================================================================================ Securities And Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 --------------------- FORM 10-Q --------------------- QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 VECTOR GROUP LTD. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 1-5759 65-0949535 (State or other jurisdiction of Commission File Number (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 100 S.E. SECOND STREET MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131 305/579-8000 (Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of the principal executive offices) --------------------- Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. [X] Yes [ ] No At November 13, 2002, Vector Group Ltd. had 34,919,903 shares of common stock outstanding. ================================================================================
VECTOR GROUP LTD. FORM 10-Q TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ---- PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. VECTOR GROUP LTD. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Vector Group Ltd. Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001............................................................................. 2 Vector Group Ltd. Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and September 30, 2001............................................... 3 Vector Group Ltd. Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2002............................................................... 4 Vector Group Ltd. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and September 30, 2001..................................................... 5 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.......................................................... 6 Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS............................................... 30 Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK..................................... 44 Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES........................................................................ 44 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.............................................................................. 46 Item 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS...................................................... 46 Item 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K............................................................... 46 SIGNATURE.............................................................................................. 48 CERTIFICATIONS......................................................................................... 49 - 1 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) September 30, December 31, 2002 2001 ------------- ------------ ASSETS: Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents.................................................... $109,227 $217,761 Investment securities available for sale..................................... 145,395 173,697 Accounts receivable - trade.................................................. 11,790 34,380 Other receivables............................................................ 3,433 1,234 Inventories.................................................................. 94,109 53,194 Restricted assets............................................................ - 20,054 Deferred income taxes........................................................ 8,213 6,294 Other current assets......................................................... 12,419 9,113 -------- --------- Total current assets..................................................... 384,586 515,727 Property, plant and equipment, net............................................. 128,779 102,185 Long-term investments, net..................................................... 11,138 10,044 Restricted assets.............................................................. 1,875 1,881 Deferred income taxes.......................................................... 11,215 9,778 Intangible asset............................................................... 107,511 - Pension assets................................................................. 21,070 17,920 Other assets................................................................... 8,913 31,368 ------- -------- Total assets............................................................. $675,087 $688,903 ======= ======= LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Current liabilities: Current portion of notes payable and long-term debt and other obligations.... $ 19,369 $ 4,808 Accounts payable............................................................. 15,871 16,192 Accrued promotional expenses................................................. 21,368 20,634 Accrued taxes payable, net................................................... 14,439 33,992 Settlement accruals.......................................................... 32,322 29,299 Deferred income taxes........................................................ 4,817 759 Accrued interest............................................................. 3,600 6,799 Prepetition claims and restructuring accruals................................ 675 2,700 Other accrued liabilities.................................................... 17,114 26,362 -------- -------- Total current liabilities................................................ 129,575 141,545 Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion...... 289,285 214,273 Noncurrent employee benefits................................................... 13,230 14,749 Deferred income taxes.......................................................... 138,696 132,528 Other liabilities.............................................................. 4,814 16,294 Minority interests............................................................. 47,884 56,156 Commitments and contingencies.................................................. Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, authorized 10,000,000 shares..... Common stock, par value $0.10 per share, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued 39,530,924 and outstanding 34,919,903....................... 3,491 3,317 Additional paid-in capital................................................... 297,641 309,849 Deficit...................................................................... (228,295) (182,645) Accumulated other comprehensive income....................................... (2,901) 1,170 Less: 4,611,021 shares of common stock in treasury, at cost................. (18,333) (18,333) -------- -------- Total stockholders' equity............................................... 51,603 113,358 -------- ------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity............................... $675,087 $688,903 ======= ======= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. - 2 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ----------------------------- ----------------------------- Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, 2002 2001 2002 2001 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Revenues: Tobacco* ................................................ $ 141,714 $ 120,228 $ 378,285 $ 302,922 Real estate leasing ..................................... -- 2,538 661 7,604 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Total revenues ........................................ 141,714 122,766 378,946 310,526 Expenses: Cost of goods sold* ..................................... 100,442 72,199 262,617 173,605 Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses . 40,958 33,511 136,718 89,509 Settlement charges ...................................... -- 56 (807) 9,853 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Operating income (loss) ............................... 314 17,000 (19,582) 37,559 Other income (expenses): Interest and dividend income ............................ 2,342 3,537 7,743 7,777 Interest expense ........................................ (7,112) (5,824) (19,417) (9,134) (Loss) gain on sale of investments, net ................. (62) (804) 1,715 (51) Gain on sale of assets .................................. 345 415 9,029 2,187 Provision for uncollectibility of notes receivable ...... (13,198) -- (13,198) -- Other, net .............................................. 757 (305) 206 (428) ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ (Loss) income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and minority interests ................... (16,614) 14,019 (33,504) 37,910 (Benefit) provision for income taxes .................... (1,972) 6,753 (5,643) 17,235 Minority interests ...................................... (6,476) (1,210) (4,490) (1,992) ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ (Loss) income from continuing operations .................... (8,166) 8,476 (23,371) 22,667 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Discontinued operations: Loss from discontinued operations ........................... -- (1,107) -- (2,231) Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of minority interests .................................... -- -- -- 1,283 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Loss from discontinued operations ........................... -- (1,107) -- (948) ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Net (loss) income ........................................... $ (8,166) $ 7,369 $ (23,371) $ 21,719 ============ ============ ============ ============ Per basic common share: (Loss) income from continuing operations ................ $ (0.23) $ 0.26 $ (0.67) $ 0.75 ============ ============ ============ ============ Loss from discontinued operations ....................... $ -- $ (0.03) $ -- $ (0.03) ============ ============ ============ ============ Net (loss) income applicable to common shares ........... $ (0.23) $ 0.23 $ (0.67) $ 0.72 ============ ============ ============ ============ Basic weighted average common shares outstanding ............ 34,920,140 32,520,237 34,915,109 30,123,183 ============ ============ ============ ============ Per diluted common share: (Loss) income from continuing operations ................ $ (0.23) $ 0.22 $ (0.67) $ 0.62 ============ ============ ============ ============ Loss from discontinued operations ....................... $ -- $ (0.03) $ -- $ (0.03) ============ ============ ============ ============ Net (loss) income applicable to common shares ........... $ (0.23) $ 0.19 $ (0.67) $ 0.59 ============ ============ ============ ============ Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding .......... 34,920,140 38,293,602 34,915,109 36,422,931 ============ ============ ============ ============ - ------------- * Revenues and Cost of goods sold include excise taxes of $51,668, $41,496, $144,858 and $105,806, respectively. The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. - 3 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) Accumulated Common Stock Additional Other ---------------------- Paid-In Treasury Comprehensive Shares Amount Capital Deficit Stock Income (Loss) Total ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------- ---------- Balance, December 31, 2001 ............... 33,171,847 $ 3,317 $ 309,849 $ (182,645) $ (18,333) $ 1,170 $ 113,358 Net loss ................................. -- -- -- (23,371) -- -- (23,371) Unrealized loss on investment securities -- -- -- -- -- (2,564) (2,564) ---------- Total other comprehensive loss ..... -- -- -- -- -- -- (2,564) ---------- Total comprehensive loss ................. -- -- -- -- -- -- (25,935) ---------- Distributions on common stock ............ -- -- (39,906) -- -- -- (39,906) Effect of stock dividend ................. 1,662,619 166 22,113 (22,279) -- -- -- Exercise of options ...................... 85,437 8 1,188 -- -- -- 1,196 Tax benefit of options exercised ......... -- -- 526 -- -- -- 526 Amortization of deferred compensation, net -- -- 2,364 -- -- -- 2,364 Other, net ............................... -- -- 1,507 -- -- (1,507) -- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Balance, September 30, 2002 .............. 34,919,903 $ 3,491 $ 297,641 $ (228,295) $ (18,333) $ (2,901) $ 51,603 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. - 4 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) Nine Months Ended ------------------------- Sept. 30, Sept. 30, 2002 2001 --------- --------- Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: $(35,602) $ 20,425 -------- ---------- Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net.. 2,642 8,599 Sale or maturity of investment securities ........ 70,161 10,634 Purchase of investment securities ................ (46,024) (159,381) Purchase of long-term investments ................ (50,103) (5,747) Sale or liquidation of long-term investments ..... -- 1,133 Purchase of real estate .......................... -- (1,213) Sale of real estate .............................. 