UNITED STATES
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 March 31, 2009

VECTOR GROUP LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		1-5759		65-0949535
(State or other jurisdiction incorporation or organization)		Commission File Number		(I.R.S. Employer 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     o No

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). o Yes     o No

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer x		Accelerated filer o		Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company o
			(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. o Yes     x No

     At May 11, 2009, Vector Group Ltd. had 66,514,825 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

VECTOR GROUP LTD.

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

				Page
PART I.		FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.		Vector Group Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited):
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008			2
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008			3
		Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2009			4
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008			5
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			6
Item 2.		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			43
Item 3.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			64
Item 4.		Controls and Procedures			64
PART II.		OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.		Legal Proceedings			65
Item 1A.		Risk Factors			65
Item 2.		Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			65
Item 6.		Exhibits			66
SIGNATURE					67
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-32.2
EX-99.1

     -1-     

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. VECTOR GROUP LTD. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

		March 31,					December 31,
		2009					2008
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	202,349				$	211,105
Investment securities available for sale			24,496					28,518
Accounts receivable — trade			1,756					9,506
Inventories			91,546					92,581
Deferred income taxes			5,683					3,642
Restricted assets			3,229					—
Other current assets			6,364					9,931
Total current assets			335,423					355,283
Property, plant and equipment, net			48,927					50,691
Mortgage receivable, net			12,704					17,704
Long-term investments accounted for at cost			51,118					51,118
Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses			44,058					50,775
Restricted assets			6,103					6,555
Deferred income taxes			48,850					45,222
Intangible asset			107,511					107,511
Prepaid pension costs			2,991					2,901
Other assets			25,541					29,952
Total assets		$	683,226				$	717,712
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Current liabilities:
Current portion of notes payable and long-term debt		$	100,059				$	97,498
Current portion of employee benefits			21,840					21,840
Accounts payable			5,957					6,104
Accrued promotional expenses			9,589					10,131
Income taxes payable, net			88,245					11,803
Accrued excise and payroll taxes payable, net			4,575					7,004
Settlement accruals			29,918					20,668
Deferred income taxes			14,105					92,507
Accrued interest			5,074					9,612
Other current liabilities			11,165					18,992
Total current liabilities			290,527					296,159
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion			209,261					210,301
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt			77,548					77,245
Non-current employee benefits			35,690					34,856
Deferred income taxes			48,050					48,807
Other liabilities			16,577					16,739
Total liabilities			677,653					684,107
Commitments and contingencies			—					—
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized			—					—
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 69,108,075 and 69,107,320 shares issued and 66,014,825 and and 66,014,070 shares outstanding			6,601					6,601
Additional paid-in capital			41,384					65,103
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)			—					—
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(29,555	)				(25,242	)
Less: 3,093,250 and 3,093,250 shares of common stock in treasury, at cost			(12,857	)				(12,857	)
Total stockholders’ equity			5,573					33,605
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	683,226				$	717,712

The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

		Three Months					Three Months
		Ended					Ended
		March 31, 2009					March 31, 2008
Revenues*		$	121,216				$	132,205
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold*			72,526					80,007
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses			21,530					24,157
Gain on brand transaction			(5,000	)				—
Restructuring charges			1,000					—
Operating income			31,160					28,041
Other income (expenses):
Interest and dividend income			150					1,971
Interest expense			(16,074	)				(15,253	)
Change in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt			(303	)				(2,444	)
Impairment charges on investments			(8,500	)				—
Equity (loss) income from non-consolidated real estate businesses			(995	)				13,320
Other, net			—					(573	)
Income before provision for income taxes			5,438					25,062
Income tax expense			2,338					10,755
Net income		$	3,100				$	14,307
Per basic common share:
Net income applicable to common shares		$	0.04				$	0.22
Per diluted common share:
Net income applicable to common shares		$	0.04				$	0.21
Cash distributions and dividends declared per share		$	0.40				$	0.38

The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)
Unaudited

																						Accumulated
			Common Stock									Additional										Other
												Paid-In					Retained					Comprehensive					Treasury
			Shares				Amount					Capital					Earnings					Income (Loss)					Stock					Total
Balance, December 31, 2008				66,014,070			$	6,601				$	65,103				$	—				$	(25,242	)			$	(12,857	)			$	33,605
Net income				—				—					—					3,100					—					—					3,100
Pension-related minimum liability adjustments, net of taxes				—				—					—					—					418					—					418
Forward contract adjustments, net of taxes				—				—					—					—					9					—					9
Unrealized loss on investment securities, net of taxes				—				—					—					—					(4,740	)				—					(4,740	)
Total other comprehensive income				—				—					—					—					—					—					(4,313	)
Total comprehensive loss				—				—					—					—					—					—					(1,213	)
Distributions and dividends on common stock				—				—					(24,605	)				(3,100	)				—					—					(27,705	)
Exercise of options				755				—					10					—					—					—					10
Amortization of deferred compensation				—				—					876					—					—					—					876
Balance, March 31, 2009				66,014,825			$	6,601				$	41,384				$	—				$	(29,555	)			$	(12,857	)			$	5,573

The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

		Three Months					Three Months
		Ended					Ended
		March 31, 2009					March 31, 2008
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	21,088				$	14,159
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of investment securities			—					(5,182	)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments.			908					10
Purchase of mortgage receivable			—					(21,445	)
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses.			1,182					15,822
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies			(356	)				(143	)
Decrease (increase) in non-current restricted assets			452					(109	)
Capital expenditures			(803	)				(1,227	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			1,383					(12,274	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt issuance			10					—
Repayments of debt			(1,604	)				(1,501	)
Deferred financing charges			—					(99	)
Borrowings under revolver			123,724					128,429
Repayments on revolver			(123,291	)				(121,303	)
Dividends and distributions on common stock			(30,076	)				(26,717	)
Proceeds from exercise of options			10					14
Net cash used in financing activities			(31,227	)				(21,177	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(8,756	)				(19,292	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			211,105					238,117
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	202,349				$	218,825

The accompanying notes are an integral part
of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     (a) Basis of Presentation:

The condensed consolidated financial statements of Vector Group Ltd. (the “Company” or “Vector”) include the accounts of VGR Holding LLC (“VGR Holding”), Liggett Group LLC (“Liggett”), Vector Tobacco Inc. (“Vector Tobacco”), Liggett Vector Brands Inc. (“Liggett Vector Brands”), New Valley LLC (“New Valley”) and other less significant subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Liggett is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. Vector Tobacco is engaged in the marketing of low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products and the development of reduced risk cigarette products. New Valley is engaged in the real estate business and is seeking to acquire additional operating companies and real estate properties.

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary (which are normal and recurring) to state fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. These condensed 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, 2008 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) Distributions and Dividends on Common Stock:

The Company records distributions on its common stock as dividends in its condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity to the extent of retained earnings. Any amounts exceeding retained earnings are recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.

     (c) Earnings Per Share (“EPS”):

Information concerning the Company’s common stock has been adjusted to give retroactive effect to the 5% stock dividend paid to Company stockholders on September 29, 2008. All per share amounts have been presented as if the stock dividends had occurred on January 1, 2008.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The Company has stock option awards which provide for common stock dividends at the same rate as paid on the common stock with respect to the shares underlying the unexercised portion of the options. As a result, in its calculation of basic EPS for the three ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company has adjusted its net income for the effect of its participating securities as follows:

		Three Months					Three Months
		Ended					Ended
		March 31, 2009					March 31, 2008
Net income		$	3,100				$	14,307
Income attributable to participating securities			(142	)				(678	)
Net income available to common stockholders		$	2,958				$	13,629

Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding.

Diluted EPS includes the dilutive effect of stock options, unvested restricted stock grants and convertible securities. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted-average number of shares outstanding, which includes dilutive non-vested restricted stock grants, stock options and convertible securities.

Basic and diluted EPS were calculated using the following shares for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:

		Three Months					Three Months
		Ended					Ended
		March 31, 2009					March 31, 2008
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS			65,802,907					62,971,920
Plus incremental shares related to stock options			16,205					1,646,786
Weighted-average shares for fully diluted EPS			65,819,112					64,618,706

The Company’s non-vested restricted share grants contain rights to receive forfeitable dividends, and thus are not participating securities requiring the two class method of computing EPS.

The following stock options, non-vested restricted stock and shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible debt were outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the exercise prices of the options and the per share expense associated with the restricted stock were greater than the average market price of the common shares during the respective periods, and the impact of common shares issuable under the convertible debt were anti-dilutive to EPS.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

		Three Months					Three Months
		Ended					Ended
		March 31, 2009					March 31, 2008
Number of stock options			632,378					226,741
Weighted-average exercise price		$	18.31				$	24.26
Weighted-average shares of non- vested restricted stock			211,314					73,041
Weighted-average expense per share		$	17.12				$	17.82
Weighted-average number of shares issuable upon conversion of debt			12,932,556					12,932,556
Weighted-average conversion price		$	17.16				$	17.16

     (d) Comprehensive Income:

Other comprehensive income is a component of stockholders’ equity and includes such items as the unrealized gains and losses on investment securities available for sale, forward foreign contracts and minimum pension liability adjustments. The Company’s comprehensive loss was $1,213 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and the Company’s comprehensive income was $10,981 for the same period in 2008.

