It also holds a 49% interest in Socotab, LLC, a large dealer in oriental leaf tobaccos.

The company does not manufacture cigarettes or other consumer tobacco products, although its largest customer is Altria Group (owner of Philip Morris USA).

After the 1911 breakup of the American Tobacco Company trust, Jacquelin P. Taylor incorporated Universal out of six formerly independent leaf merchants.

[3] In 2010, Universal along with its competitor Pyxus (then Alliance One) were accused of violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The company paid about $9 million in penalties and refunded disgorged profits to settle the charges.