Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Filed
Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-135962
Vector Group Ltd.
Common Stock
This prospectus relates to 916,697 shares of common stock of Vector Group Ltd. that may be
offered for sale from time to time by certain of our current stockholders.
The selling stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the sale of shares under this
prospectus; we will not receive any proceeds from those sales.
After registration, the selling stockholders may sell the shares of common stock at various
times and in various types of transactions, including sales in the open market, sales in negotiated
transactions and sales by a combination of these methods. The shares of common stock may be sold at
the market price at the time of such sale, at prices relating to the market price over a period of
time or at prices negotiated with the buyers of the shares. See Plan of Distribution.
Our
common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol VGR. On August 7,
2006, the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock
Exchange was $16.07 per share.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR ANY OTHER
REGULATORY BODY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED WHETHER THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE
DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS AUGUST 8, 2006.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, the
selling stockholders may from time to time sell the shares of Vector Group Ltd. common stock
described in this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. We have not, and the selling stockholders have not, authorized anyone to provide you
with information different from that contained in this prospectus. The selling stockholders are
offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our common stock only in jurisdictions where
it is lawful to do so. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this
prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our common stock.
Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances,
create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this
prospectus or that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any
accompanying prospectus supplement is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such
information.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risk. Please see the risk factors under the heading
Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q on file with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Before
making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other
information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement. The risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem
immaterial may also affect our business operations.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and file reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC. You can read and copy all of this information at the Public Reference Room
maintained by the SEC at its principal office at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may
obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy statements
and other information regarding issuers, like us, that file such material electronically with the
SEC. The address of this web site is: http://www.sec.gov. You also can inspect such reports,
proxy statements and other information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20
Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the Securities Act), with respect to the common stock offered by this
prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration
statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement as permitted by the rules and
regulations of the SEC. Statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus
as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete. You should
refer to a copy of each contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or
incorporated by reference into this prospectus for complete information. Copies of the
registration statement, including exhibits and information incorporated by reference into this
prospectus, may be inspected without charge at the SECs Public Reference Room or website.
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INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus. This means that we can
disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with
the SEC. The information incorporated is considered part of this prospectus, except for any
information that is superseded by information that is included in this document or in a later filed
document.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any filings made by
us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 between the date of this prospectus and the termination of this offering. Any report,
document or portion thereof that is furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC is not incorporated
by reference.
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Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2005, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2006; |
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Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, filed
with the SEC on May 10, 2006; |
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Our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 3, 2006, January
27, 2006, February 6, 2006, March 6, 2006, April 3, 2006, June 8, 2006, June 27, 2006,
June 30, 2006, July 13, 2006, July 17, 2006 and
July 24, 2006. (On June 27, 2006, we
filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which contained revised items 6, 7 and
8 of our amended Annual Report on Form 10-K, where appropriate, to reflect the
retrospective application of a new accounting standard that we were required to adopt
as of January 1, 2006. All of the preceding references in this paragraph to our
amended Annual Report on Form 10-K are intended to refer to such amended Form 10-K, as
so revised by the Form 8-K. Please see the Form 8-K for a detailed discussion of the
policy change); and |
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The description of our common stock set forth in our prospectus dated June 3,
2005 filed on Form 424B3 on June 3, 2005. |
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superceded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent
that a statement contained herein or in any other document subsequently filed which is also
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supercedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superceded shall not be deemed, except as so modified, to constitute a part of this
prospectus.
You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from us
without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically
incorporated by reference in the document. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference by
requesting them from us, either orally or in writing. Requests for such documents should be
directed to:
Vector Group Ltd.
Attention: Investor Relations
100 S.E. Second Street
32nd Floor
Miami, Florida 33131
(305) 579-8000
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
In addition to historical information, this prospectus contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities law. Forward-looking statements include information
relating to our intent, belief or current expectations, primarily with respect to, but not limited
to:
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economic outlook; |
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capital expenditures; |
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cost reduction; |
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new legislation; |
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cash flows; |
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operating performance; |
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litigation; |
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impairment charges and cost savings associated with restructurings of our tobacco operations; and |
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related industry developments (including trends affecting our business, financial
condition and results of operations). |
We identify forward-looking statements in this prospectus by using words or phrases such as
anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, may be, objective, plan, seek,
predict, project, and will be and similar words or phrases in the negatives.
The forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could cause
our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from our anticipated results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, the following:
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general economic and market conditions and any changes therein, due to acts of war and
terrorism or otherwise; |
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governmental regulation and policies; |
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effects of industry competition; |
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impact of business combinations, including acquisitions and divestitures, both
internally for us and externally in the tobacco industry; |
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impact of restructurings on our tobacco business and our ability to achieve any
increases in profitability estimated to occur as a result of these restructurings; |
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impact of new legislation on our competitors payment obligations, results of operations
and product costs, i.e., the impact of recent federal legislation eliminating the federal
tobacco quota system; |
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uncertainty related to litigation and potential additional payment obligations for us
under the Master Settlement Agreement and other settlement agreements with the states; and |
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risks inherent in our new product development initiatives. |
Further information on risks and uncertainties specific to our business include the risk
factors discussed in Risk Factors and in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Although we believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, there is a risk that these expectations will not be attained and that
any deviations will be material. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are
made.
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VECTOR GROUP LTD.
IN THIS PROSPECTUS, REFERENCES TO VECTOR GROUP LTD., WE AND US REFER TO VECTOR GROUP LTD.
AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, ITS SUBSIDIARIES ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS.
We are a holding company for a number of businesses. We are engaged principally in:
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the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States through our subsidiary
Liggett Group LLC; |
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the development and marketing of the low nicotine and nicotine-free QUEST cigarette
products and the development of reduced risk cigarette products through our subsidiary
Vector Tobacco Inc.; and |
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the real estate business through our subsidiary, New Valley LLC, which is seeking to
acquire additional operating companies and real estate properties. New Valley owns 50%
of Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, which operates the largest residential brokerage company
in the New York metropolitan area. |
Our principal executive offices are located at 100 S.E. Second Street, Miami, Florida 33131,
and the telephone number is (305) 579-8000.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information about the beneficial ownership of the
selling stockholders. The tabular information below assumes that all of the shares listed below
will be offered and sold by the selling stockholders to unaffiliated third parties. However,
because the selling stockholders may offer all or a portion of the shares covered by this
prospectus at any time and from time to time hereafter, the exact number of shares that the selling
stockholders may hold after completion of the offering cannot be determined at this time.
Information concerning the selling stockholders may change from time to time and, to the extent
required, will be set forth in supplements or amendments to this prospectus or in information
incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
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SHARES OF COMMON STOCK |
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SHARES OF COMMON STOCK |
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BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
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NUMBER OF |
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BENEFICIALLY OWNED |
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BEFORE OFFERING |
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SHARES |
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AFTER OFFERING |
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BEING |
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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS |
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NUMBER |
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PERCENT(1) |
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OFFERED |
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NUMBER |
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PERCENT(1) |
Dr. Phillip Frost |
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3,464,299 |
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6.4 |
% |
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654,784 |
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2,809,515 |
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5.2 |
% |
Carl C. Icahn |
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11,043,892 |
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20.4 |
% |
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261,913 |
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10,781,979 |
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19.9 |
% |
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(1) |
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Calculated based on Rule 13(d)-3(d)(1) of the Exchange
Act using the 54,142,085 shares of
common stock outstanding as of August 7, 2006. |
Dr. Phillip Frost. The shares shown in the table above as owned by Dr. Frost represent
shares held by Frost Gamma Investments Trust, a trust organized under Florida law. Dr. Frost is
the sole trustee of Frost Gamma Investments Trust. As the sole trustee, Dr. Frost may be deemed
the beneficial owner of all shares owned by the trust, by virtue of his power to vote or direct the
vote of such shares or to dispose or direct the disposition of such shares owned by the trust.
Carl C. Icahn. The shares shown in the table above as owned by Mr. Icahn represent shares
owned by High River Limited Partnership, Hopper Investments, LLC, Barberry Corp., including the
261,913 shares offered hereby,
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Tortoise Corp., Arnos Corp., Unicorn Associates Corporation, ACF Industries
Holding Corp., Highcrest Investors Corp., Buffalo Investors Corp., Starfire Holding Corporation,
Little Meadow Corp., Reindeer Holding LLC and Reindeer Subsidiary LLC (collectively, the Icahn
Entities). Barberry is the sole member of Hopper Investments LLC, which is the general partner of
High River Limited Partnership. Starfire Holding
Corporation owns 100% of Buffalo Investors Corp., which owns 99.34% of Highcrest Investors Corp.,
which owns 100% of ACF Industries Holding Corp., which owns 100% of
the voting stock of Unicorn Associates Corporation,
which owns 100% of Arnos Corp., which owns 100% of Tortoise Corp., which owns 100% of Reindeer
Holding LLC, which owns 100% of Reindeer Subsidiary LLC. Each of Barberry Corp., Starfire Holding
Corporation and Little Meadow Corp. are 100% owned by Mr. Icahn. Mr. Icahn, by virtue of his
relationship to the Icahn Entities, may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the shares held by
the Icahn Entities.
