Related Party Disclosures

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Related Party Disclosures

Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]

18.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company’s operating subsidiaries engage in transactions with related parties in the normal course of business.  The following is a summary of balances and transactions with related parties of the Company:

	December 31, 2011	December 31, 2010	March 31, 2011
Balances:
Accounts receivable	$ 44,536	$ 71,167	$ 61,981
Accounts payable	17,593	13,581	38,937

	Three Months Ended December 31,		Nine Months Ended December 31,
	2011	2010	2011	2010
Transactions:
Purchases	$ 49,678	$ 47,432	$ 127,472	$ 96,197

          The Company’s operating subsidiaries have entered into transactions with affiliates of the Company for the purpose of procuring inventory.

          The Company’s balances due to and from related parties are primarily with its deconsolidated Zimbabwe subsidiary.  The remaining related party balances and transactions relate to the Company’s equity basis investments in companies located in Asia which purchase and process tobacco.  The balance due from the Zimbabwe subsidiary includes a $9,120 pledge to a bank, which has been recorded in Notes Payable to Banks.