20,461 10,172 Increase in restricted assets..................... -- 1,306 Issuance of notes receivable, net................. (4,000) Payment of prepetition claims .................... (2,025) (2,634) Cash acquired in acquisition of LTS .............. -- 8,010 New Valley purchase of common shares ............. -- (274) Purchase by New Valley of subsidiary common stock -- (3,945) Capital expenditures ............................. (39,284) (47,357) --------- --------- Net cash used in investing activities .............. (48,172) (180,697) -------- --------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from debt ............................... 37,635 255,167 Repayments of debt ............................... (10,355) (21,933) Borrowings under revolver ........................ 467,016 358,330 Repayments on revolver ........................... (467,016) (377,704) Deferred financing charges ....................... (930) (9,201) Decrease in margin loan payable .................. -- (2,028) Issuance of common stock ......................... -- 50,000 Distributions on common stock .................... (39,906) (34,024) Proceeds from participating loan ................. -- 2,478 Repayment of participating loan................... (12,400) -- Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants ... 1,196 16,042 -------- --------- Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (24,760) 237,127 -------- --------- Net cash provided by discontinued operations ....... -- 139 Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (108,534) 76,994 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period ..... 217,761 157,513 --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period ........... $ 109,227 $ 234,507 ========= ========= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. - 5 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (a) BASIS OF PRESENTATION: The consolidated financial statements of Vector Group Ltd. (the "Company" or "Vector") include the accounts of VGR Holding Inc. ("VGR Holding"), Vector Tobacco Inc. ("Vector Tobacco"), Liggett Group Inc. ("Liggett"), New Valley Corporation ("New Valley") and other less significant subsidiaries. The Company owned 56.2% of New Valley's common shares at September 30, 2002. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Vector Tobacco is engaged in the development and marketing of reduced carcinogen and low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products. Liggett is engaged primarily in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, principally in the United States. New Valley is currently engaged in the real estate business through its New Valley Realty division and is seeking to acquire additional operating companies. As discussed in Note 3, a subsidiary of the Company acquired The Medallion Company, Inc. on April 1, 2002. As discussed in Note 9, New Valley's former broker-dealer operations are presented for 2001 as discontinued operations. The interim consolidated financial statements of the Company are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary (which are normal and recurring) to present fairly the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The consolidated results of operations for interim periods should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. (b) ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Significant estimates subject to material changes in the near term include deferred tax assets, allowance for doubtful accounts, promotional accruals, sales returns and allowances, actuarial assumptions of pension plans, settlement accruals and litigation and defense costs. Actual results could differ from those estimates. - 6 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) (c) RECLASSIFICATIONS: Certain amounts in the 2001 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2002 presentation. (d) EARNINGS PER SHARE: Information concerning the Company's common stock has been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends paid to Company stockholders on September 28, 2001 and September 27, 2002. In connection with each of the 5% dividends, the Company increased the number of warrants and stock options by 5% and reduced the exercise prices accordingly. All share amounts have been presented as if the stock dividends had occurred on January 1, 2001. The Company had a net loss for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2002. Therefore, the effect of the common stock equivalents and convertible securities is excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share since the effect is anti-dilutive for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002. (e) COMPREHENSIVE INCOME: Comprehensive income is a component of stockholders' equity and includes such items as the Company's proportionate interest in New Valley's capital transactions, unrealized gains and losses on investment securities and minimum pension liability adjustments. Total comprehensive loss was $25,935 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and total comprehensive income was $20,938 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. (f) NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS: During 2000, the Emerging Issues Task Force issued EITF No. 00-14, "Accounting for Certain Sales Incentives". EITF Issue No. 00-14 addresses the recognition, measurement and statement of operations classification for certain sales incentives and became effective in the first quarter of 2002. As a result, certain items previously included in operating, selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations have been recorded as a reduction of operating revenues. The Company has determined that the impact of adoption and subsequent application of EITF Issue No. 00-14 did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations. Upon adoption, prior period amounts, which were not significant, have been reclassified to conform to the new requirements. In April 2001, the EITF reached a consensus on Issue No. 00-25, "Vendor Income Statement Characterization of Consideration Paid to a Reseller of the Vendor's Products." EITF Issue No. 00-25 requires that certain expenses included in operating, selling, administrative and general expenses be recorded as a reduction of operating revenues and was effective in the first quarter of 2002. The financial statements reflect adoption of this accounting treatment. For comparative purposes, prior period amounts have been - 7 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) reclassified from operating, selling, administrative and general expenses to a reduction of revenues. The adoption of EITF 00-25 did not impact the Company's consolidated financial position, operating income or net income. In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets". SFAS No. 141 requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001, establishes specific criteria for the recognition of intangible assets separately from goodwill and requires unallocated negative goodwill to be written off. SFAS No. 142 primarily addresses the accounting for goodwill and intangible assets subsequent to their acquisition. SFAS No. 141 is effective for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001, and SFAS No. 142 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. In October 2001, FASB issued SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets". SFAS No. 144 supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of", and requires (i) the recognition and measurement of the impairment of long-lived assets to be held and used and (ii) the measurement of long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale. SFAS No. 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The adoption of this statement did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities." SFAS 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)." SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred as opposed to EITF 94-3, which allowed a cost to be recognized when a commitment to an exit plan was made. The provisions of this SFAS are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. The Company will apply this statement prospectively upon adoption. 2. LIGGETT VECTOR BRANDS In March 2002, the Company announced that the sales and marketing functions, along with certain support functions, of its Liggett and Vector Tobacco subsidiaries would be combined into a new entity, Liggett Vector Brands Inc. The newly formed company will coordinate and execute the sales and marketing efforts for all of the Company's tobacco operations. As of September 30, 2002, this reorganization was essentially complete. With the combined resources of Liggett and Vector Tobacco, Liggett Vector Brands has approximately 425 salespersons, and enhanced distribution and marketing capabilities. Final reorganization matters are being completed in the fourth quarter of 2002. In connection with the creation of the new Liggett Vector Brands entity, the Company took a charge of $3,460 in - 8 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) the first quarter of 2002, related to the reorganization of its business. As of September 30, 2002, the Company's reorganization accrual has been reduced by payments of $730 and the remaining balance was $2,730. 3. MEDALLION ACQUISITION On April 1, 2002, a subsidiary of the Company acquired 100% of the stock of The Medallion Company, Inc. ("Medallion"), and related assets from Medallion's principal stockholder. The total purchase price consisted of $50,000 in cash and $60,000 in notes, with the notes guaranteed by the Company and Liggett. Medallion, a discount cigarette manufacturer headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a participant in the Master Settlement Agreement between the state Attorneys General and the tobacco industry. Medallion has no payment obligations under the Master Settlement Agreement except to the extent its market share exceeds approximately 0.28% of total cigarettes sold in the United States (approximately 1.15 billion units in 2001). The results of operations of Medallion are included in the Company's financial statements beginning April 1, 2002. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. AT APRIL 1, 2002 ---------------- Receivable from seller...................... $ 3,189 Inventory................................... 1,019 Property, plant and equipment............... 2,181 Intangible asset............................ 107,511 ------- Total assets acquired................... 113,900 ------- Accrued merger costs........................ 300 Allowance for sales returns................. 500 Accrued MSA liability....................... 3,100 --------- Total liabilities assumed............... 3,900 --------- Net assets acquired..................... $ 110,000 ========= The $107,511 intangible asset, which is not subject to amortization, relates to Medallion's exemption under the Master Settlement Agreement and has been included with the Liggett segment for segment reporting purposes. The following table presents unaudited pro forma results of operations as if the Medallion acquisition had occurred immediately prior to January 1, 2001. These pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of what would have occurred had these transactions been consummated as of such date. - 9 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ------------------------- -------------------------------- Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, 2002 2001 2002 2001 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Revenues .......................... $141,714 $ 134,960 $393,807 $ 339,725 ======== ========== ======== =========== Net (loss) income ................. (8,166) $ 8,139 (24,535) $ 23,491 ======== ========== ======== =========== Net (loss) income per common share: Basic ......................... $ (0.23) $ 0.25 $ (0.70) $ 0.78 ======== ========== ======== =========== Diluted ....................... $ (0.23) $ 0.21 $ (0.70) $ 0.64 ======== ========== ======== =========== 4. INVENTORIES Inventories consist of: September 30, December 31, 2002 2001 ------------- ------------ Leaf tobacco ................. $ 52,150 $ 26,364 Other raw materials .......... 5,978 6,764 Work-in-process .............. 2,922 2,263 Finished goods ............... 29,881 15,317 Replacement parts and supplies 4,617 3,040 -------- -------- Inventories at current cost .. 95,548 53,748 LIFO adjustments ............. (1,439) (554) -------- -------- $ 94,109 $ 53,194 ======== ======== At September 30, 2002, Liggett had leaf tobacco purchase commitments of approximately $21,800 and Vector Tobacco had leaf tobacco purchase commitments of approximately $11,330. - 10 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) 5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Property, plant and equipment consist of: September 30, December 31, 2002 2001 ------------- ----------- Land and improvements ....... $ 2,383 $ 2,252 Buildings ................... 26,165 23,035 Machinery and equipment ..... 128,046 81,396 Leasehold improvements ...... 1,668 1,451 Construction-in-progress .... 10,101 27,464 --------- --------- 168,363 135,598 Less accumulated depreciation (39,584) (33,413) --------- --------- $ 128,779 $ 102,185 ========= ========= 6. NOTES PAYABLE, LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations consist of: September 30, December 31, 2002 2001 ------------- ------------ Vector: 6.25% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2008 ............ $ 132,500 $ 132,500 VGR Holding: 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2006, net of unamortized discount of $12,485 and $9,242 ............ 77,515 50,758 Liggett: Revolving credit facility ................................ -- -- Term loan under credit facility .......................... 5,190 5,865 Other notes payable ...................................... 14,072 7,748 Vector Research: Equipment loans .......................................... 17,551 12,724 Vector Tobacco: Note payable ............................................. 6,918 8,847 Equipment loans .......................................... 1,158 389 Notes for Medallion acquisition .......................... 53,750 -- Other .................................................... -- 250 --------- --------- Total notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations 308,654 219,081 Less: Current maturities ................................. (19,369) (4,808) --------- --------- Amount due after one year ................................ $ 289,285 $ 214,273 ========= ========= - 11 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) 6.25% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JULY 15, 2008 - VECTOR: In July 2001, Vector completed the sale of $172,500 (net proceeds of approximately $166,400) of its 6.25% convertible subordinated notes due 2008 through a private offering to qualified institutional investors in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. The notes pay interest at 6.25% per annum and are convertible into Vector's common stock, at the option of the holder, at a conversion price of $30.91 per share at September 30, 2002. The conversion price is subject to adjustment for various events, and any cash distribution on Vector's common stock will result in a corresponding decrease in the conversion price. Following the conversion of $40,000 principal amount of the convertible notes in December 2001, $132,500 principal amount of the convertible notes were outstanding. The notes may be redeemed by Vector, in whole or in part, between July 15, 2003 and July 15, 2004, if the closing price of Vector's common stock exceeds 150% of the conversion price then in effect for a period of at least 20 trading days in any consecutive 30 day trading period, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest and a "make whole" payment. Vector may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at a price of 103.125% in the year beginning July 15, 2004, 102.083% in the year beginning July 15, 2005, 101.042% in the year beginning July 15, 2006 and 100% in the year beginning July 15, 2007, together with accrued interest. If a change of control occurs, Vector will be required to offer to repurchase the notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest and, under certain circumstances, a "make whole" payment. 10% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE MARCH 31, 2006 - VGR HOLDING: On May 14, 2001, VGR Holding issued at a discount $60,000 principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due March 31, 2006 in a private placement. VGR Holding received net proceeds from the placement of approximately $46,500. On April 30, 2002, VGR Holding issued at a discount an additional $30,000 principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due March 31, 2006 in a private placement and received net proceeds of approximately $25,000. The notes were priced to provide the purchasers with a 15.75% yield to maturity. The new notes are on the same terms as the $60,000 principal amount of senior secured notes previously issued. All $90,000 principal amount of the notes have been guaranteed by the Company and by Liggett. The notes are collateralized by substantially all of VGR Holding's assets, including a pledge of VGR Holding's equity interests in its direct subsidiaries, including Brooke Group Holding, Brooke (Overseas) Ltd., Vector Tobacco and New Valley Holdings, Inc., as well as a pledge of the shares of Liggett and all of the New Valley securities held by VGR Holding and New Valley Holdings. The purchase agreement for the notes contains covenants, which among other things, limit the ability of VGR Holding to make distributions to Vector to 50% of VGR Holding's net income, unless VGR Holding holds $75,000 in cash after giving effect to the payment of the distribution, and limit additional indebtedness of VGR Holding, Liggett and Vector Tobacco to 250% of EBITDA (as defined in the purchase agreements) for the trailing 12 months plus an additional amount of up to $75,000 during the period commencing on April 1, 2002 and ending on September 29, 2002, $115,000 during the period commencing on September 30, 2002 and ending on December 30, 2002 and $100,000 during the period commencing on December 31, 2002 and ending on March 31, 2003. The covenants also restrict transactions with affiliates subject to exceptions which include payments to Vector not to exceed $9,500 per year for permitted operating expenses, and limit the ability of VGR Holding to merge, consolidate or sell certain assets. In November 2002, in connection with an amendment to the note purchase - 12 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) agreement, VGR Holding repurchased $8,000 of the notes at a price of 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest. VGR Holding will recognize a loss of approximately $1,300 in the fourth quarter 2002 on the early extinguishment of debt. Prior to May 14, 2003, VGR Holding may redeem up to $31,500 of the notes at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount with proceeds from one or more equity offerings. VGR Holding may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount beginning May 14, 2003. During the term of the notes, VGR Holding is required to offer to repurchase all the notes at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount, in the event of a change of control, and to offer to repurchase notes, at 100% of the principal amount, with the proceeds of material asset sales. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY - LIGGETT: Liggett has a $40,000 credit facility, under which $0 was outstanding at September 30, 2002. Availability under the credit facility was approximately $34,633 based on eligible collateral at September 30, 2002. The facility is collateralized by all inventories and receivables of Liggett. Borrowings under the facility, whose interest is calculated at a rate equal to 1.0% above Philadelphia National Bank's (the indirect parent of Congress Financial Corporation, the lead lender) prime rate, bore a rate of 5.75% at September 30, 2002. The facility requires Liggett's compliance with certain financial and other covenants including a restriction on the payment of cash dividends unless Liggett's borrowing availability under the facility for the 30-day period prior to the payment of the dividend, and after giving effect to the dividend, is at least $5,000. In addition, the facility, as amended, imposes requirements with respect to Liggett's adjusted net worth (not to fall below $8,000 as computed in accordance with the agreement) and working capital (not to fall below a deficit of $17,000 as computed in accordance with the agreement). At September 30, 2002, Liggett was in compliance with all covenants under the credit facility; Liggett's adjusted net worth was $22,353 and net working capital was $2,643, as computed in accordance with the agreement. The facility expires on March 8, 2003 subject to automatic renewal for an additional year unless a notice of termination is given by the lender at least 60 days prior to the anniversary date. In November 1999, 100 Maple LLC, a new company formed by Liggett to purchase its Mebane, North Carolina facility, borrowed $5,040 from the lender under Liggett's credit facility. In July 2001, Maple borrowed an additional $2,340 under the loan, and a total of $5,190 was outstanding at September 30, 2002. In addition, the lender extended the term of the loan so that it is payable in 59 monthly installments of $75 with a final payment of $1,875. In September 2002, the lender agreed that no further regularly scheduled principal payments would be due under the Maple loan until March 1, 2004. Interest is charged at the same rate as applicable to Liggett's credit facility, and borrowings under the Maple loan reduce the maximum availability under the credit facility. Liggett has guaranteed the loan, and a first mortgage on the Mebane property collateralizes the Maple loan and Liggett's credit facility. - 13 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) EQUIPMENT LOANS - LIGGETT: In March 2000, Liggett purchased equipment for $1,000 under a capital lease which is payable in 60 monthly installments of $21 with an effective annual interest rate of 10.14%. In April 2000, Liggett purchased equipment for $1,071 under two capital leases which are payable in 60 monthly installments of $22 with an effective interest rate of 10.20%. In October and December 2001, Liggett purchased equipment for $3,204 and $3,200, respectively, through capital lease arrangements guaranteed by the Company, each payable in 60 monthly installments of $61 with interest calculated at the prime rate. In March 2002, Liggett purchased equipment for $3,023 through the issuance of a note, payable in 30 monthly installments of $62 and then 30 monthly installments of $51 with an effective annual interest rate of 4.68%. In May 2002, Liggett purchased equipment for $2,871 through the issuance of a note, payable in 30 monthly installments of $59 and then 30 monthly installments of $48 with an effective annual interest rate of 4.64%. In September 2002, Liggett purchased equipment for $1,573 through a note guaranteed by the Company, payable in 58 monthly installments of $26 and a final payment of $345 with an effective annual interest rate of 6.20%. EQUIPMENT LOANS - VECTOR RESEARCH: In February 2001, a subsidiary of Vector Research purchased equipment for $15,500 and borrowed $13,175 to fund the purchase. The loan, which is collateralized by the equipment and a letter of credit from the Company for $775, is guaranteed by Vector Research, VGR Holding and the Company. The loan is payable in 120 monthly installments of $125, including annual interest of 2.31% above the 30-day commercial paper rate with a final payment of $6,125. In February 2002, the Vector Research subsidiary purchased equipment for $6,575 and borrowed $6,150 to fund the purchase. The loan, which is collateralized by the equipment, is guaranteed by Vector Research and the Company. The loan is payable in 120 monthly installments of $44, including annual interest of 2.75% above the 30-day commercial paper rate. NOTE PAYABLE - VECTOR TOBACCO: In June 2001, Vector Tobacco purchased for $8,400 an industrial facility in Timberlake, North Carolina. Vector Tobacco financed the purchase with an $8,200 loan, payable in 60 monthly installments of $85, including annual interest at 4.85% above LIBOR with a final payment of approximately $3,160. The loan, which is collateralized by a mortgage and a letter of credit of $1,750, is guaranteed by VGR Holding and Vector. - 14 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) During December 2001, Vector Tobacco executed a second promissory note with the same lender for approximately $1,159 to finance building improvements. The second promissory note is payable in 30 monthly installments of $39 plus accrued interest, with an annual interest rate of LIBOR plus 5.12%. NOTES FOR MEDALLION ACQUISITION - VECTOR TOBACCO: The purchase price for the acquisition of Medallion included $60,000 in notes of Vector Tobacco, guaranteed by the Company and Liggett. Of the notes, $25,000 bear interest at a 9.0% annual rate and mature $3,125 per quarter commencing June 30, 2002 and continuing through March 31, 2004. The remaining $35,000 of notes bear interest at 6.5% per year and mature on April 1, 2007. 