     (e) Fair Value of Derivatives Embedded within Convertible Debt:

The Company has estimated the fair market value of the embedded derivatives based principally on the results of a valuation model. The estimated fair value of the derivatives embedded within the convertible debt is based principally on the present value of future dividend payments expected to be received by the convertible debt holders over the term of the debt. The discount rate applied to the future cash flows is estimated based on a spread in the yield of the Company’s debt when compared to risk-free securities with the same duration; thus, a readily determinable fair market value of the embedded derivatives is not available. The valuation model assumes future dividend payments by the Company and utilizes interest rates and credit spreads for secured to unsecured debt, unsecured to subordinated debt and subordinated debt to preferred stock to determine the fair value of the derivatives embedded within the convertible debt. The valuation also considers other items, including current and future dividends and the volatility of Vector’s stock price. The range of estimated fair market values of the Company’s embedded derivatives was between $78,879 and $76,266. The Company recorded the fair market value of its embedded derivatives at the midpoint of the inputs at $77,548 as of March 31, 2009. The estimated fair market value of the Company’s embedded derivatives could change significantly based on future market conditions. (See Note 6.)

     (f) Capital and Credit Market Crisis

As the capital and credit market crisis has worsened, the Company has performed additional assessments to determine the impact, if any, of recent market developments, on the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements. The Company’s additional assessments have included a review of access to liquidity in the capital and credit markets, counterparty creditworthiness, value of the Company’s investments (including long-term investments, mortgage receivable and employee benefit plans) and macroeconomic conditions. The recent unprecedented volatility in capital and credit markets may create additional risks in the upcoming months and possibly years and the Company will continue to perform additional assessments to determine the impact, if any, on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Thus, future impairment charges may occur.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates its investments to determine whether an impairment has occurred. If so, the Company also makes a determination of whether such impairment is considered temporary or other-than-temporary. The Company believes that the assessment of temporary or other-than-temporary impairment is facts and circumstances driven. However, among the matters that are considered in making such a determination are the period of time the investment has remained below its cost or carrying value, the likelihood of recovery given the reason for the decrease in market value and the Company’s original expected holding period of the investment.

     (g) Contingencies:

The Company records Liggett’s product liability legal expenses and other litigation costs as operating, selling, general and administrative expenses as those costs are incurred. As discussed in Note 8, legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened in various jurisdictions against Liggett.

The Company and its subsidiaries record provisions in their consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when they determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management is unable to make a reasonable estimate with respect to the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of pending tobacco-related litigation or the costs of defending such cases, and the Company has not provided any amounts in its consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any, except in the Davis case. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and 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 tobacco-related litigation.

     (h) Restricted Stock Award:

On April 7, 2009, the President of the Company was awarded a restricted stock grant of 500,000 shares of Vector’s common stock pursuant to Vector’s Amended and Restated 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Under the terms of the award, one-fifth of the shares vest on September 15, 2010, with an additional one-fifth vesting on each of the four succeeding one-year anniversaries of the first vesting date through September 15, 2014. In the event that his employment with the Company is terminated for any reason other than his death, his disability or a change of control (as defined in this Restricted Share Agreement) of the Company, any remaining balance of the shares not previously vested will be forfeited by him. The fair market value of the restricted shares on the date of grant was $6,468 which will be amortized over the vesting period as a charge to compensation expense.

     (i) New Accounting Pronouncements:

On January 1, 2008, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”) for financial assets and financial liabilities became effective for the Company. SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements but provides a definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157 as it relates to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are not recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on at least an annual basis. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions of this standard apply to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and are to be applied prospectively with limited exceptions. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 were applied when the fair value measurement of two nonfinancial assets and one nonfinancial liability resulted in an impairment as of March 31, 2009. (See Note 11.)

On January 1, 2009, SFAS No. 141(R), a revised version of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” and FSP No. 141(R)-1, “Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination that Arise from Contingencies” became effective for the Company. The revision is intended to simplify existing guidance and converge rulemaking under U.S. GAAP with international accounting rules. The standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

On January 1, 2009, SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” became effective for the Company. SFAS No. 161 seeks qualitative disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative data about the fair value of and gains and losses on derivative contracts, and details of credit-risk-related contingent features in hedged positions. SFAS No. 161 also seeks enhanced disclosure around derivative instruments in financial statements, accounting under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, and how hedges affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

On January 1. 2009, FASB Staff Position No. APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement)” (“FSP No. APB 14-1”) became effective for the Company. The adoption of FSP No. APB 14-1 had no impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2009, FSP No. EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities,” (FSP EITF 03-6-1) became effective for the Company. FSP EITF 03-6-1 states that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The adoption of FSP EITF 03-6-1 had no impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP SFAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions that are not Orderly”. FSP FAS No. 157-4 clarifies the methodology used to determine fair value when there is no active market or where the price inputs being used represent distressed sales. FSP FAS No. 157-4 also reaffirms the objective of fair value measurement, as stated in FAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which is to reflect how much an asset would be sold for in an orderly transaction. It also reaffirms the need to use judgment to determine if a formerly active market has become inactive, as well as to determine fair values when markets have become inactive. The guidance is effective for financial statement purposes for interim and annual financial statements issued for fiscal periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Company will adopt the provisions of FSP FAS No. 157-4 effective April 1, 2009, which the Company does not expect to have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, FASB issued FSP FAS No. 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments” (“FSP No. 115-2 and FAS No. 124-2”). FSP FAS No. 115-2 and FAS No. 124-2 modifies the other-than-temporary impairment guidance for debt securities through increased consistency in the timing of impairment recognition and enhanced disclosures related to the credit and noncredit components of impaired debt securities that are not expected to be sold. In addition, increased disclosures are required for both debt and equity securities regarding expected cash flows, credit losses, and an aging of securities with unrealized losses. FSP FAS No. 115-2 and FAS No. 124-2 will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods that end after June 15, 2009. The Company will adopt the provisions of FSP FAS No. 115-2 and FAS No. 124-2 effective April 1, 2009, which the Company does not expect to have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, FASB issued FSP FAS No. 107-1 and APB Opinion No. 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (“FSP FAS No. 107-1 and APB Opinion No. 28-1”). FSP FAS No. 107-1 and APB Opinion No. 28-1 requires fair value disclosures for financial instruments that are not reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Prior to the issuance of FSP FAS No. 107-1 and APB Opinion No. 28-1, the fair values of those assets and liabilities were disclosed only once each year. With the issuance of FSP FAS No. 107-1 and APB Opinion No. 28-1, the Company will now be required to disclose this information on a quarterly basis, providing quantitative and qualitative information about fair value estimates for all financial instruments not measured in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at fair value. FSP FAS No. 107-1 and APB Opinion No. 28-1 will be effective for interim reporting periods that end after June 15, 2009. The Company will adopt the disclosure requirements in the June 30, 2009 condensed consolidated financial statements.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP SFAS 132(R)-1 “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets.” This FSP amends the disclosure requirements for employer’s disclosure of plan assets for defined benefit pensions and other postretirement plans. The objective of this FSP is to provide users of financial statements with an understanding of how investment allocation decisions are made, the major categories of plan assets held by the plans, the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets, significant concentration of risk within the company’s plan assets, and for fair value measurements determined using significant unobservable inputs a reconciliation of changes between the beginning and ending balances. FSP SFAS 132(R)-1 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009. The Company will adopt the new disclosure requirements in the 2009 annual reporting period.

2. RESTRUCTURING

In March 2009, Vector Tobacco eliminated nine full-time positions in connection with the decision by the Company’s Board of Directors in 2006 to discontinue the genetics operation and not to pursue FDA approval of QUEST as a smoking cessation aide, due to the projected significant additional time and expense involved in seeking such approval.

The Company recognized pre-tax restructuring charges of $1,000, during the first quarter of 2009. The restructuring charges primarily related to employee severance and benefit costs.

The only remaining component of the 2004 Liggett Vector Brands restructuring at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was contract termination and exit costs of $418 and $461, respectively. Approximately $43 was utilized during the three months ended March 31, 2009.

