Vector Group Ltd. Post Effective Amendment No. 1
 

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 22, 2005

Registration No. 333-121502
 
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under
The Securities Act of 1933


VECTOR GROUP LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   65-0949535
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

100 S.E. Second Street
Miami, Florida 33131
(305) 579-8000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)


Richard J. Lampen
Executive Vice President
Vector Group Ltd.
100 S.E. Second Street
Miami, Florida 33131
(305) 579-8000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copies to:
Mark J. Mihanovic, Esq.
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
2049 Century Park East, 34th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90067
(310) 277-4110


     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time following the effective date of this Registration Statement.

     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

     If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. o

 
 

 


 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

     This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-121502) of Vector Group Ltd. is filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act solely to add an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 16. Exhibits.

         
Exhibit    
No.   Description
  3.1**    
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Vector (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 in Vector’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999).
       
 
  3.2**    
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Vector (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 in Vector’s Form 8-K dated May 24, 2000).
       
 
  3.3**    
Bylaws of Vector (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 in Vector’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003).
       
 
  5**    
Opinion of McDermott, Will & Emery LLP.
       
 
  8    
Opinion of McDermott Will & Emery LLP regarding certain tax matters.
       
 
  10.1**    
Indenture, dated as of November 18, 2004, between Vector and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 in Vector’s Form 8-K dated November 18, 2004).
       
 
  10.2**    
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2004, between Vector and the purchasers set forth therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 in Vector’s Form 8- K dated November 16, 2004).
       
 
  12**    
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
       
 
  23.1**    
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered certified public accounting firm.
       
 
  23.2**    
Consent of McDermott Will & Emery LLP (included in Exhibit 5).
       
 
  23.3    
Consent of McDermott, Will & Emery LLP (included in Exhibit 8).
       
 
  24**    
Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
       
 
  25**    
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.


**   Previously filed.

2


 

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Miami, and State of Florida, on April 22, 2005.

         
  VECTOR GROUP LTD.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Joselynn D. Van Siclen    
    Joselynn D. Van Siclen   
    Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer   
 

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 22, 2005.

     
/s/ Bennett S. LeBow*
Bennett S. LeBow
  Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/ Joselynn D. Van Siclen
Joselynn D. Van Siclen
  Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
     
/s/ Henry C. Beinstein*
Henry C. Beinstein
  Director
     
/s/ Ronald J. Bernstein*
Ronald J. Bernstein
  Director
     
/s/ Robert J. Eide*
Robert J. Eide
  Director
     
/s/ Howard M. Lorber*
Howard M. Lorber
  Director
     
/s/ Jeffrey S. Podell*
Jeffrey S. Podell
  Director
     
/s/ Jean E. Sharpe*
Jean E. Sharpe
  Director
* By: /s/ Joselynn D. Van Siclen
Joselynn D. Van Siclen
  Attorney-in-Fact

3

Opinion of McDermott Will & Emery LLP
 

Exhibit 8

Letterhead of McDermott, Will & Emery LLP

April 22, 2005

Vector Group Ltd.
100 S.E. 2nd Street, 32nd Floor
Miami, Florida 33131

      Re:  Vector Group Ltd.
5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due November 15, 2011
and Common Stock Issuable Upon Conversion of the Notes

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     You have requested our opinion as to certain United States Federal withholding tax consequences relating to the ownership and disposition of the Vector Group Ltd. 5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due November 14, 2011 (the “Notes”) and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes (the “Common Stock”). The Notes and Common Stock are described in the Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-121502, of Vector Group Ltd. (the “Registration Statement”), which includes the prospectus related thereto as supplemented (the “Prospectus”).

     In formulating our opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and such other documents as we deem relevant for purposes of this opinion. In addition, we have assumed that (i) the Notes and Common Stock will be issued in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus and (ii) the terms of the Notes are as set forth in the Indenture described in the Prospectus.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing, the discussion contained in the Prospectus under the captions “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences – Consequences to U.S. Holders – Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences – Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” subject to the limitations and qualifications described herein, as it relates to statements of law or legal conclusions with respect to United States Federal tax withholding represents our opinion with respect to such statements of law or legal conclusions. Because this opinion is being delivered prior to the issuance of all of the Common Stock, it must be considered prospective and dependent on future events. There can be no assurance that changes in the law will not take place that could affect the United States Federal withholding tax consequences of the ownership or dispositions of the Notes or Common Stock or that contrary positions may not be taken by the Internal Revenue Service. We undertake no responsibility to advise you of any new developments in the facts or in the application or interpretation of the Federal income tax laws. Furthermore, in the event one of the statements, representations, warranties or assumptions upon which we have relied to issue this opinion is incorrect, this opinion might be adversely affected and may not be relied upon.

     This opinion relates solely to the United States Federal withholding tax consequences of the ownership or dispositions of the Notes and no opinion is expressed as to the tax consequences under any foreign, state or local tax law. Furthermore, our opinion is based on current Federal tax law and administrative practice, and we do not undertake to advise you as to

 


 

any changes after the date hereof in Federal tax law or administrative practice that may affect our opinion.

     This opinion is being furnished only to you, solely for your benefit in connection with the Notes and Vector Group Ltd.’s filing of the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and this opinion is not to be used, relied upon, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose.

     We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         
  Sincerely,
 
 
  /s/ McDermott, Will & Emery LLP    
  McDermott, Will & Emery LLP