7. CONTINGENCIES SMOKING-RELATED LITIGATION: OVERVIEW. Since 1954, Liggett and other United States cigarette manufacturers have been named as defendants in numerous direct and third-party actions predicated on the theory that cigarette manufacturers should be liable for damages alleged to have been caused by cigarette smoking or by exposure to secondary smoke from cigarettes. These cases are reported here as though having been commenced against Liggett (without regard to whether such cases were actually commenced against Brooke Group Holding Inc., the Company's predecessor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of VGR Holding, or Liggett). There has been a noteworthy increase in the number of cases commenced against Liggett and the other cigarette manufacturers in recent years. The cases generally fall into the following categories: (i) smoking and health cases alleging injury brought on behalf of individual plaintiffs ("Individual Actions"); (ii) smoking and health cases alleging injury and purporting to be brought on behalf of a class of individual plaintiffs ("Class Actions"); (iii) health care cost recovery actions brought by various foreign and domestic governmental entities ("Governmental Actions"); and (iv) health care cost recovery actions brought by third-party payors including insurance companies, union health and welfare trust funds, asbestos manufacturers and others ("Third-Party Payor Actions"). As new cases are commenced, defense costs and the risks attendant to the inherent unpredictability of litigation continue to increase. The future financial impact of the risks and expenses of litigation and the effects of the tobacco litigation settlements discussed below are not quantifiable at this time. For the nine months ended September 30, 2002, Liggett incurred counsel fees and costs totaling approximately $4,103 compared to $4,911 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS. As of September 30, 2002, there were approximately 338 cases pending against Liggett, and in most cases the other tobacco companies, where one or more individual plaintiffs allege injury resulting from cigarette smoking, addiction to cigarette smoking or exposure to secondary smoke and seek compensatory and, in some cases, punitive damages. Of these, 90 were pending in New York, 76 in Florida, 47 in Maryland, 25 in Mississippi and 19 in California. The balance of the individual cases were pending in 21 states. There are four individual cases pending where Liggett is the only named defendant. In addition to these cases, an action against cigarette manufacturers involving approximately 1,250 named individual plaintiffs has been consolidated before a single West Virginia state - 15 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) court. Liggett is a defendant in most of the cases pending in West Virginia. In January 2002, the court severed Liggett from the trial of the consolidated action, which is scheduled to begin in June 2003. The plaintiffs' allegations of liability in those cases in which individuals seek recovery for injuries allegedly caused by cigarette smoking are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, breach of special duty, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, concert of action, unjust enrichment, common law public nuisance, property damage, invasion of privacy, mental anguish, emotional distress, disability, shock, indemnity and violations of deceptive trade practice laws, the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act ("RICO"), state RICO statutes and antitrust statutes. In many of these cases, in addition to compensatory damages, plaintiffs also seek other forms of relief including treble/multiple damages, medical monitoring, disgorgement of profits and punitive damages. Defenses raised by defendants in these cases include lack of proximate cause, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, lack of design defect, statute of limitations, equitable defenses such as "unclean hands" and lack of benefit, failure to state a claim and federal preemption. Jury awards in California and Oregon have been entered against other cigarette manufacturers. The awards in these individual actions are for both compensatory and punitive damages and represent a material amount of damages. In 1999, a jury awarded $800 in compensatory damages and $79,500 in punitive damages in an Oregon state court case involving Philip Morris. The trial court later determined that the punitive damage award was excessive and reduced it to $32,000. In June 2002, an Oregon intermediate appellate court reinstated the jury's punitive damages award. Philip Morris has appealed the decision to the Oregon Supreme Court. In June 2001, a jury awarded $5,500 in compensatory damages and $3,000,000 in punitive damages in a California state court case involving Philip Morris. In March 2002, a jury awarded $169 in compensatory damages and $150,000 in punitive damages in an Oregon state court case also involving Philip Morris. The punitive damages awards in both the California and Oregon actions were subsequently reduced to $100,000 by the trial courts. In September 2002, a jury awarded $850 in compensatory damages and $28,000,000 in punitive damages in a California state court case involving Philip Morris. Both the verdict and damage awards in these cases are being appealed. In November 2001, in another case, a $25,000 punitive damages judgment against Philip Morris was affirmed by a California intermediate appellate court. In October 2002, the California Supreme Court vacated the decision and remanded the case to the intermediate appellate court for reconsideration in light of its August 2002 ruling that a state statute in effect from January 1988 to December 1997 conferred immunity to cigarette manufacturers for conduct during that ten-year period. During 2001, as a result of a Florida Supreme Court decision upholding the award, another cigarette manufacturer paid $1,100 in compensatory damages and interest to a former smoker and his spouse for injuries they allegedly incurred as a result of smoking. In December 2001, in an individual action involving another cigarette manufacturer, a Florida jury awarded a smoker $165 in compensatory damages. The defendant has appealed the verdict. In February 2002, a federal district court jury in Kansas awarded a smoker $198 in - 16 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) compensatory damages from two other cigarette manufacturers and, in June 2002, the trial court assessed punitive damages of $15,000 against one of the defendants. The defendant has appealed the verdict. CLASS ACTIONS. As of September 30, 2002, there were approximately 41 actions pending, for which either a class has been certified or plaintiffs are seeking class certification, where Liggett, among others, was a named defendant. Many of these actions purport to constitute statewide class actions and were filed after May 1996 when the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, in the CASTANO case, reversed a Federal district court's certification of a purported nationwide class action on behalf of persons who were allegedly "addicted" to tobacco products. The extent of the impact of the CASTANO decision on smoking-related class action litigation is still uncertain. The CASTANO decision has had a limited effect with respect to courts' decisions regarding narrower smoking-related classes or class actions brought in state rather than federal court. For example, since the Fifth Circuit's ruling, a court in Louisiana (Liggett is not a defendant in this proceeding) has certified "addiction-as-injury" class actions that covered only citizens in those states. Two other class actions, BROIN and ENGLE, were certified in state court in Florida prior to the Fifth Circuit's decision. In April 2001, the BROWN case was certified as a class action in California. In May 1994, an action entitled ENGLE, ET AL. V. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, ET AL., Circuit Court, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida, was filed against Liggett and others. The class consists of all Florida residents and citizens, and their survivors, who have suffered, presently suffer or have died from diseases and medical conditions caused by their addiction to cigarettes that contain nicotine. Phase I of the trial commenced in July 1998 and in July 1999, the jury returned the Phase I verdict. The Phase I verdict concerned certain issues determined by the trial court to be "common" to the causes of action of the plaintiff class. Among other things, the jury found that: smoking cigarettes causes 20 diseases or medical conditions, cigarettes are addictive or dependence producing, defective and unreasonably dangerous, defendants made materially false statements with the intention of misleading smokers, defendants concealed or omitted material information concerning the health effects and/or the addictive nature of smoking cigarettes and agreed to misrepresent and conceal the health effects and/or the addictive nature of smoking cigarettes, and defendants were negligent and engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct or acted with reckless disregard with the intent to inflict emotional distress. The jury also found that defendants' conduct "rose to a level that would permit a potential award or entitlement to punitive damages." The court decided that Phase II of the trial, which commenced November 1999, would be a causation and damages trial for three of the class representatives and a punitive damages trial on a class-wide basis, before the same jury that returned the verdict in Phase I. In April 2000, the jury awarded compensatory damages of $12,704 to the three plaintiffs, to be reduced in proportion to the respective plaintiff's fault. The jury also decided that the claim of one of the plaintiffs, who was awarded compensatory damages of $5,831, was not timely filed. In July 2000, the jury awarded approximately $145,000,000 in the punitive damages portion of Phase II against all defendants including $790,000 against Liggett. The court entered a final order of judgment against the defendants in November 2000. The court's final judgment, which provides for interest at the rate of 10% per year on the jury's awards, also denied various post-trial motions, including a motion for new trial and a motion seeking reduction of the punitive damages award. Liggett intends to pursue all available post-trial and - 17 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) appellate remedies. Oral argument before Florida's Third District Court of Appeals was held on November 6, 2002. If this verdict is not eventually reversed on appeal, or substantially reduced by the court, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Phase III of the trial will be conducted before separate juries to address absent class members' claims, including issues of specific causation and other individual issues regarding entitlement to compensatory damages. It is unclear how the ENGLE court's order regarding the determination of punitive damages will be implemented. The order provides that the punitive damage amount should be standard as to each class member and acknowledges that the actual size of the class will not be known until the last case has withstood appeal. The order does not address whether defendants will be required to pay the punitive damage award prior to a determination of claims of all class members, a process that could take years to conclude. In May 2000, legislation was enacted in Florida that limits the size of any bond required, pending appeal, to stay execution of a punitive damages verdict to the lesser of the punitive award plus twice the statutory rate of interest, $100,000 or 10% of the net worth of the defendant, but the limitation on the bond does not affect the amount of the underlying verdict. Liggett has filed the $3,450 bond required by the Florida law in order to stay execution of the ENGLE judgment. Similar legislation has been enacted in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. In May 2001, Liggett, along with Philip Morris and Lorillard Tobacco Co., reached an agreement with the class in the ENGLE case, which will provide assurance of Liggett's ability to appeal the jury's July 2000 verdict. As required by the agreement, Liggett paid $6,273 into an escrow account to be held for the benefit of the ENGLE class, and released, along with Liggett's existing $3,450 statutory bond, to the court for the benefit of the class upon completion of the appeals process, regardless of the outcome of the appeal. As a result, the Company recorded a $9,723 pre-tax charge to the consolidated statement of operations for the first quarter of 2001. The agreement, which was approved by the court, assures that the stay of execution, currently in effect pursuant to the Florida bonding statute, will not be lifted or limited at any point until completion of all appeals, including an appeal to the United States Supreme Court. If Liggett's balance sheet net worth falls below $33,781 (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of July 14, 2000), the stay granted in favor of Liggett in the agreement would terminate and the ENGLE class would be free to challenge the Florida bonding statute. In June 2002, the jury in a Florida state court action entitled LUKACS V. PHILIP MORRIS, ET AL. awarded $37,500 in compensatory damages in a case involving Liggett and two other tobacco manufacturers. The jury found Liggett 50% responsible for the damages incurred by the plaintiff. The LUKACS case was the first individual case to be tried as part of Phase III of the ENGLE case; the claims of all other individuals who are members of the class have been stayed pending resolution of the appeal of the ENGLE verdict. The LUKACS verdict will be subject to the outcome of the ENGLE appeal, and the plaintiff has agreed not to seek the entry of a final judgment on the jury verdict until after completion of all review of the ENGLE final judgment. Class certification motions are pending in a number of putative class actions. Classes remain certified against Liggett in Florida (ENGLE), in West Virginia (BLANKENSHIP) and in California (BROWN) and in New York (SIMON). A number of class certification denials are on appeal. - 18 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) In August 2000, in BLANKENSHIP V. PHILIP MORRIS, INC., a West Virginia state court conditionally certified (only to the extent of medical monitoring) a class of present or former West Virginia smokers who desire to participate in a medical