3. INVESTMENT SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE

Investment securities classified as available for sale are carried at fair value, with net unrealized gains or losses included as a component of stockholders’ equity, net of income taxes. The components of investment securities available for sale at March 31, 2009 were as follows:

						Gross				Gross
						Unrealized				Unrealized				Fair
		Cost				Gain				Loss				Value
Marketable equity securities		$	28,957			$	2,893			$	(7,354	)		$	24,496

Investment securities available for sale as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 include the following:

	•		13,888,889 shares of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. common stock, carried at $7,361 and $10,000, respectively;
	•		5,057,110 shares of Opko Health Inc. common stock, carried at $4,956 and $8,193, respectively; and
	•		2,259,796 shares of Cardo Medical, Inc. common stock, carried at $3,389 and $3,277, respectively.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

In October 2008, the Company purchased 320,000 shares of Castle Brands, Inc. (“Castle Brands”) Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for $4,000. Castle Brands is a publicly traded developer and importer of premium branded spirits. The purchase was accounted for at historical cost and included with “Other Assets” on the condensed balance sheet at December 31, 2008. In January 2009, the Series A Preferred Stock of Castle Brands were converted into 11,428,576 shares of Common Stock. Effective with the conversion, the Castle Brands shares have been accounted for as an investment held for sale. These shares were carried at $2,286 as of March 31, 2009.

4. INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of:

		March 31,					December 31,
		2009					2008
Leaf tobacco		$	50,479				$	48,880
Other raw materials			5,908					5,128
Work-in-process			839					314
Finished goods			45,711					46,202
Inventories at current cost			102,937					100,524
LIFO adjustments			(11,391	)				(7,943	)
		$	91,546				$	92,581

The Company has a leaf inventory management program whereby, among other things, it is committed to purchase certain quantities of leaf tobacco. The purchase commitments are for quantities not in excess of anticipated requirements and are at prices, including carrying costs, established at the commitment date. At March 31, 2009, Liggett had leaf tobacco purchase commitments of approximately $21,500. There were no leaf tobacco purchase commitments at Vector Tobacco at that date. During 2007, the Company entered into a single source supply agreement for fire safe cigarette paper through 2012.

The Company capitalizes the incremental prepaid cost of the Master Settlement Agreement in ending inventory. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company’s MSA expense was increased by approximately $650 for 2008 and reduced by approximately $1,300 for 2007, respectively, as a result of a change in estimate to the MSA assessment.

LIFO inventories represent approximately 96% and 95% of total inventories at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

5. LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

Long-term investments consist of investments in the following:

		March 31, 2009								December 31, 2008
		Carrying				Fair				Carrying				Fair
		Value				Value				Value				Value
Investment partnerships accounted for at cost		$	51,118			$	54,640			$	51,118			$	54,997

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The principal business of these investment partnerships is investing in investment securities and real estate. The estimated fair value of the investment partnerships was provided by the partnerships based on the indicated market values of the underlying assets or investment portfolio. The investments in these investment partnerships are illiquid and the ultimate realization of these investments is subject to the performance of the underlying partnership and its management by the general partners.

The long-term investments are carried on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at cost. The fair value determination disclosed above would be classified as Level 3 under the SFAS 157 hierarchy disclosed in Note 11 if such assets were recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value. The fair values were determined based on unobservable inputs and were based on company assumptions, and information obtained from the partnerships based on the indicated market values of the underlying assets of the investment portfolio.

The changes in the fair value of these investments as of March 31, 2009 were as follows:

		Investment
		Partnerships
		Accounted for
		at Cost
Balance as of January 1, 2009		$	54,997
Unrealized loss on long-term investments			(357	)
Realized loss on long-term investments			—
Balance as of March 31, 2009		$	54,640

The changes in the fair value of these investments as of March 31, 2008 were as follows:

		Investment				Investment
		Partnerships				Partnerships
		Accounted for at				Accounted for on
		Cost				the Equity Method
Balance as of January 1, 2008		$	89,007			$	10,495
Unrealized loss on long-term investments			(2,034	)			(675	)
Realized loss on long-term investments			—				(567	)
Balance as of March 31, 2008		$	86,973			$	9,253

Because the capital and credit market crisis has continued to worsen, the Company will continue to perform additional assessments to determine the impact, if any, on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Thus, future impairment charges may occur.

In the future, the Company may invest in other investments, including limited partnerships, real estate investments, equity securities, debt securities, derivatives and certificates of deposit, depending on risk factors and potential rates of return.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

6. NOTES PAYABLE, LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations consist of:

		March 31,					December 31,
		2009					2008
Vector:
11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015		$	165,000				$	165,000
3.875% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2026, net of unamortized discount of $83,888 and $83,993*			26,112					26,007
5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2011, net of unamortized net discount of $36,989 and $39,565*			74,875					72,299
Liggett:
Revolving credit facility			19,948					19,515
Term loan under credit facility			7,155					7,290
Equipment loans			7,273					8,307
V.T. Aviation:
Note payable			4,924					5,266
VGR Aviation:
Note payable			3,963					4,053
Other			70					62
Total notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations			309,320					307,799
Less:
Current maturities			(100,059	)				(97,498	)
Amount due after one year		$	209,261				$	210,301

11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 — Vector:

In August 2007, the Company sold $165,000 in 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (the “Senior Secured Notes”) in a private offering to qualified institutional investors in accordance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. On May 28, 2008, the Company completed an offer to exchange the Senior Secured Notes for an equal amount of newly issued 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015. The new Senior Secured Notes have substantially the same terms as the original notes, except that the new Senior Secured Notes have been registered under the Securities Act.

The indenture contains covenants that restrict the payment of dividends by the Company if the Company’s consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Consolidated EBITDA”), as defined in the indenture, for the most recently ended four full quarters is less than $50,000. The indenture also restricts the incurrence of debt if the Company’s Leverage Ratio and its Secured Leverage Ratio, as defined in the indenture, exceed 3.0 and 1.5, respectively. The Company’s Leverage Ratio is defined in the indenture as the ratio of the Company’s and the guaranteeing subsidiaries’ total debt less the fair market value of the Company’s cash, investments in marketable securities and long-term investments to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the indenture. The Company’s Secured Leverage Ratio is defined in the indenture in the same manner as the Leverage Ratio, except that secured indebtedness is substituted for indebtedness.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The following table summarizes the requirements of these financial covenants and the results of the calculation, as defined by the indenture.

Indenture

March 31,

December 31,

Covenant

Requirement

2009

2008

Consolidated EBITDA, as defined

$

50,000

$

157,035

$

154,053

Leverage ratio, as defined

<3.0 to 1

0.2 to 1

0.1 to 1

Secured leverage ratio, as defined

<1.5 to 1

Negative

Negative

Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt — Vector:

Vector has issued two series of variable interest senior convertible debt. Both series of debt pay interest on a quarterly basis at a stated rate plus an additional amount of interest on each payment date. The additional amount is based on the amount of cash dividends paid during the prior three-month period ending on the record date for such interest payment multiplied by the total number of shares of its common stock into which the debt would be convertible on such record date.

A summary of non-cash interest expense associated with the amortization of the debt discount created by the embedded derivative liability associated with the Company’s variable interest senior convertible debt for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 is as follows:

		Three Months					Three Months
		Ended					Ended
		March 31, 2009					March 31, 2008
3.875% convertible debentures		$	112				$	90
5% convertible notes			1,657					1,188
Interest expense associated with embedded derivatives		$	1,769				$	1,278

A summary of non-cash changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt is as follows:

		Three Months					Three Months
		Ended					Ended
		March 31, 2009					March 31, 2008
3.875% convertible debentures		$	(1,752	)			$	(3,250	)
5% convertible notes			1,449					806
Loss on changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt		$	(303	)			$	(2,444	)

The following table reconciles the fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt at March 31, 2009.

		3.875%					5%
		Convertible					Convertible
		Debentures					Notes					Total
Balance at December 31, 2008		$	51,829				$	25,416				$	77,245
Loss (gain) from changes in fair value of embedded derivatives			1,752					(1,449	)				303
Balance at March 31, 2009		$	53,581				$	23,967				$	77,548

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Beneficial Conversion Feature on Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt:

A summary of non-cash interest expense associated with the amortization of the debt discount created by the beneficial conversion feature on the Company’s variable interest senior convertible debt for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 is as follows:

		Three Months					Three Months
		Ended					Ended
		March 31, 2009					March 31, 2008
Amortization of beneficial conversion feature:
3.875% convertible debentures		$	(7	)			$	(8	)
5% convertible notes			919					656
Interest expense associated with beneficial conversion feature		$	912				$	648

Unamortized Debt Discount:

The following table reconciles unamortized debt discount at March 31, 2009:

		3.875%					5%
		Convertible					Convertible
		Debentures					Notes					Total
Balance at December 31, 2008		$	83,993				$	39,565				$	123,558
Amortization of embedded derivatives			(112	)				(1,657	)				(1,769	)
Amortization of beneficial conversion feature			7					(919	)				(912	)
Balance at March 31, 2009		$	83,888				$	36,989				$	120,877

Revolving Credit Facility — Liggett:

Liggett has a $50,000 credit facility with Wachovia Bank, N.A. under which $19,948 was outstanding at March 31, 2009. Availability as determined under the facility was approximately $12,900 based on eligible collateral at March 31, 2009.