In June 2006, Frost Gamma Investments Trust, an investment entity affiliated with Dr. Frost,
and Barberry Corp., an investment entity affiliated with Carl C. Icahn, converted $50 million and
$20 million principal amount, respectively, of our 6.25% Convertible Subordinated Notes due July
15, 2008 (the Notes) into 2,345,216 and 938,087 shares, respectively, of our common stock in
accordance with the terms of the Notes. In connection with the conversion of the Notes, we issued
an additional 654,784 and 261,913 shares, respectively, of our common stock to these holders and
paid these holders $1,241,500 and $524,306, respectively, of accrued interest. The additional
shares and accrued interest were issued and paid as an inducement to these holders to convert the
Notes. This registration statement is being filed to register the additional shares issued.
From June 2001 to June 2006, various of the Icahn Entities owned $20 million principal amount
of the Notes. These Icahn Entities received interest payments on the Notes of $1,250,000 per year.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
As used below, selling stockholders includes the individuals listed in the table above and
donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors in interest selling shares received from a
selling stockholder (including the named selling stockholders) after the date of this prospectus.
Selling stockholders from time to time may sell the shares being offered hereby on the New York
Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.
The shares may be sold by the selling stockholders by one or more of the following methods, without
limitation:
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block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares
as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate
the transaction; |
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purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for
its account pursuant to this prospectus; |
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an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of such exchange; |
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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; |
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privately negotiated transactions; |
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short sales; |
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through the writing of options on the shares; |
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in one or more underwritten offerings on a firm commitment or best efforts basis; and |
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a combination of any such methods of sale. |
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The shares may be sold at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at
prices related to such market prices or at negotiated prices. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or
dealers. The selling stockholders may effect such transactions by selling shares directly to
purchasers or to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents or principals. Such
broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions from
the selling stockholders or the purchasers of shares for whom such broker-dealers act as agent or
to whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might
be in excess of customary commissions). In effecting sales, brokers and dealers engaged by the
selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Broker-dealers may
agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price
per share, and to the extent such broker-dealer is unable to do so, acting as agent for a selling
stockholder, such broker-dealer may purchase, as principal, any unsold shares at the stipulated
price. Broker-dealers who acquire shares as principals may thereafter resell such shares from time
to time in transactions on the New York Stock Exchange at prices and on terms then prevailing at
the time of sale, at prices related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions.
Broker-dealers may use block transactions and sales to and through broker-dealers, including
transactions of the nature described above.
From time to time, one or more of the selling stockholders may pledge, hypothecate or grant a
security interest in some or all of the shares owned by them. The
pledgees, secured parties or
persons to whom such securities have been hypothecated will, upon foreclosure in the event of
default, be deemed to be selling stockholders. The number of a selling stockholders shares offered
under this prospectus will decrease as and when it takes such actions. The plan of distribution for
such selling stockholders shares will otherwise remain unchanged. In addition, a selling
stockholder may, from time to time, sell short Vector Group Ltd. common stock, and in such
instances, this prospectus may be delivered in connection with such short sales and the shares
offered under this prospectus may be used to cover such short sales.
A selling stockholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers and the
broker-dealers may engage in short sales of Vector Group Ltd. common stock in the course of hedging
the positions they assume with such selling stockholder, including, without limitation, in
connection with distributions of the common stock by such broker-dealers. A selling stockholder may
enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers. A selling stockholder may enter into
option or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the shares offered
hereby to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer such shares. A selling
stockholder may also loan or pledge the shares offered hereby to a broker-dealer, and the
broker-dealer may sell the shares offered hereby so loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise
transfer the pledged shares offered hereby.
The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that act in connection with the sale
of shares might be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the
Securities Act, and any commissions received by such broker-dealers and any profit on the resale of
the shares sold by them while acting as principals might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act. The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent,
dealer or broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares against
certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Costs, expenses and fees to be incurred by the selling stockholders in connection with the
sale of the shares offered hereby, including all brokerage commissions and similar selling
expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of shares will be borne by the selling stockholders. We
will pay the fees and expenses relating to the registration with the SEC of the sale of the shares
by the selling stockholders.
USE OF PROCEEDS
All shares of common stock sold pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the selling
stockholders, and Vector Group Ltd. will not receive any of the proceeds from such sales.
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the shares of common stock described in this prospectus will be passed upon
for us by Marc N. Bell, General Counsel of Vector Group Ltd.
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EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to Vector Group Ltd.s
Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 27, 2006 and the financial statement schedule and
managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is
included in Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this
prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Vector Group Ltd. for the year ended
December 31, 2005 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, an independent certified public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm in
auditing and accounting.
The financial statements for Douglas Elliman LLC incorporated in this prospectus by reference
to the Vector Group Ltd. Annual Report on Form 10-K/A Amendment No.1 for the year ended December
31, 2005 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm in auditing and
accounting.
The financial statements for Koa Investors, LLC incorporated in this prospectus by reference
to the Vector Group Ltd. Annual Report on Form 10-K/A Amendment No.1 for the year ended December
31, 2005 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Weiser LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm in auditing and accounting.
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