monitoring plan. The trial of this case ended in January 2001, when the judge declared a mistrial. In an order issued in March 2001, the court reaffirmed class certification of this medical monitoring action. In July 2001, the court issued an order severing Liggett from the retrial of the case which began in September 2001. In November 2001, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. In January 2002, the trial court denied plaintiffs' motion for a new trial, and plaintiffs have appealed. In April 2001, the California state court in the case of BROWN V. THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, INC., ET AL., granted in part plaintiff's motion for class certification and certified a class comprised of adult residents of California who smoked at least one of defendants' cigarettes "during the applicable time period" and who were exposed to defendants' marketing and advertising activities in California. Certification was granted as to plaintiff's claims that defendants violated California's unfair business practices statute. The court subsequently defined "the applicable class period" for plaintiff's claims, pursuant to a stipulation submitted by the parties, as June 10, 1993 through April 23, 2001. The California Court of Appeals denied defendants' writ application, which sought review of the trial court's class certification orders. Defendants filed a petition for review with the California Supreme Court, which was subsequently denied. Trial is scheduled to begin in March 2003. Liggett is a defendant in the case. In September 2002, in IN RE SIMON II LITIGATION, the federal district court for the Eastern District of New York granted plaintiffs' motion for certification of a nationwide non-opt-out punitive damages class action against the tobacco companies, including Liggett. The class is not seeking compensatory damages, but was created to determine whether smokers across the country may be entitled to punitive damages. In its order, the court set a trial date of January 2003, but has since stayed the order pending the tobacco companies' appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Approximately 38 purported state and federal class action complaints have been filed against the cigarette manufacturers for alleged antitrust violations, including Liggett. The actions allege that the cigarette manufacturers have engaged in a nationwide and international conspiracy to fix the price of cigarettes in violation of state and federal antitrust laws. Plaintiffs allege that defendants' price-fixing conspiracy raised the price of cigarettes above a competitive level. Plaintiffs in the 31 state actions purport to represent classes of indirect purchasers of cigarettes in 16 states; plaintiffs in the seven federal actions purport to represent a nationwide class of wholesalers who purchased cigarettes directly from the defendants. The federal actions have been consolidated and, in July 2000, plaintiffs in the federal consolidated action filed a single consolidated complaint that did not name Liggett as a defendant, although Liggett has complied with certain discovery requests. The court granted defendants' motion for summary judgment in the consolidated federal cases in July 2002. Fourteen California actions have been consolidated and the consolidated complaint did not name Liggett as a defendant. In Nevada, an amended complaint was filed that did not name Liggett as a defendant. GOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS. As of September 30, 2002, there were approximately 40 Governmental Actions pending against Liggett. In these proceedings, both foreign and - 19 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) domestic governmental entities seek reimbursement for Medicaid and other health care expenditures. The claims asserted in these health care cost recovery actions vary. In most of these cases, plaintiffs assert the equitable claim that the tobacco industry was "unjustly enriched" by plaintiffs' payment of health care costs allegedly attributable to smoking and seek reimbursement of those costs. Other claims made by some but not all plaintiffs include the equitable claim of indemnity, common law claims of negligence, strict liability, breach of express and implied warranty, breach of special duty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy, public nuisance, claims under state and federal statutes governing consumer fraud, antitrust, deceptive trade practices and false advertising, and claims under RICO. THIRD-PARTY PAYOR ACTIONS. As of September 30, 2002, there were approximately 7 Third-Party Payor Actions pending against Liggett. The claims in these cases are similar to those in the Governmental Actions but have been commenced by insurance companies, union health and welfare trust funds, asbestos manufacturers and others. Eight United States Circuit Courts of Appeal have ruled that Third-Party Payors did not have standing to bring lawsuits against the tobacco companies. The United States Supreme Court has denied petitions for certiorari in the cases decided by four of the courts of appeal. However, a number of Third-Party Payor Actions, including an action brought by 24 Blue Cross/Blue Shield Plans, remain pending. In June 2001, a jury in a third party payor action brought by Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the Eastern District of New York rendered a verdict awarding the plaintiff $17,800 in damages against the major tobacco companies. As against Liggett, the jury awarded the plaintiff damages of $89. In February 2002, the court awarded plaintiff's counsel $37,800 in attorneys' fees, without allocating the fee award among the several defendants. Liggett has appealed both the jury verdict and the attorneys' fee award. In other Third-Party Payor Actions claimants have set forth several additional theories of relief sought: funding of corrective public education campaigns relating to issues of smoking and health; funding for clinical smoking cessation programs; disgorgement of profits from sales of cigarettes; restitution; treble damages; and attorneys' fees. Nevertheless, no specific amounts are provided. It is understood that requested damages against the tobacco company defendants in these cases might be in the billions of dollars. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTION. In September 1999, the United States government commenced litigation against Liggett and the other tobacco companies in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The action seeks to recover an unspecified amount of health care costs paid for and furnished, and to be paid for and furnished, by the Federal Government for lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other smoking-related illnesses allegedly caused by the fraudulent and tortious conduct of defendants, to restrain defendants and co-conspirators from engaging in fraud and other unlawful conduct in the future, and to compel defendants to disgorge the proceeds of their unlawful conduct. The complaint alleges that such costs total more than $20,000,000 annually. The action asserts claims under three federal statutes, the Medical Care Recovery Act ("MCRA"), the Medicare Secondary Payer provisions of the Social Security Act ("MSP") and RICO. In December 1999, Liggett filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on numerous grounds, including that the statutes invoked by the government do not provide the basis for the relief sought. In September 2000, the court dismissed the government's claims based on MCRA and MSP, and the court reaffirmed its decision in July 2001. In the September 2000 decision, the court also determined not to - 20 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) dismiss the government's claims based on RICO, under which the government continues to seek court relief to restrain the defendant tobacco companies from allegedly engaging in fraud and other unlawful conduct and to compel disgorgement. In June 2001, the United States Attorney General assembled a team of three Department of Justice ("DOJ") lawyers to work on a possible settlement of the federal lawsuit. The DOJ lawyers met with representatives of the tobacco industry, including Liggett, in July 2001. No settlement was reached, and no further meetings are planned. Discovery in the case has commenced, and trial has been scheduled for September 2004. SETTLEMENTS. In March 1996, Brooke Group Holding and Liggett entered into an agreement, subject to court approval, to settle the CASTANO class action tobacco litigation. The CASTANO class was subsequently decertified by the court. In March 1996, March 1997 and March 1998, Brooke Group Holding and Liggett entered into settlements of smoking-related litigation with the Attorneys General of 45 states and territories. The settlements released both Brooke Group Holding and Liggett from all smoking-related claims, including claims for health care cost reimbursement and claims concerning sales of cigarettes to minors. In November 1998, Philip Morris, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and Lorillard Tobacco Company (collectively, the "Original Participating Manufacturers" or "OPMs") and Liggett (together with the OPMs and any other tobacco product manufacturer that becomes a signatory, the "Participating Manufacturers") entered into the Master Settlement Agreement (the "MSA") with 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas (collectively, the "Settling States") to settle the asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and certain other claims of those Settling States. The MSA has received final judicial approval in each of the 52 settling jurisdictions. The MSA restricts tobacco product advertising and marketing within the Settling States and otherwise restricts the activities of Participating Manufacturers. Among other things, the MSA prohibits the targeting of youth in the advertising, promotion or marketing of tobacco products; bans the use of cartoon characters in all tobacco advertising and promotion; limits each Participating Manufacturer to one tobacco brand name sponsorship during any 12-month period; bans all outdoor advertising, with the exception of signs, 14 square feet or less, at retail establishments that sell tobacco products; prohibits payments for tobacco product placement in various media; bans gift offers based on the purchase of tobacco products without sufficient proof that the intended recipient is an adult; prohibits Participating Manufacturers from licensing third parties to advertise tobacco brand names in any manner prohibited under the MSA; prohibits Participating Manufacturers from using as a tobacco product brand name any nationally recognized non-tobacco brand or trade name or the names of sports teams, entertainment groups or individual celebrities; and prohibits Participating Manufacturers from selling packs containing fewer than 20 cigarettes. The MSA also requires Participating Manufacturers to affirm corporate principles to comply with the MSA and to reduce underage usage of tobacco products and imposes requirements applicable to lobbying activities conducted on behalf of Participating Manufacturers. - 21 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) Liggett has no payment obligations under the MSA except to the extent its market share exceeds a base share of 125% of its 1997 market share, or approximately 1.65% of total cigarettes sold in the United States. Liggett believes, based on published industry sources, that its domestic shipments accounted for approximately 2.2% of the total cigarettes shipped in the United States during 2001. On April 15 of any year following a year in which Liggett's market share exceeds the base share, Liggett will pay on each excess unit an amount equal (on a per-unit basis) to that due during the same following year by the OPMs under the annual and strategic contribution payment provisions of the MSA, subject to applicable adjustments, offsets and reductions. In April 2002, Liggett and Vector Tobacco paid a total of $31,130 for their 2001 MSA obligations. Liggett and Vector Tobacco have expensed $29,037 for their estimated MSA obligations for the first nine months of 2002 as part of cost of goods sold. Under the annual and strategic contribution payment provisions of the MSA, the OPMs (and Liggett to the extent its market share exceeds the base share) are required to pay the following annual amounts (subject to certain adjustments): Year Amount ---- ------ 2002 - 2003 $6,500,000 2004 - 2007 $8,000,000 2008 - 2017 $8,139,000 2018 and each $9,000,000 year thereafter These annual payments will be allocated based on relative unit volume of domestic cigarette shipments. The payment obligations under the MSA are the several, and not joint, obligations of each Participating Manufacturer and are not the responsibility of any parent or affiliate of a Participating Manufacturer. The MSA replaces Liggett's prior settlements with all states and territories except for Florida, Mississippi, Texas and Minnesota. Each of these states, prior to the effective date of the MSA, negotiated and executed settlement agreements with each of the other major tobacco companies separate from those settlements reached previously with Liggett. Because