5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes Due November 2011:

Between November 2004 and April 2005, the Company sold $111,864 of its 5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due November 15, 2011 (the “5% Notes”). The Company must redeem 12.5% of the total aggregate principal amount of the 5% Notes outstanding on November 15, 2009. In addition to such redemption amount, the Company will also redeem on November 15, 2009 and at the end of each interest accrual period thereafter an additional amount, if any, of the 5% Notes necessary to prevent the 5% Notes from being treated as an “Applicable High Yield Discount Obligation” under the Internal Revenue Code. The holders of the 5% Notes will have the option on November 15, 2009 to require the Company to repurchase some or all of their remaining 5% Notes. The redemption price for such redemptions will equal 100% of the principal amount of the 5% Notes plus accrued interest. If a fundamental change (as defined in the indenture) occurs, the Company will be required to offer to repurchase the 5% Notes at 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest and, under certain circumstances, a “make-whole premium”.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

On May 11, 2009, the Company issued in a private placement $50,000 of Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2014. The purchase price was paid in cash ($38,225) and by tendering $11,005 principal amount of the 5% Notes, valued at 107% of principal amount. The Company will use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes. The notes will pay interest (“Total Interest”) on a quarterly basis at a rate of 3.75% per annum plus additional interest, which is based on the amount of cash dividends paid during the prior three-month period ending on the record date for such interest payment multiplied by the total number of shares of its common stock into which the debt will be convertible on such record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the interest payable on each interest payment date shall be the higher of (i) the Total Interest and (ii) 6.75% per annum. The notes are convertible into the Company’s common stock at the holder’s option. The conversion price of $15.04 per share is subject to adjustment for various events, including the issuance of stock dividends. The notes will mature on November 15, 2014. The Company will redeem on May 11, 2014 and at the end of each interest accrual period thereafter an additional amount, if any, of the notes necessary to prevent the notes from being treated as an “Applicable High Yield Discount Obligation” under the Internal Revenue Code. If a fundamental change (as defined in the indenture) occurs, the Company will be required to offer to repurchase the notes at 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest.

The purchaser of these notes is an entity affiliated with Dr. Phillip Frost, who, prior to the consummation of the sale, may have been deemed to beneficially own approximately 8.1% of the Company’s common stock.

Scheduled Maturities:

Scheduled maturities of long-term debt as of March 31, 2009 are as follows:

						Unamortized
		Principal				Discount				Net
Year Ending December 31:
2009			135,922				36,989				98,933
2010			4,422				—				4,422
2011			16,126				8,389				7,737
2012			103,211				75,499				27,712
2013			5,516				—				5,516
Thereafter			165,000				—				165,000
Total		$	430,197			$	120,877			$	309,320

The scheduled maturities of $135,922 (principal amount) in 2009 include $97,881 (principal amount), which may be required to be redeemed in 2009 in accordance with the terms of its 5% Notes. The scheduled maturities of $103,211 (principal amount) in 2012 reflect $99,000 (principal amount), which may be required to be redeemed in 2012 in accordance with the terms of its 3.875% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2026.

The Company believes that it will continue to meet its liquidity requirements through the next 12 months. The Company’s corporate expenditures (exclusive of Liggett, Vector Research, Vector Tobacco and New Valley) and other potential liquidity requirements over the next 12 months include cash interest expense of approximately $53,500, dividends on its outstanding common shares (currently at an annual rate of approximately $116,500), a payment of a retirement benefit under its Supplemental Retirement Plan (“SERP”) in July 2009 to its former Executive Chairman of approximately $20,900, the mandatory redemption by November 15, 2009 of approximately $12,600 of the outstanding principal amount of its 5% Notes, and the possible redemption of an additional approximately $88,250 principal amount of the 5% Notes as a result of an option by the holders to require the Company to repurchase some or all of the remaining principal amount of the 5% Notes on November 15, 2009, and other corporate expenses and taxes, including a tax payment of approximately $75,500 in connection with the Philip Morris brands transaction.

In order to meet the above liquidity requirements as well as other anticipated liquidity needs in the normal course of business, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $202,000, investment securities available for sale of approximately $24,500, long-term investments with an estimated value of approximately $55,000 and availability under Liggett’s credit facility of approximately $12,900 at March 31, 2009. Management currently anticipates that these amounts, as well as expected cash flows from its operations and the proceeds from the private placement in May 2009 of convertible notes, should be sufficient to meet the Company’s liquidity needs over the next 12 months.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

In the event the Company’s existing cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations and the proceeds from the private placement are not sufficient to meet its liquidity needs over the next 12 months, the Company has the ability to take other actions to provide the liquidity needed over the next 12 months. These actions may include, among other things, additional debt or equity financing, which in the current economic environment may not be available or may only be available at an increased cost; incenting the holders of its 5% Notes, prior to November 15, 2009, when the holders have the option to require redemption of their Notes, to convert such Notes or to modify the optional redemption terms, through issuance of additional shares of its common stock or cash payments; modifying its dividend policy (which would also reduce the amount of cash interest due on the Company’s convertible debt); and selling some or all of its investment securities and long-term investments, the proceeds from which may be impacted by the Company’s ability to liquidate such investments. No assurances can be provided that the above measures can be achieved.

Defined Benefit and Postretirement Plans:

Net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 consists of the following:

												Other
		Pension Benefits										Postretirement Benefits
		Three Months Ended										Three Months Ended
		March 31,					March 31,					March 31,					March 31,
		2009					2008					2009					2008
Service cost — benefits earned during the period		$	330				$	1,035				$	4				$	4
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation			2,346					2,381					142					148
Expected return on plan assets			(1,954	)				(3,036	)				—					—
Amortization of prior service cost			200					350					—					—
Amortization of net actuarial loss			534					25					(41	)				(45	)
Net expense		$	1,456				$	755				$	105				$	107

The increase of $701 in the Company’s pension expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was the result of increased defined benefit expense at the Liggett segment of approximately $1,600 due primarily to the amortization of losses experienced in 2008 on the investment portfolio underlying Liggett’s defined benefit plans. The amount was offset by lower expenses of approximately $900 at the corporate segment due to the retirement of our former Executive Chairman on December 30, 2008. The Company did not make contributions to its pension benefits plans for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and does not anticipate making any contributions to such plans in 2009. The Company anticipates paying approximately $750 in other postretirement benefits in 2009.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

8. CONTINGENCIES

Tobacco-Related Litigation:

Since 1954, Liggett and other United States cigarette manufacturers have been named as defendants in numerous direct, third-party and purported class 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. New cases continue to be commenced against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers. The cases generally fall into the following categories: (i) smoking and health cases alleging personal injury brought on behalf of individual plaintiffs (“Individual Actions”); (ii) smoking and health purporting to be brought on behalf of a class of individual plaintiffs cases primarily alleging personal injury or seeking court-supervised programs for ongoing medical monitoring as well as cases alleging the use of the terms “lights” and/or “ultra lights” constitutes a deceptive and unfair trade practice, common law fraud or violation of federal law, 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, the costs associated with defending these cases and the risks relating 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. Liggett incurred legal expenses and other litigation costs totaling approximately $1,387 and $1,363, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 respectively.

The Company and its subsidiaries record provisions in their consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when they determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur, except as discussed elsewhere in this note: (i) management has concluded that it is not probable that a loss has been incurred in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; or (ii) management is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of any of the pending tobacco-related cases and, therefore, management has not provided any amounts in the consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any.

As of March 31, 2009, there were 39 individual cases pending against Liggett and/or the Company, 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. In addition, there were approximately 3,200 Engle progeny cases (defined below) pending against Liggett and/or the Company, in state and federal courts in Florida, and approximately 100 individual cases pending in West Virginia state court as part of a consolidated action. The following table lists the number of individual cases by state that are pending against Liggett or its affiliates as of March 31, 2009 (excluding Engle progeny cases and the cases consolidated in West Virginia):

		Number
State		of Cases
Florida			14
New York			10
Louisiana			5
Maryland			4
West Virginia			2
District of Columbia			1
Mississippi			1
Missouri			1
Ohio			1

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Liggett Only Cases. There are currently six cases pending where Liggett is the only tobacco company defendant. In April 2004, in Davis v. Liggett Group, a Florida state court jury awarded compensatory damages of $540 against Liggett, plus interest. In addition, the court awarded plaintiff’s counsel legal fees of $752. Liggett appealed both the compensatory and the legal fee awards. In October 2007, the compensatory award was affirmed by the Fourth District Court of Appeal and, thereafter, was paid by Liggett. In March 2008, the Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed and remanded the legal fee award for further proceedings in the trial court. The Company has accrued approximately $1,499 for plaintiff’s claim for attorneys’ fees and costs. In Ferlanti v. Liggett Group, in February 2009, a Florida state court jury awarded compensatory damages of $1,200 against Liggett, but found that the plaintiff was 40% at fault. Therefore, plaintiff was awarded $720 in compensatory damages plus $96 in expenses. Liggett has appealed the award. On May 1, 2009, the court granted plaintiff’s motion for an award of attorneys’ fees but the amount has yet to be determined. Punitive damages were not awarded. Although commenced as an Engle progeny case, this case was tried as an individual case after the jury found that plaintiff was not a member of the former Engle class. In Hausrath v. Philip Morris, a case pending in New York state court, plaintiffs recently dismissed all defendants other than Liggett. The other three individual actions, where Liggett is the only tobacco company defendant, are dormant.

