting the continued execution of our strategy,” said Mr. Diel. “I have seen firsthand the talent, discipline, and commitment that power Universal’s global finance teams and drive results across our business. I look forward to partnering with Preston, executive management, the Board, and our finance teams around the world to advance our momentum as a global agriproducts leader.”

As announced in July 2025, Johan C. Kroner, the Company’s current Senior Vice President and CFO, will remain a Senior Vice President of the Company until July 1, 2026, serving as an advisor to Mr. Wigner and supporting a smooth CFO transition with Mr. Diel.

Mr. Wigner stated, “I deeply appreciate Johan’s continued support during his tenure and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

About Steven S. Diel

Mr. Diel joined Universal in 2018 as Vice President of Business Development, where he led the Company’s financial planning and analysis and corporate development functions. Effective January 1, 2026, Mr. Diel was appointed Vice President and CFO of Universal Ingredients.

Prior to joining Universal, he served in senior finance and corporate development roles with several public and private companies. Mr. Diel served as CFO of a privately held company, where he led the finance team and various administrative functions. He also served as Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis at Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V., Director of Global Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions and other finance and corporate development roles at Ashland, Inc., Nexeo Solutions, LLC, and World Kinect Corporation. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia. Mr. Diel holds an MBA from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Illinois University.

About Universal Corporation

Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) is a global agricultural company with over 100 years of experience supplying products and innovative solutions to meet our customers’ evolving needs and precise specifications. Through our diverse network of farmers and partners across more than 30 countries on five continents, we are a trusted provider of high-quality, traceable products. We leverage our extensive supply chain expertise, global reach, integrated processing capabilities, and commitment to sustainability to provide a range of products and services designed to drive efficiency and deliver value to our customers. For more information, visit www.universalcorp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260209491569/en/

Universal Corporation Investor Relations
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Email: investor@universalleaf.com

Source: Universal Corporation

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In 2019, Mozambique Leaf Tobacco (MLT) started exploring beekeeping projects as a sustainable, additional income for our our farmers in Mozambique because income from the honey produced from just five hives could result in approximately 7,500 mts ($118 USD) a year and would continue to be profitable regardless of weather (which other crops may be negatively affected by). Using our expertise as an agriproduct company, we knew that we could use our experience to help our farmers with the beekeeping project. For the initial, test pilot phase of the project, farmers set up five hives on MLT farms with plenty of room for the bees to forage. With the success of those first hives, John Bekkett from Nkhame set up 10 additional hives and a positive meeting with Agri-Med, the universe (excuse the pun) had a plan for our MLT farmers to have bees. By the end of 2019, MLT had a total of 50 additional hives set up across MLT farms. The bees flourished, honey was harvested, and distributed among coworkers and friends.

In 2021, MLT reviewed the pilot and decided to further invest in the program. Ultimately, it was decided that Agri-Med would manage North of Mozambique and provide 600 bee catch boxes, which are containment devices used for safely capturing and transporting bees, plus 1,000 hives.

In the Tete Province, they were delayed in finding a suitable project manager, until Jackie of Jackie’s Bees arrived and started with 200 catch boxes and 200 hives. Now that the hives and catch boxes have been distributed amongst MLT farmers, they are eagerly awaiting the next harvest that started in June 2024.

The catch boxes were set up in May 2022, followed by 100 KTBs set up with farmers in Nkhame which were quickly occupied by bees, and 300 kgs of honey was collected by June 2023, and our MLT tobacco farmers were delighted by the extra cash in their pockets. This success helped finalize the decision that our Nkhame tobacco farmers needed and could handle more hives, so another 500 hives were added to their collection. Now, with the 600 hives distributed amongst farmers, they now are eagerly collecting the honey harvest produced in June 2024.

The beauty of any project is that it will have outcomes and effects that one never expects. The aim of the careful selection of the apiaries in forests was so our farmers would set these areas of natural woodland aside and not cut them for building barns or collecting firewood. This created greenbelts for biodiversity to travel across and prevented forests from becoming isolated patches of green. Within 12 to 14 months, apiaries with small trees also suddenly showed great strides in regeneration. Not only did the farmers protect these areas as agreed upon in their contract as a beekeeper, but the bees assisted in this by giving any would-be tree choppers a good zap from their posterior and warn the intruders that these forests are not to be messed with. The compulsory firebreaks around these forests contribute to the preservation of the undergrowth which usually gets burnt and our farmers found big crops of edible mushrooms in the December and January rainy season. Who doesn’t love fresh wild mushrooms? Farmers gifted these newly found mushrooms to their beekeepers on apiary visits and carefully taught the beekeepers which mushrooms were edible and which were not. Mushrooms are an incredible crop and grow profusely in the Nkhame forests. Unthreatened by fire and continued cutting, the wild fruit trees grew. As a result, much of the fruits were produced and sought after by the farmers. We are curious to see how big some of these indigenous fruit trees will become over the years.

Our apiary visits have introduced us to natural herbs for eating as well as herbs for teas, as explained to us with care and consideration by our farmers. Since these areas now no longer experience human intrusion, native hares and ducks have begun to explore the denser forest. The farmers’ chickens scratch on the outskirts of the forest finding all the delicacies of fresh bugs and grubs that breed in the deep leaves of the forest edge. With all this abundance of life in the protected forest of our bees, we don’t pay attention as the rejuvenation sustains the farmer’s family in its own balanced way. There is no price tag to be put on this.

When I see the joy on our farmers faces every time they wear a bee suit with the beekeeping technicians and look inside their beehives to admire the incredible phenomenon that goes on inside that hive, I am sure that they feel like all beekeepers do — in awe. These little creatures that work so incredibly hard, pollinating all our meals, ensure that the farmers’ maize get fertilized to feed his family, the pumpkins and beans will be pollinated to make the sauce, and his forest with all its wealth of nutrients is safe from others who may want to help themselves to it.

When I see the amazement on their faces, I do believe that they would love their bees even if they did not make honey. But bees do make honey and we all love them for that.

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