these states' settlement agreements with Liggett provided for "most favored nation" protection for both Brooke Group Holding and Liggett, the payments due these states by Liggett (with certain possible exceptions) have been eliminated. With respect to all non-economic obligations under the previous settlements, both Brooke Group Holding and Liggett are entitled to the most favorable provisions as between the MSA and each state's respective settlement with the other major tobacco companies. Therefore, Liggett's non-economic obligations to all states and territories are now defined by the MSA. In April 1999, a putative class action was filed on behalf of all firms that directly buy cigarettes in the United States from defendant tobacco manufacturers. The complaint alleges violation of antitrust law, based in part on the MSA. Plaintiffs seek treble damages computed as three times the difference between current prices and the price plaintiffs would have paid for cigarettes in the absence of an alleged conspiracy to restrain and monopolize trade in the domestic cigarette market, together with attorneys' fees. Plaintiffs also seek injunctive relief against certain aspects of the MSA. - 22 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) Copies of the various settlement agreements are filed as exhibits to the Company's Form 10-K and the discussion herein is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto. TRIALS. Cases currently scheduled for trial during the next six months include two individual actions in Florida state court scheduled for January 2003 and February 2003, an individual action in New York state court scheduled for January 2003 and an action consolidating the claims of three individuals in a Mississippi state court scheduled for May 2003. In addition, the BROWN case is scheduled for trial in California state court in March 2003. Trial dates, however, are subject to change. Management is not able to predict the outcome of the litigation pending against Brooke Group Holding or Liggett. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties. An unfavorable verdict was returned in the first phase of the ENGLE smoking and health class action trial pending in Florida. In July 2000, the jury awarded $790,000 in punitive damages against Liggett in the second phase of the trial, and the court has entered an order of final judgment. Liggett intends to pursue all available post-trial and appellate remedies. If this verdict is not eventually reversed on appeal, or substantially reduced by the court, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Liggett has filed the $3,450 bond required under recent Florida legislation which limits the size of any bond required, pending appeal, to stay execution of a punitive damages verdict. On May 7, 2001, Liggett reached an agreement with the class in the ENGLE case, which will provide assurance to Liggett that the stay of execution, currently in effect pursuant to the bonding statute enacted in 2000 by the Florida legislature, will not be lifted or limited at any point until completion of all appeals, including to the United States Supreme Court. As required by the agreement, Liggett paid $6,273 into an escrow account to be held for the benefit of the ENGLE class, and released, along with Liggett's existing $3,450 statutory bond, to the court for the benefit of the class upon completion of the appeals process, regardless of the outcome of the appeal. As a result, the Company recorded a $9,723 pre-tax charge to the consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. In June 2002, the jury in an individual case brought under the third phase of the ENGLE case awarded $37,500 of compensatory damages against Liggett and two other defendants and found Liggett 50% responsible for the damages. The verdict will be subject to the outcome of the ENGLE appeal. It is possible that additional cases could be decided unfavorably and that there could be further adverse developments in the ENGLE case. Management cannot predict the cash requirements related to any future settlements and judgments, including cash required to bond any appeals, and there is a risk that those requirements will not be able to be met. An unfavorable outcome of a pending smoking and health case could encourage the commencement of additional similar litigation. Management is unable to make a meaningful estimate with respect to the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of the cases pending against Brooke Group Holding or Liggett or the costs of defending such cases. The complaints filed in these cases rarely detail alleged damages. Typically, the claims set forth in an individual's complaint against the tobacco industry pray for money damages in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus punitive damages and costs. These damage claims are typically stated as being for the minimum necessary to invoke the jurisdiction of the court. It is possible that the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome in any such smoking-related litigation. Liggett's management is unaware of any material environmental conditions affecting its existing facilities. Liggett's management believes that current operations are conducted in material compliance with all environmental laws and regulations and other laws and - 23 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) regulations governing cigarette manufacturers. Compliance with federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, has not had a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of Liggett. Liggett has been served in two reparations actions brought by descendants of slaves. Plaintiffs in these actions claim that defendants, including Liggett, profited from the use of slave labor. Seven additional cases have been filed in California, Illinois and New York. Liggett is a named defendant in only one of these additional cases, but has not been served. There are several other proceedings, lawsuits and claims pending against the Company and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries unrelated to smoking or tobacco product liability. Management is of the opinion that the liabilities, if any, ultimately resulting from such other proceedings, lawsuits and claims should not materially affect the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. LEGISLATION AND REGULATION: In January 1993, the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") released a report on the respiratory effect of secondary smoke which concludes that secondary smoke is a known human lung carcinogen in adults and in children, causes increased respiratory tract disease and middle ear disorders and increases the severity and frequency of asthma. In June 1993, the two largest of the major domestic cigarette manufacturers, together with other segments of the tobacco and distribution industries, commenced a lawsuit against the EPA seeking a determination that the EPA did not have the statutory authority to regulate secondary smoke, and that given the current body of scientific evidence and the EPA's failure to follow its own guidelines in making the determination, the EPA's classification of secondary smoke was arbitrary and capricious. In July 1998, a federal district court vacated those sections of the report relating to lung cancer, finding that the EPA may have reached different conclusions had it complied with relevant statutory requirements. The federal government has appealed the court's ruling. Whatever the ultimate outcome of this litigation, issuance of the report may encourage efforts to limit smoking in public areas. In February 1996, the United States Trade representative issued an "advance notice of rule making" concerning how tobacco is imported under a previously established tobacco rate quota ("TRQ") should be allocated. Currently, tobacco imported under the TRQ is allocated on a "first-come, first-served" basis, meaning that entry is allowed on an open basis to those first requesting entry in the quota year. Others in the cigarette industry have suggested an "end- - 24 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) user licensing" system under which the right to import tobacco under the quota would be initially assigned based on domestic market share. Such an approach, if adopted, could have a material adverse effect on the Company and Liggett. In August 1996, the Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") filed in the Federal Register a Final Rule classifying tobacco as a "drug" or "medical device", asserting jurisdiction over the manufacture and marketing of tobacco products and imposing restrictions on the sale, advertising and promotion of tobacco products. Litigation was commenced challenging the legal authority of the FDA to assert such jurisdiction, as well as challenging the constitutionality of the rules. In March 2000, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the FDA does not have the power to regulate tobacco. Liggett supported the FDA Rule and began to phase in compliance with certain of the proposed FDA regulations. Since the Supreme Court decision, various proposals have been made for federal and state legislation to regulate cigarette manufacturers. In May 2001, a Presidential commission appointed by former President Clinton issued a final report recommending that the FDA be given authority by Congress to regulate the manufacture, sale, distribution and labeling of tobacco products to protect public health. In addition, Congressional advocates of FDA regulation have introduced such legislation for consideration by the 107th Congress. The ultimate outcome of these proposals cannot be predicted. In August 1996, Massachusetts enacted legislation requiring tobacco companies to publish information regarding the ingredients in cigarettes and other tobacco products sold in that state. In December 1997, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts preliminarily enjoined this legislation from going into effect on the grounds that it is preempted by federal law. In November 1999, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed this ruling. In September 2000, the federal district court permanently enjoined enforcement of the law. In October 2001, the First Circuit reversed the district court's decision, ruling that the ingredients disclosure provisions are valid. The entire court, however, agreed to re-hear the appeal, reinstating the district court's injunction in the meantime. Oral argument before the full court took place on January 7, 2002, and the court has not yet issued its decision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in December 1997, Liggett began complying with this legislation by providing ingredient information to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Several other states have enacted, or are considering, legislation similar to that enacted in Massachusetts. Cigarettes are subject to substantial federal, state and local excise taxes which, in general, have been increasing. The federal excise tax on cigarettes is currently $0.39 per pack. State and local sales and excise taxes vary considerably and, when combined with sales taxes, local taxes and the current federal excise tax, may currently be as high as $4.10 per pack. Proposed further tax increases in various jurisdictions are currently under consideration or pending. Thus far in 2002, 21 states have passed excise tax increases, ranging from $0.07 per pack in Tennessee to as much as $1.81 per pack in New York City and New York State combined. Congress has considered significant increases in the federal excise tax or other payments from tobacco manufacturers, and significant increases in excise and other cigarette-related taxes have been proposed or enacted at the state and local levels. In the opinion of the Company, increases in excise and similar taxes have had an adverse impact on sales of cigarettes. - 25 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) In August 2000, the New York state legislature passed legislation charging the state's Office of Fire Prevention and Control ("OFPC") with developing standards for "fire safe" or self-extinguishing cigarettes. The OFPC has until January 1, 2003 to issue final regulations. Six months from the issuance of the standards, all cigarettes offered for sale in New York state will be required to be manufactured to those standards. It is not possible to predict the impact of this law on the Company until the standards are published. Similar legislation is being considered by other state governments and at the federal level. Federal or state regulators may object to Vector Tobacco's reduced carcinogen and low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products as unlawful or allege they bear deceptive or unsubstantiated product claims, and seek the removal of the products from the marketplace, or significant changes to advertising claims. Allegations by federal or state regulators, public health organizations and other tobacco manufacturers that Vector Tobacco's products are unlawful, or that its public statements or advertising contain misleading or unsubstantiated health claims or product comparisons, may result in litigation or governmental proceedings. Vector Tobacco's business