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, concealment, 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 Organizations 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. Although alleged damages often are not determinable from a complaint, and the law governing the pleading and calculation of damages varies from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction, compensatory and punitive damages have been specifically pleaded in a number of cases, sometimes in amounts ranging into the hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars.

Defenses raised by defendants in individual 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.

In addition to the awards against Liggett in Davis and Ferlanti (described above), jury awards have also been returned against other cigarette manufacturers in recent years. The awards in these individual actions, often in excess of millions of dollars, are for both compensatory and punitive damages. There are several significant jury awards against other cigarette manufacturers which are currently on appeal.

Engle Progeny Cases. In 2000, a jury in Engle v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. rendered a $145,000,000 punitive damages verdict in favor of a “Florida Class” against certain cigarette manufacturers, including Liggett. Pursuant to the Florida Supreme Court’s July 2006 ruling in Engle, which decertified the class on a prospective basis, and affirmed the appellate court’s reversal of the punitive damages award, former class members had one year from January 11, 2007 in which to file individual lawsuits. In addition, some individuals who filed suit prior to January 11, 2007, and who claim they meet the conditions in Engle, are attempting to avail themselves of the Engle ruling. Lawsuits by individuals requesting the benefit of the Engle ruling, whether filed before or after the January 11, 2007 deadline, are referred to as the “Engle progeny cases.” Liggett and/or the Company have been named in approximately 3,200 Engle progeny cases in both state and federal courts in Florida. Other cigarette manufacturers have also been named as defendants in most of these cases. These cases include approximately 8,750 plaintiffs, approximately 3,200 of whom have claims pending in federal court. Duplicate cases were filed in federal and state court on behalf of approximately 660 plaintiffs. The majority of the cases pending in federal court are stayed pending the outcome of an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit of several district court orders in which it was found that the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in Engle was unconstitutional. The number of cases will likely increase as the courts may require multi-plaintiff cases to be severed into individual cases. The total number of plaintiffs may also increase as a result of attempts by existing plaintiffs to add additional parties. There are approximately 45 Engle progeny cases currently scheduled for trial, or likely to be scheduled for trial, in 2009 and 2010. To date, three Engle progeny cases have gone to trial resulting in one plaintiff verdict and two defense verdicts. Liggett was not a party in these cases. For further information on the Engle case and on Engle progeny cases, see “Class Actions — Engle Case,” below.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

As of March 31, 2009, there were seven actions pending for which either a class had been certified or plaintiffs were seeking class certification, where Liggett is a named defendant, including two alleged price fixing cases. Other cigarette manufacturers are also named in these actions. Many of these actions purport to constitute statewide class actions and were filed after May 1996 when the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in Castano v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., reversed a federal district court’s certification of a purported nationwide class action on behalf of persons who were allegedly “addicted” to tobacco products.

Engle Case. In May 1994, Engle was filed against Liggett and others in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The class consisted of all Florida residents who, by November 21, 1996, “have suffered, presently suffer or have died from diseases and medical conditions caused by their addiction to cigarette smoking.” In July 1999, after the conclusion of Phase I of the trial, the jury returned a verdict against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers on certain issues determined by the trial court to be “common” to the causes of action of the plaintiff class. The jury made several findings adverse to the defendants including that defendants’ conduct “rose to a level that would permit a potential award or entitlement to punitive damages.” Phase II of the trial was a causation and damages trial for three of the class plaintiffs 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 class plaintiffs, to be reduced in proportion to the respective plaintiff’s fault. In July 2000, the jury awarded approximately $145,000,000 in punitive damages, including $790,000 against Liggett.

In May 2003, Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court and remanded the case with instructions to decertify the class. The judgment in favor of one of the three class plaintiffs, in the amount of $5,831, was overturned as time barred and the court found that Liggett was not liable to the other two class plaintiffs.

In July 2006, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the decision vacating the punitive damages award and held that the class should be decertified prospectively, but preserved several of the trial court’s Phase I findings, including that: (i) smoking causes lung cancer, among other diseases; (ii) nicotine in cigarettes is addictive; (iii) defendants placed cigarettes on the market that were defective and unreasonably dangerous; (iv) defendants concealed material information; (v) all defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that were defective; and (vi) all defendants were negligent. The Florida Supreme Court decision also allowed former class members to proceed to trial on individual liability issues (using the above findings) and compensatory and punitive damage issues, provided they file their individual lawsuits within one year from January 11, 2007, the date of the court’s mandate. In December 2006, the Florida Supreme Court added the finding that defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that, at the time of sale or supply, did not conform to the representations made by defendants. As a result of the decision, approximately 8,750 former Engle class members filed suit against the Company and/or Liggett as well as other cigarette manufacturers.

In June 2002, the jury in a Florida state court action entitled Lukacs v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., awarded $37,500 in compensatory damages, jointly and severally, in a case involving Liggett and two other cigarette manufacturers, which amount was subsequently reduced by the court. The jury found Liggett 50% responsible for the damages incurred by the plaintiff. The Lukacs case was the first case to be tried as an individual Engle progeny case. In October 2008, plaintiff withdrew her request for punitive damages. In November 2008, the court entered final judgment in the amount of $24,835 (for which Liggett is 50% responsible), plus interest from June 2002 which as of March 31, 2009, was in excess of $13,000. In December 2008, defendants appealed the final judgment. Liggett and plaintiff have been in discussions regarding the posting of a bond for the appeal. In addition, plaintiff filed a motion seeking an award of attorneys’ fees from Liggett based on plaintiff’s prior proposal for settlement. All proceedings relating to the motion for attorneys’ fees are stayed pending a final resolution of appellate proceedings.

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Other Class Actions. Smith v. Philip Morris (Kansas) is an action in which plaintiffs allege that cigarette manufacturers conspired to fix cigarette prices in violation of antitrust laws. Class certification was granted in Smith in November 2001. Discovery is ongoing. In West Virginia, a jury verdict in a purported medical monitoring class action was entered in favor of all tobacco company defendants other than Liggett (Liggett was previously severed from the trial). There has been no further activity in this case.

Class action suits have been filed in a number of states against cigarette manufacturers, alleging, among other things, that use of the terms “light” and “ultra light” constitutes unfair and deceptive trade practices, among other things. One such suit, Schwab [McLaughlin] v. Philip Morris, pending in federal court in New York since 2004, sought to create a nationwide class of “light” cigarette smokers. In September 2006, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York certified the class. In April 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decertified the class. The case was returned to the trial court for further proceedings (see discussion of Cleary case below). In December 2008, the United States Supreme Court, in Altria Group Inc. v. Good, ruled that the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act did not preempt the state law claims asserted by the plaintiffs and that they could proceed with their claims under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act. This ruling may result in additional class action cases in other states. Although Liggett is not a party in the Good case, an adverse ruling or commencement of additional “lights” related class actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

In November 1997, in Young v. American Tobacco Co., a purported personal injury class action was commenced on behalf of plaintiff and all similarly situated residents in Louisiana who, though not themselves cigarette smokers, are alleged to have been exposed to secondhand smoke from cigarettes which were manufactured by the defendants, and who suffered injury as a result of that exposure. The plaintiffs seek to recover an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. In October 2004, the trial court stayed this case pending the outcome of the appeal in Scott v. American Tobacco Co. (see description below).

In June 1998, in Cleary v. Philip Morris, a putative class action was brought in Illinois state court on behalf of persons who were allegedly injured by: (i) defendants’ purported conspiracy to conceal material facts regarding the addictive nature of nicotine; (ii) defendants’ alleged acts of targeting their advertising and marketing to minors; and (iii) defendants’ claimed breach of the public’s right to defendants’ compliance with laws prohibiting the distribution of cigarettes to minors. Plaintiffs request that defendants be required to disgorge all profits unjustly received through their sale of cigarettes to plaintiffs and the class. In July 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification. A class certification hearing occurred in September 2007 and the parties are awaiting a decision. Merits discovery is stayed pending a ruling by the court. In March 2009, plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint adding, among other things, allegations regarding defendants’ sale of “light” cigarettes. In April 2009, plaintiffs in 11 lights class actions, including Cleary and Schwab, moved to consolidate these 11 cases before Judge Weinstein in the Eastern District of New York in a multidistrict litigation.

