Alliance One Announces Agreements to Purchase 2011 Tobacco Crop Previously Contracted by United States Growers Direct

(PRNewswire) Alliance One International, Inc. announced effective today it reached definitive agreements to purchase the 2011 Tobacco Crop previously contracted by United States Growers Direct ("USGD"). Such contracted tobacco volumes will be purchased pursuant to AOI's quality guidelines, pricing structure, and policies and procedures. As a result of the US Flue Cured market disruption created in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, Alliance One entered into these accommodative agreements to provide growers an outlet for their tobaccos following release by USGD. AOI looks forward to working with former USGD agents and growers and is purchasing tobacco at receiving stations that include:

R.C. Commodities of Wilson, NC;

USGD Louisburg, LLC of Louisburg, NC;

Carolina Coastal Commodities of Goldsboro, LLC;

Independent Tobacco Services, Inc. of Douglas, GA; and

Virginia Marketing Center, LLC of Clarksville, VA. Link