may become subject to extensive domestic and international government regulation. Various proposals have been made for federal, state and international legislation to regulate cigarette manufacturers generally, and reduced constituent cigarettes specifically. It is possible that laws and regulations may be adopted covering issues like the manufacture, sale, distribution and labeling of tobacco products as well as any health claims associated with reduced carcinogen and low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products and the use of genetically modified tobacco. A system of regulation by agencies like the FDA, the Federal Trade Commission or the United States Department of Agriculture may be established. In addition, a group of public health organizations have submitted a petition to the FDA, alleging that the marketing of the OMNI product is subject to regulation by the FDA under existing law. Vector Tobacco has filed a response in opposition to the petition. The Federal Trade Commission has also expressed interest in the regulation of tobacco products made by tobacco manufacturers, including Vector Tobacco, which bear reduced carcinogen claims. The ultimate outcome of any of the foregoing cannot be predicted, but any of the foregoing could have a material adverse impact on the Company. In addition to the foregoing, there have been a number of other restrictive regulatory actions, adverse legislative and political decisions and other unfavorable developments concerning cigarette smoking and the tobacco industry, the effects of which, at this time, management is not able to evaluate. These developments may negatively affect the perception of potential triers of fact with respect to the tobacco industry, possibly to the detriment of certain pending litigation, and may prompt the commencement of additional similar litigation. OTHER MATTERS: In March 1997, a stockholder derivative suit was filed in Delaware Chancery Court against New Valley, as a nominal defendant, its directors and Brooke Group Holding by a stockholder of New Valley. The suit alleges that New Valley's purchase of the BrookeMil Ltd. shares from Brooke (Overseas) in January 1997 constituted a self-dealing transaction which involved the payment of excessive consideration by New Valley. The plaintiff seeks a declaration that New Valley's directors breached their fiduciary duties and Brooke Group Holding aided and abetted such breaches and that damages be awarded to New Valley. In December 1999, another stockholder of New Valley commenced an action in Delaware Chancery Court substantially similar to the March 1997 action. This stockholder alleges, among other things, that the - 26 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) consideration paid by New Valley for the BrookeMil shares was excessive, unfair and wasteful, that the special committee of New Valley's board lacked independence, and that the appraisal and fairness opinion were flawed. By order of the court, both actions were consolidated. In January 2001, the court denied a motion to dismiss the consolidated action. Brooke Group Holding and New Valley believe that the allegations in the case are without merit. Discovery in the case has commenced. In July 1999, a purported class action was commenced on behalf of New Valley's former Class B preferred shareholders against New Valley, Brooke Group Holding and certain directors and officers of New Valley in Delaware Chancery Court. The complaint alleges that the recapitalization, approved by a majority of each class of New Valley's stockholders in May 1999, was fundamentally unfair to the Class B preferred shareholders, the proxy statement relating to the recapitalization was materially deficient and the defendants breached their fiduciary duties to the Class B preferred shareholders in approving the transaction. The plaintiffs seek class certification of the action and an award of compensatory damages as well as all costs and fees. The Court has dismissed six of plaintiff's nine claims alleging inadequate disclosure in the proxy statement. Brooke Group Holding and New Valley believe that the remaining allegations are without merit. Discovery in the case has commenced. Although there can be no assurances, Brooke Group Holding and New Valley believe, after consultation with counsel, that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's or New Valley's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. As of September 30, 2002, New Valley had $675 of remaining prepetition bankruptcy-related claims and restructuring accruals including claims for lease rejection damages. The remaining claims may be subject to future adjustments based on potential settlements or decisions of the court. On August 8, 2002, New Valley paid $2,000 to settle a claim for unclaimed monies that certain states were seeking on behalf of money transfer customers, and its restructuring accruals were reduced by a corresponding amount in the third quarter of 2002. In May 1999, in connection with the Philip Morris brand transaction, Eve Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Liggett, guaranteed a $134,900 bank loan to Trademarks LLC. The loan is secured by Trademarks' three premium cigarette brands and Trademarks' interest in the exclusive license of the three brands by Philip Morris. The license provides for a minimum annual royalty payment equal to the annual debt service on the loan plus $1,000. 8. NEW VALLEY CORPORATION On April 30, 2002, New Valley sold the shares of BrookeMil Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary, for approximately $22,000 before closing expenses. BrookeMil owned the two Kremlin sites in Moscow, which were New Valley's remaining real estate holdings in Russia. Under the terms of the Western Realty Repin LLC participating loan to BrookeMil, New Valley received approximately $7,400 of the net proceeds from the sale and Apollo Real Estate Investment Fund III, L.P. received approximately $12,400 of the proceeds. These amounts are subject to adjustment based on final closing expenses. New Valley recorded a gain on sale of real estate of $8,484 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 in connection with the - 27 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) sale. New Valley also recorded $767 in additional general and administrative expenses in the second quarter of 2002 related to the closing of its Russian operations. The expenses consisted principally of employee severance. In March 2002, Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. ("LTS") borrowed $2,500 from New Valley. The loan, which bears interest at 1% above the prime rate, is due on the earlier of December 31, 2003 or the completion of one or more equity financings where LTS receives at least $5,000 in total proceeds. In July 2002, LTS borrowed an additional $2,500 from New Valley on the same terms. New Valley evaluated its ability to collect the $13,198 of notes and interest receivable from LTS at September 30, 2002. These notes receivable include the $5,000 of notes discussed above and a $8,010 convertible note issued to New Valley in May 2002 in connection with the LTS acquisition. New Valley determined, based on current trends in the broker-dealer industry and Ladenburg's operating results and liquidity needs, that a reserve for uncollectibility should be established against these notes and interest receivable. As a result, New Valley recorded a charge of $13,198 in the third quarter of 2002. On October 8, 2002, LTS borrowed an additional $2,000 from New Valley. The loan, which bears interest at 1% above prime rate, matures the earlier of December 31, 2002, the date after LTS receives its federal income tax refund for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, or the next business day after LTS receives a loan from an affiliate of its clearing broker in connection with the conversion of additional business to this broker. 9. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS ----------------------- The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been reclassified to reflect as discontinued operations New Valley's broker-dealer operations, which were New Valley's primary source of revenues since 1995. Accordingly, revenues, costs and expenses, and cash flows of the discontinued operations have been excluded from the respective captions in the consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows. The net operating results of these entities have been reported, net of minority interests and applicable income taxes, as "Loss from discontinued operations," and the net cash flows of these entities have been reported as "Net cash flows provided from discontinued operations." On December 20, 2001, New Valley distributed its 53.6% interest (22,543,158 shares) of LTS common stock to holders of New Valley common shares through a special dividend. On the same date, Vector distributed the 12,694,929 shares of LTS common stock that it received from New Valley to the holders of Vector's common stock as a special dividend. Summarized operating results of the discontinued broker-dealer operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2001 are as follows: Three Months Nine Months Ended Ended Sept. 30, 2001 Sept. 30, 2001 -------------- -------------- Revenues ..................... $ 18,054 $ 58,376 Expenses ..................... 26,492 70,565 -------- -------- Operating loss before minority interests and income taxes $ (8,438) $(12,189) ======== ======== - 28 -
VECTOR GROUP LTD. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) - (Continued) (Unaudited) 10. SEGMENT INFORMATION The Company's significant business segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 were Liggett, Vector Tobacco and real estate. The Liggett segment consists of the manufacture and sale of conventional cigarettes and, for segment reporting purposes, includes the operations of Medallion acquired on April 1, 2002 (which operations are held for legal purposes as part of Vector Tobacco). The Vector Tobacco segment includes the development and marketing of new reduced carcinogen and low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products and, for segment reporting purposes, excludes the operations of Medallion. Financial information for the Company's continuing operations before taxes and minority interest for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 follows: Vector Real Corporate(1) Liggett Tobacco Estate and Other Total --------- --------- --------- ------------ --------- THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30, 2002: Revenues ......................... $ 139,875 $ 1,839 $ -- $ -- $ 141,714 Operating income (loss) .......... 27,255 (20,239) 484 (7,186) 314 Depreciation and amortization .... 1,560 1,327 -- 973 3,860 THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30, 2001: Revenues ......................... $ 120,228 $ -- $ 2,538 $ -- $ 122,766 Operating income (loss) .......... 33,592 (10,574) (166) (5,852) 17,000 Depreciation and amortization .... 1,025 533 661 431 2,650 NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30, 2002: Revenues ......................... $ 372,688 $ 5,597 $ 661 $ -- $ 378,946 Operating income (loss) .......... 70,650 (64,876) (354) (25,002) (19,582) Identifiable assets .............. 160,592 208,173 1,514 304,808 675,087 Depreciation and amortization .... 4,281 3,407 191 2,066 9,945 Capital expenditures ............. 16,357 15,624 688 6,615 39,284 NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 30, 2001: Revenues ......................... $ 302,922 $ -- $ 7,604 $ -- $ 310,526 Operating income (loss) .......... 76,435 (21,790) (796) (16,290) 37,559 Identifiable assets .............. 128,933 53,096 131,993 483,907 797,929 Depreciation and amortization .... 3,463 856 1,989 914 7,222 Capital expenditures ............. 5,266 23,329 1,213 17,549 47,357 - ------------- (1) For 2001, the assets of the discontinued broker-dealer segment are included in Corporate and Other. - 29 -