In April 2001, in Brown v. American Tobacco Co., a California state court granted in part plaintiffs’ 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. In March 2005, the court granted defendants’ motion to decertify the class based on a recent change in California law. In October 2006, the plaintiffs filed a petition for review with the California Supreme Court, which was granted in November 2006. Oral argument was held on March 3, 2009 and a decision is expected in June 2009.

Although not technically a class action, in In Re: Tobacco Litigation (Personal Injury Cases), a West Virginia state court consolidated approximately 750 individual smoker actions that were pending prior to 2001 for trial of certain common issues. In January 2002, the court severed Liggett from the trial of the consolidated action. The consolidation was affirmed on appeal by the West Virginia Supreme Court. In February 2008, the United States Supreme Court denied defendants’ petition for writ of certiorari asking the Court to review the trial plan. It is estimated that Liggett could be a defendant in approximately 100 of the cases.

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Class certification motions are pending in a number of other cases and a number of orders denying class certification are on appeal. In addition to the cases described above, numerous class actions remain certified against other cigarette manufacturers, including Scott. In that case, a Louisiana jury returned a $591,000 verdict (subsequently reduced by the court to $263,500 plus interest from June 2004) against other cigarette manufacturers to fund medical monitoring or smoking cessation programs for members of the class. The case is on appeal.

As of March 31, 2009, there were two Governmental Actions pending against Liggett, only one of which is active. The claims asserted in health care cost recovery actions vary. In these cases, the governmental entities typically assert equitable claims that the tobacco industry was “unjustly enriched” by their 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.

In City of St. Louis v. American Tobacco Company, a case pending in Missouri state court since December 1998, the City of St. Louis and approximately 40 hospitals seek recovery of costs expended by the hospitals on behalf of patients who suffer, or have suffered, from illnesses allegedly resulting from the use of cigarettes. In June 2005, the court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to claims for damages which accrued prior to November 16, 1993. The claims for damages which accrued after November 16, 1993 are pending. Discovery is ongoing. In September 2008, the court heard argument on motions for summary judgment filed by the parties. A decision is pending. Trial is currently scheduled to commence in January 2010.

DOJ Case. In September 1999, the United States government commenced litigation against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The action sought to recover an unspecified amount of health care costs paid and to be paid 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 alleged fraud and other allegedly unlawful conduct in the future, and to compel defendants to disgorge the proceeds of their unlawful conduct. The action asserted 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 September 2000, the court dismissed the government’s claims based on MCRA and MSP.

In August 2006, the trial court entered a Final Judgment and Remedial Order against each of the cigarette manufacturing defendants, except Liggett. The Final Judgment, among other things, enjoined the non-Liggett defendants from using “lights”, “low tar”, “ultra lights”, “mild”, or “natural” descriptors, or conveying any other express or implied health messages in connection with the marketing or sale of cigarettes, domestically and internationally. The Final Judgment was stayed pending appeal. Although this case has been concluded as to Liggett, it is unclear what impact, if any, the Final Judgment will have on the cigarette industry as a whole. The decision is currently on appeal by all parties other than Liggett. To the extent that the Final Judgment leads to a decline in industry-wide shipments of cigarettes in the United States or otherwise results in restrictions that adversely affect the industry, Liggett’s sales volume, operating income and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

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As of March 31, 2009, there were two Third-Party Payor Actions pending against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers. Third-Party Payor Actions typically have been filed by insurance companies, union health and welfare trust funds, asbestos manufacturers and others. In Third-Party Payor Actions, plaintiffs seek damages for 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. Although no specific amounts are provided, it is possible that requested damages against cigarette manufacturers in these cases might be in the billions of dollars.

Several federal circuit courts of appeals and state appellate courts have ruled that Third-Party Payors do not have standing to bring lawsuits against cigarette manufacturers, relying primarily on grounds that plaintiffs’ claims were too remote. The United States Supreme Court has refused to consider plaintiffs’ appeals from the cases decided by five federal circuit courts of appeals.

In June 2005, the Jerusalem District Court in Israel added Liggett as a defendant in an action commenced in 1998 by the largest private insurer in that country, General Health Services, against the major United States cigarette manufacturers. The plaintiff seeks to recover the past and future value of the total expenditures for health care services provided to residents of Israel resulting from tobacco related diseases, court ordered interest for past expenditures from the date of filing the statement of claim, increased and/or punitive and/or exemplary damages and costs. The court ruled that, although Liggett had not sold product in Israel since at least 1978, it might still have liability for cigarettes sold prior to that time. Motions filed by defendants are pending before the Israel Supreme Court seeking appeal from a lower court’s decision granting leave to plaintiff for foreign service of process.

In May 2008, in National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare v. Philip Morris USA, a case pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, plaintiffs commenced an action to recover twice the amount paid by Medicare for the health care services provided to Medicare beneficiaries to treat diseases allegedly attributable to smoking defendants’ cigarettes from May 21, 2002 to the present, for which treatment defendants’ allegedly were required to make payment under MSP. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss and plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment were filed in July 2008 and in March 2009, the court dismissed the case.

There are currently approximately 45 Engle progeny cases that may be set for trial during 2009 and 2010. The Company and/or Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers are currently named as defendants in each of these cases. In addition, a trial has been scheduled in October 2009 in an individual action in Missouri where Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers are named as defendants. Trial dates are subject to change.

In March 1996, March 1997 and March 1998, Liggett entered into settlements of smoking-related litigation with 45 states and territories. The settlements released Liggett from all smoking-related claims within those states and territories, including claims for health care cost reimbursement and claims concerning sales of cigarettes to minors.

In November 1998, Philip Morris, Brown & Williamson, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard (the “Original Participating Manufacturers” or “OPMs”) and Liggett (together with any other tobacco product manufacturer that becomes a signatory, the “Subsequent Participating Manufacturers” or “SPMs”) (the OPMs and SPMs are hereinafter referred to jointly as 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 Mariana Islands (collectively, the “Settling States”) to settle the asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and certain other claims of the Settling States. The MSA received final judicial approval in each Settling State.

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As a result of the MSA, the Settling States released Liggett from:

	•		all claims of the Settling States and their respective political subdivisions and other recipients of state health care funds, relating to: (i) past conduct arising out of the use, sale, distribution, manufacture, development, advertising and marketing of tobacco products; (ii) the health effects of, the exposure to, or research, statements or warnings about, tobacco products; and
	•		all monetary claims of the Settling States and their respective subdivisions and other recipients of state health care funds relating to future conduct arising out of the use of, or exposure to, tobacco products that have been manufactured in the ordinary course of business.

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 certain limited exceptions; 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; and 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.

The MSA also requires Participating Manufacturers to affirm corporate principles to comply with the MSA and to reduce underage use of tobacco products and imposes restrictions on lobbying activities conducted on behalf of Participating Manufacturers. In addition, the MSA provides for the appointment of an independent auditor to calculate and determine the amounts of payments owed pursuant to the MSA.

Liggett has no payment obligations under the MSA except to the extent its market share exceeds a market share exemption of approximately 1.65% of total cigarettes sold in the United States. Vector Tobacco has no payment obligations under the MSA, except to the extent its market share exceeds a market share exemption of approximately 0.28% of total cigarettes sold in the United States. According to data from Management Science Associates, Inc., domestic shipments by Liggett and Vector Tobacco accounted for approximately 2.4%, 2.5% and 2.5% of the total cigarettes shipped in the United States in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. If Liggett’s or Vector Tobacco’s market share exceeds their respective market share exemption in a given year, then on April 15 of the following year, Liggett and/or Vector Tobacco, as the case may be, must pay on each excess unit an amount equal (on a per-unit basis) to that due from the OPMs for that year. In April 2007, Liggett and Vector Tobacco paid $38,743 for their 2006 MSA obligations and in April 2008, paid $35,995 for their 2007 MSA obligations, having prepaid $34,500 of that amount in December 2007. In December 2008, Liggett and Vector Tobacco prepaid $34,000 of their 2008 MSA obligations and paid an additional $8,799 in April 2009 after withholding certain disputed amounts.

Under the payment provisions of the MSA, the Participating Manufacturers are required to pay a base annual amount of $9,000,000 in 2009 and each year thereafter (subject to applicable adjustments, offsets and reductions). These annual payments are allocated based on 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.

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In 2005, the independent auditor under the MSA calculated that Liggett owed $28,668 for its 2004 sales. In April 2005, Liggett paid $11,678 and disputed the balance, as permitted by the MSA. Liggett subsequently paid $9,304 of the disputed amount, although Liggett continues to dispute that this amount is owed. This $9,304 relates to an adjustment to its 2003 payment obligation claimed by Liggett for the market share loss to non-participating manufacturers, which is known as the “NPM Adjustment.” At March 31, 2009, included in “Other assets” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, was a noncurrent receivable of $6,513 relating to such amount. The remaining balance in dispute of $7,686 is comprised of $5,318 claimed for a 2004 NPM Adjustment and $2,368 relating to the independent auditor’s retroactive change from “gross” to “net” units in calculating MSA payments, which Liggett contends is improper, as discussed below. From their April 2006 payment, Liggett and Vector Tobacco withheld approximately $1,600 claimed for the 2005 NPM Adjustment and $2,949 relating to the retroactive change from “gross” to “net” units. Liggett and Vector Tobacco withheld approximately $4,200 from their April 2007 payments related to the 2006 NPM Adjustment and approximately $3,950 relating to the retroactive change from “gross” to “net” units. From their April 2008 payment, Liggett and Vector Tobacco withheld approximately $4,000 for the 2007 NPM Adjustment and approximately $3,696 relating to the retroactive change from “gross” to “net” units. Vector Tobacco paid approximately $200 into the disputed payments account for the 2007 NPM Adjustment. From their April 2009 payment, Liggett and Vector Tobacco withheld approximately $6,100 relating to the 2008 NPM adjustment and approximately $3,300 relating to the retroactive change from “gross” to “net” units.

The following amounts have not been expensed in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as they relate to Liggett’s and Vector Tobacco’s claim for an NPM adjustment: $6,513 for 2003, $3,789 for 2004 and $800 for 2005.

NPM Adjustment. In March 2006, an economic consulting firm selected pursuant to the MSA rendered its final and non-appealable decision that the MSA was a “significant factor contributing to” the loss of market share of Participating Manufacturers for 2003. The economic consulting firm subsequently rendered the same decision with respect to 2004, 2005 and 2006. As a result, the manufacturers are entitled to potential NPM Adjustments to their 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 MSA payments. A Settling State that has diligently enforced its qualifying escrow statute in the year in question may be able to avoid application of the NPM Adjustment to the payments made by the manufacturers for the benefit of that state or territory.

Since April 2006, notwithstanding provisions in the MSA requiring arbitration, litigation has been filed in 49 Settling States over the issue of whether the application of the NPM Adjustment for 2003 is to be determined through litigation or arbitration. These actions relate to the potential NPM Adjustment for 2003, which the independent auditor under the MSA previously determined to be as much as $1,200,000 for all Participating Manufacturers. All 48 courts that have decided the issue have ruled that the 2003 NPM Adjustment dispute is arbitrable and 46 of those decisions are final and non-appealable. In response to a proposal from the OPMs and many of the SPMs, 45 of the Settling States, representing approximately 90% of the allocable share of the Settling States, entered into an agreement providing for a nationwide arbitration of the dispute with respect to the NPM Adjustment for 2003. The agreement provides for selection of the arbitration panel beginning October 1, 2009 and that the parties and the arbitrators will thereafter establish the schedule and procedures for the arbitration. Because states representing more than 80% of the allocable share signed the agreement, signing states will receive a 20% reduction of any potential 2003 NPM adjustment.. It is anticipated that the arbitration will begin in 2010. There can be no assurance that Liggett or Vector Tobacco will receive any adjustment as a result of these proceedings.

Gross v. Net Calculations. In October 2004, the independent auditor notified Liggett and all other Participating Manufacturers that their payment obligations under the MSA, dating from the agreement’s execution in late 1998, had been recalculated using “net” unit amounts, rather than “gross” unit amounts (which had been used since 1999). The change in the method of calculation could, among other things, require additional MSA payments by Liggett of approximately $25,600, including interest, for 2001 through 2008, and require additional amounts in future periods because the proposed change from “gross” to “net” units would serve to lower Liggett’s market share exemption under the MSA.

Liggett has objected to this retroactive change and has disputed the change in methodology. Liggett contends that the retroactive change from using “gross” to “net” unit amounts is impermissible for several reasons, including:

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	•		use of “net” unit amounts is not required by the MSA (as reflected by, among other things, the use of “gross” unit amounts through 2005);
	•		such a change is not authorized without the consent of affected parties to the MSA;
	•		the MSA provides for four-year time limitation periods for revisiting calculations and determinations, which precludes recalculating Liggett’s 1997 Market Share (and thus, Liggett’s market share exemption); and
	•		Liggett and others have relied upon the calculations based on “gross” unit amounts since 1998.

No amounts have been expensed or accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for any potential liability relating to the “gross” versus “net” dispute.

QUEST 3. Vector Tobacco does not make MSA payments on sales of its QUEST 3 product as Vector Tobacco believes that QUEST 3 does not fall within the definition of a cigarette under the MSA. There can be no assurance that Vector Tobacco’s assessment is correct and that additional payments under the MSA for QUEST 3 will not be owed.

Litigation Challenging the MSA. In Freedom Holdings Inc. v. Cuomo, litigation pending in federal court in New York, certain importers of cigarettes allege that the MSA and certain related New York statutes violate federal antitrust and constitutional law. The district court granted New York’s motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that if all of the allegations of the complaint were assumed to be true, plaintiffs had stated a claim for relief on antitrust grounds. In January 2009, the district court granted New York’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing all claims brought by the plaintiffs, and dissolving the preliminary injunction. The plaintiffs have appealed.

In Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd. v. Pryor, another proceeding pending in federal court in New York, plaintiffs seek to enjoin the statutes enacted by New York and other states in connection with the MSA on the grounds that the statutes violate the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution and federal antitrust laws. In September 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that if all of the allegations of the complaint were assumed to be true, plaintiffs had stated a claim for relief and that the New York federal court had jurisdiction over the other defendant states. Discovery is pending. Similar challenges to the MSA and MSA-related state statutes are pending in Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Liggett and the other cigarette manufacturers are not defendants in these cases. Litigation challenging the validity of the MSA, including claims that the MSA violates antitrust laws, has not been successful to date.

In October 2008, Vibo Corporation, Inc., d/b/a General Tobacco (“Vibo”) commenced litigation in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky against each of the Settling States and certain Participating Manufacturers. Vibo alleged, among other things, that the market share exemptions (i.e.: grandfathered shares) provided to certain SPMs under the MSA, including Liggett and Vector Tobacco, violate federal antitrust and constitutional law. In January 2009, the court issued a memorandum opinion and order granting the defendants’ motions and dismissing Vibo’s lawsuit. On December 11, 2008, Vibo filed a second complaint, seeking declaratory relief under the MSA, in California state court against the State of California and certain cigarette manufacturers, including Liggett and Vector Tobacco, seeking a determination that the proposed amendment to its agreement to join the MSA, under which it would no longer have to make certain MSA payments, did not trigger the MSA’s “most favored nation” provision. In March 2009, the OPMs and SPMs each filed motions for summary judgment which are pending.

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Other State Settlements. The MSA replaces Liggett’s prior settlements with all states and territories except for Florida, Mississippi, Texas and Minnesota. Each of these four 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. Liggett’s agreements with these states remain in full force and effect, and Liggett made various payments to these states under the agreements. These states’ settlement agreements with Liggett contained most favored nation provisions which could reduce Liggett’s payment obligations based on subsequent settlements or resolutions by those states with certain other tobacco companies. Beginning in 1999, Liggett determined that, based on each of these four states’ settlements with United States Tobacco Company, Liggett’s payment obligations to those states had been eliminated. With respect to all non-economic obligations under the previous settlements, Liggett believes it is 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 2003, in order to resolve any potential issues with Minnesota as to Liggett’s ongoing economic settlement obligations, Liggett negotiated a $100 a year payment to Minnesota, to be paid any year cigarettes manufactured by Liggett are sold in that state. In 2004, the Attorneys General for Florida, Mississippi and Texas advised Liggett that they believed that Liggett had failed to make all required payments under the respective settlement agreements with these states for the period 1998 through 2003 and that additional payments may be due for 2004 and subsequent years. Liggett believes the states’ allegations are without merit, based, among other things, on the language of the most favored nation provisions of the settlement agreements.

Except for $2,500 accrued at March 31, 2009, in connection with the foregoing matters, no other amounts have been accrued in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for any additional amounts that may be payable by Liggett under the settlement agreements with Florida, Mississippi and Texas. The previous demands by these states are substantially in excess of the $2,500 accrual, although there have been no substantive settlement discussions for several years. There can be no assurance that Liggett will resolve these matters or that Liggett will not be required to make additional material payments, which payments could adversely affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Cautionary Statement. Management is not able to predict the outcome of the litigation pending or threatened against Liggett. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties. For example, in addition to $540 awarded in the Davis case, plus legal fees, and the $816 awarded in the Ferlanti case, plus legal fees, in June 2002, the jury in the Lukacs case, an individual case brought under the third phase of the Engle case, awarded compensatory damages against Liggett and two other defendants and found Liggett 50% responsible for the damages. In November 2008, the court entered final judgment in favor of the plaintiff for $24,835, plus interest from June 11, 2002 which, as of March 31, 2009, exceeded $13,000. It is possible that additional cases could be decided unfavorably against Liggett. As a result of the Engle decision, approximately 8,750 former Engle class members commenced suit against Liggett and/or the Company and other cigarette manufacturers. Liggett may enter into discussions in an attempt to settle particular cases if it believes it is appropriate to do so.