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) INTRODUCTION The following discussion provides an assessment of our consolidated results of operations, capital resources and liquidity and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of VGR Holding Inc., Liggett Group Inc., New Valley Corporation, Vector Tobacco Inc. and other less significant subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2002, we owned 56.2% of New Valley's common shares. We are a holding company for a number of businesses. We are engaged principally in: o the development and marketing of reduced carcinogen and low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products through our subsidiary Vector Tobacco, and o the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States through our subsidiary Liggett. Our majority-owned subsidiary, New Valley, completed in December 2001 the distribution to its stockholders of its shares in Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services, its former majority-owned subsidiary engaged in the investment banking and brokerage business. The Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services shares received by us were, in turn, distributed to our stockholders. Following the distribution of the shares, New Valley's broker-dealer operations, which were its primary source of revenues since 1995, are accounted for as a discontinued operation. New Valley is currently engaged in the real estate business and is seeking to acquire additional operating companies. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS LIGGETT VECTOR BRANDS. In March 2002, we announced that the sales and marketing functions, along with certain support functions, of our Liggett and Vector Tobacco subsidiaries would be combined into a new entity, Liggett Vector Brands Inc. The newly formed company will coordinate and execute the sales and marketing efforts for all of our tobacco operations. As of September 30, 2002, this reorganization was essentially complete. With the combined resources of Liggett and Vector Tobacco, Liggett Vector Brands has approximately 425 salespersons, and enhanced distribution and marketing capabilities. Final reorganization matters are being completed in the fourth quarter of 2002. In connection with the creation of the new Liggett Vector Brands entity, we took a charge of $3,460 in the first quarter of 2002, related to the reorganization of our business. As of September 30, 2002, the Company's reorganization accrual has been reduced by payments of $730 and the remaining balance was $2,730. ACQUISITION OF MEDALLION. On April 1, 2002, a subsidiary of ours acquired the stock of The Medallion Company, Inc., and related assets from Medallion's principal stockholder. The total purchase price consisted of $50,000 in cash and $60,000 in notes, with the notes guaranteed by us and by Liggett. Medallion, a discount cigarette manufacturer headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a participant in the Master Settlement Agreement between the state Attorneys General and the tobacco industry. Medallion has no payment obligations under the Master Settlement Agreement except to the extent its market share exceeds approximately 0.28% of total cigarettes sold in the United States (approximately 1.15 billion units in 2001). - 30 -
VGR HOLDING PRIVATE PLACEMENT. On April 30, 2002, VGR Holding issued at a discount $30,000 principal amount of 10% senior secured notes due March 31, 2006 in a private placement to institutional investors. VGR Holding received net proceeds from the placement of approximately $25,000. In November 2002, in connection with an amendment to the note purchase agreement, VGR Holding repurchased $8,000 of the notes at a price of 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN LEGISLATION, REGULATION AND LITIGATION The cigarette industry continues to be challenged on numerous fronts. New cases continue to be commenced against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers. As of September 30, 2002, there were approximately 338 individual suits, 41 purported class actions and 47 governmental and other third-party payor health care reimbursement actions pending in the United States in which Liggett was a named defendant. In addition to these cases, an action against cigarette manufacturers involving approximately 1,250 named individual plaintiffs has been consolidated before a single West Virginia state court. Liggett is a defendant in most of the cases pending in West Virginia. Approximately 38 other purported class action complaints have been filed against the cigarette manufacturers for alleged antitrust violations. As new cases are commenced, the costs associated with defending these cases and the risks relating to the inherent unpredictability of litigation continue to increase. An unfavorable verdict was returned in the first phase of the ENGLE smoking and health class action trial pending in Florida. In July 2000, the jury awarded $790,000 in punitive damages against Liggett in the second phase of the trial, and the court entered an order of final judgment. Liggett intends to pursue all available post-trial and appellate remedies. If this verdict is not eventually reversed on appeal, or substantially reduced by the court, it will have a material adverse effect on Vector. Liggett has filed the $3,450 bond required under recent Florida legislation which limits the size of any bond required, pending appeal, to stay execution of a punitive damages verdict. In May 2001, Liggett reached an agreement with the class in the ENGLE case, which will provide assurance to Liggett that the stay of execution, currently in effect under the Florida bonding statute, will not be lifted or limited at any point until completion of all appeals, including to the United States Supreme Court. As required by the agreement, Liggett paid $6,273 into an escrow account to be held for the benefit of the ENGLE class, and released, along with Liggett's existing $3,450 statutory bond, to the court for the benefit of the class upon completion of the appeals process, regardless of the outcome of the appeal. In June 2002, the jury in an individual case brought under the third phase of the ENGLE case awarded $37,500 of compensatory damages against Liggett and two other defendants and found Liggett 50% responsible for the damages. The verdict will be subject to the outcome of the ENGLE appeal. It is possible that additional cases could be decided unfavorably and that there could be further adverse developments in the ENGLE case. Management cannot predict the cash requirements related to any future settlements and judgments, including cash required to bond any appeals, and there is a risk that those requirements will not be able to be met. In recent years, there have been a number of restrictive regulatory actions from various Federal administrative bodies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. There have also been adverse political decisions and other unfavorable developments concerning cigarette smoking and the tobacco industry, including the commencement and certification of class actions and the commencement of third-party payor actions. These developments generally receive widespread media attention. We are not able to evaluate the effect of these developing matters on pending litigation or the possible commencement of additional litigation, but our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome in any smoking-related litigation. See Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements for a description of legislation, regulation and litigation. - 31 -
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES Financial Reporting Release No. 60, which was recently released by the Securities and Exchange Commission, requires all companies to include a discussion of critical accounting policies or methods used in the preparation of financial statements. The following is a brief discussion of the more significant accounting policies and methods used by us. GENERAL. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Significant estimates subject to material changes in the near term include deferred tax assets, allowance for doubtful accounts, promotional accruals, sales returns and allowances, actuarial assumptions of pension plans, settlement accruals and litigation and defense costs. Actual results could differ from those estimates. REVENUE RECOGNITION. Revenues from sales of cigarettes are recognized upon the shipment of finished goods to customers. We provide an allowance for expected sales returns, net of related inventory cost recoveries. Since our primary line of business is tobacco, our financial position and our results of operations and cash flows have been and could continue to be materially adversely effected by significant unit sales volume declines, litigation and defense costs, increased tobacco costs or reductions in the selling price of cigarettes in the near term. As discussed in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2002, we adopted new required accounting standards mandating that certain sales incentives previously reported as operating, selling, general and administrative expenses be shown as a reduction of operating revenues. As a result, our previously reported revenues have been reduced by approximately $208,628 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 and cost of goods sold increased by $7,831. The adoption of the new accounting standards had no impact on our net earnings or basic or diluted earnings per share. MARKETING COSTS. We record marketing costs as an expense in the period to which such costs relate. We do not defer the recognition of any amounts on our consolidated balance sheets with respect to marketing costs. We expense advertising costs as incurred, which is the period in which the related advertisement initially appears. We record consumer incentive and trade promotion costs as an expense in the period in which these programs are offered, based on estimates of utilization and redemption rates that are developed from historical information. As discussed above under "Revenue Recognition", beginning January 1, 2002, we have adopted the previously mentioned revenue recognition accounting standards that mandate that certain costs previously reported as marketing expense be shown as a reduction of operating revenues. As a result, previously reported amounts for operating, selling, general and administrative expenses have been reduced by approximately $216,459 for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. The adoption of the new accounting standards had no impact on our net earnings or basic or diluted earnings per share. CONTINGENCIES. As discussed in Note 7 of our consolidated financial statements and above under the heading "Recent Developments in Legislation, Regulation and Litigation", legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened in various jurisdictions against Liggett. Management is unable to make a meaningful estimate with respect to the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of pending smoking-related litigation or the costs of defending such cases, and we have not provided any amounts in our consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and it is possible that our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome in any such smoking-related litigation. - 32 -
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Since 1997, income from our defined benefit pension plans covering Liggett employees, partially offset by the costs of postretirement medical benefits, have contributed to our reported operating income, including approximately $3,200 for 2002. The determination of our net pension and other postretirement benefit income or expense is dependent on our selection of certain assumptions used by actuaries in calculating such amounts. Those assumptions include, among others, the discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and rates of increase in compensation and healthcare costs. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, actual results that differ from our assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and therefore, generally affect our recognized income or expense in such future periods. While we believe that our assumptions are appropriate, significant differences in our actual experience or significant changes in our assumptions may materially affect our future net pension and other postretirement benefit income or expense. Based on the declines in the securities markets, we anticipate recording a non-cash charge to stockholders' equity in the fourth quarter of 2002 relating to one of Liggett's defined benefit plans. We currently estimate the non-cash charge to equity will be approximately $11,000, net of income taxes; the actual charge may differ materially from this estimate because the charge will be based on the extent to which our accumulated benefit obligations under the pension plan on September 30, 2002 exceed the fair value of the pension plan's assets on that date. We will record this charge in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions." We also currently anticipate net pension expense for Liggett's plan and other postretirement benefit expense aggregating approximately $1,000 for 2003. In contrast, our funding obligations under the pension plans are governed by ERISA. To comply with ERISA's minimum funding requirements, we do not currently anticipate that we will be required to make any funding to the pension plans for the pension plan year beginning on January 1, 2003 and ending on December 31, 2003. Any additional funding obligation that we may have for subsequent years is contingent on several factors and is not reasonably estimable at this time. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS For purposes of this discussion and other segment reporting, our significant business segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 were Liggett, Vector Tobacco and real estate. The Liggett segment consists of the manufacture and sale of conventional cigarettes and, for segment reporting purposes, includes the operations of Medallion acquired on April 1, 2002 (which operations are held for legal purposes as part of Vector Tobacco). The Vector Tobacco segment includes the development and marketing of new reduced carcinogen and low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products and, for segment reporting purposes, excludes the operations of Medallion. - 33 -