Management cannot predict the cash requirements related to any future defense costs, settlements or 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, or could lead to multiple adverse decisions in the Engle progeny cases. An adverse verdict was rendered in one of the first three Engle progeny cases that have, to date, gone to trial. Liggett was not a defendant in this case. Management is unable to make a reasonable estimate with respect to the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of the cases pending against Liggett or the costs of defending such cases and as a result has not provided any amounts in its condensed consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes. The complaints filed in these cases rarely detail alleged damages. Typically, the claims set forth in an individual’s complaint against the tobacco industry seek money damages in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus punitive damages and costs.

The tobacco industry is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations regarding the marketing, sale, taxation and use of tobacco products imposed by local, state and federal governments. There have been a number of restrictive regulatory actions, adverse legislative and political decisions and other unfavorable developments concerning cigarette smoking and the tobacco industry. 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 or legislation.

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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 of the smoking-related litigation.

Liggett’s and Vector Tobacco’s management are unaware of any material environmental conditions affecting their existing facilities. Liggett’s and Vector Tobacco’s management believe that current operations are conducted in material compliance with all environmental laws and regulations and other laws and 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, results of operations or competitive position of Liggett or Vector Tobacco.

In February 2004, Liggett Vector Brands and another cigarette manufacturer entered into a five year agreement with a subsidiary of the American Wholesale Marketers Association to support a program to permit certain tobacco distributors to secure, on reasonable terms, tax stamp bonds required by state and local governments for the distribution of cigarettes. This agreement was extended through 2014. Under the agreement, Liggett Vector Brands has agreed to pay a portion of losses, if any, incurred by the surety under the bond program, with a maximum loss exposure of $500 for Liggett Vector Brands. To secure its potential obligations under the agreement, Liggett Vector Brands has delivered to the subsidiary of the association a $100 letter of credit and agreed to fund up to an additional $400. Liggett Vector Brands has incurred no losses to date under this agreement, and the Company believes the fair value of Liggett Vector Brands’ obligation under the agreement was immaterial at March 31, 2009.

There may be several other proceedings, lawsuits and claims pending against the Company and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries unrelated to tobacco 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.

9. INCOME TAXES

Vector’s income tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 do not bear a customary relationship to statutory income tax rates as a result of the impact of nondeductible expenses, state income taxes and interest and penalties accrued on unrecognized tax benefits offset by the impact of the domestic production activities deduction.

The Company’s provision for income taxes in interim periods is based on an estimated annual effective income tax rate derived, in part, from estimated annual pre-tax results from ordinary operations in accordance with FIN 18, “Accounting for Income Taxes in Interim Periods—an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 28.” For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company’s income tax provision was reduced because of the impact of the gain on the income from the Company’s investment in the St. Regis Hotel, which reduced income tax expense by $460 due to differences in the Company’s marginal tax rate of approximately 41% and its anticipated effective annual income tax rate from ordinary operations of approximately 45%.

The Company’s current income taxes payable increased by approximately $75,500 and its current portion of deferred income taxes payable decreased by approximately $75,500 as a result of taxable income of approximately $197,000 from exercise by Philip Morris of an option associated with the brands transaction.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The Internal Revenue Service is auditing the Company’s 2005 tax year. The Company believes it has adequately reserved for any potential adjustments that may arise as a result of the audit.

10. NEW VALLEY

The components of “Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses” were as follows as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

		March 31, 2009				December 31, 2008
Douglas Elliman Realty LLC		$	30,552			$	33,175
Aberdeen Townhomes LLC			3,000				6,500
New Valley Oaktree Chelsea Eleven LLC			10,506				11,100
Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses		$	44,058			$	50,775

Residential Brokerage Business. New Valley recorded a loss of $1,195 and income of $1,337 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, associated with Douglas Elliman Realty. New Valley’s income or loss includes 50% of Douglas Elliman’s net income or loss, as well as interest income earned by New Valley on a subordinated loan to Douglas Elliman Realty, increases to income resulting from management fees and other adjustments. New Valley received cash distributions from Douglas Elliman Realty LLC of $1,428 and $325 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Summarized financial information for Douglas Elliman Realty for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 and as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 is presented below.

		March 31, 2009				December 31, 2008
Cash		$	12,140			$	22,125
Other current assets			6,849				7,496
Property, plant and equipment, net			14,877				15,868
Trademarks			21,663				21,663
Goodwill			38,330				38,325
Other intangible assets, net			1,246				1,311
Other non-current assets			911				904
Notes payable — current			571				1,413
Current portion of notes payable to member — Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America, Inc.			4,729				4,729
Current portion of notes payable to member — New Valley			4,729				4,729
Other current liabilities			17,514				23,294
Notes payable — long term			715				1,805
Notes payable to member — Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America, Inc.			995				2,030
Notes payable to member — New Valley			995				2,030
Other long-term liabilities			8,295				6,939
Members’ equity			57,473				60,723

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2009				2008
Revenues		$	48,956			$	81,363
Costs and expenses			50,560				77,229
Depreciation expense			1,199				1,350
Amortization expense			64				74
Interest expense, net			691				863
Income tax (benefit) expense			(310	)			115
Net (loss) income		$	(3,248	)		$	1,732

Douglas Elliman Realty has been negatively impacted by the current downturn in the residential real estate market. The residential real estate market is cyclical and is affected by changes in the general economic conditions that are beyond Douglas Elliman Realty’s control. The U.S. residential real estate market, including the market in the New York metropolitan area where Douglas Elliman operates, is currently in a significant downturn due to various factors including downward pressure on housing prices, the impact of the recent contraction in the subprime and mortgage markets generally and an exceptionally large inventory of unsold homes at the same time that sales volumes are decreasing. The depth and length of the current downturn in the real estate industry has proved exceedingly difficult to predict. The Company cannot predict whether the downturn will worsen or when the market and related economic forces will return the U.S. residential real estate industry to a growth period.

All of Douglas Elliman Realty’s current operations are located in the New York metropolitan area. Local and regional economic and general business conditions in this market could differ materially from prevailing conditions in other parts of the country. Among other things, the New York metropolitan residential real estate market has been impacted by the significant decline in the financial services industry. A continued downturn in the residential real estate market or economic conditions in that region could have a material adverse effect on Douglas Elliman Realty.

Aberdeen Townhomes LLC. In June 2008, a subsidiary of New Valley purchased a preferred equity interest in Aberdeen Townhomes LLC (“Aberdeen”) for $10,000. Aberdeen acquired five town home residences located in Manhattan, New York, which it is in the process of rehabilitating and selling. In the event that Aberdeen makes distributions of cash, New Valley is entitled to a priority preferred return of 15% per annum until it has recovered its invested capital. New Valley is entitled to 25% of subsequent cash distributions of profits until it has achieved an annual 18% internal rate of return (“IRR”). New Valley is then entitled to 20% of subsequent cash distributions of profits until it has achieved an annual 23% IRR. After New Valley has achieved an annual 23% IRR, it is then entitled to 10% of any remaining cash distributions of profits.

In February 2009, the managing member of Aberdeen Townhomes resigned, and a subsidiary of New Valley became the new managing member as of March 1, 2009. Aberdeen is a variable interest entity; however, even as the managing member, the Company is not the primary beneficiary as other parties to the investment would absorb a majority of the variable interest entity’s losses under the current arrangement. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its investment in Aberdeen is $10,000. This investment is being accounted for under the cost method.

In January 2009, the Company obtained an appraisal of the town home residences and determined that the value of the properties, less estimated disposal costs, was approximately $3,500 less than their carrying value and recorded an impairment charge for $3,500 for the year end December 31, 2008. In April 2009, the Company reevaluated the fair market value of the town home residences and determined an additional decline in the value of the properties of $3,500 had occurred and recorded an impairment charge of $3,500 for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The reduction in value was attributed to the overall real estate market conditions in New York City.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Mortgages on four of the five Aberdeen town homes with a balance of approximately $36,100 matured on March 1, 2009 and have not been refinanced or paid and are in default. The remaining mortgage with a balance of approximately $4,550 matures on September 30, 2009 is also in default due to non-payment as of March 31, 2009.

New Valley Oaktree Chelsea Eleven, LLC. In September 2008, a subsidiary of New Valley purchased for $12,000 a 40% interest in New Valley Oaktree Chelsea Eleven, LLC (“New Valley Oaktree”). New Valley Oaktree lent $29,000 and contributed $1,000 for 29% of the capital in Chelsea Eleven LLC (“Chelsea”), which is developing a condominium project in Manhattan, New York. The development consists of 72 luxury residential units and one commercial unit. Approximately 75% of the units are pre-sold and approximately $35,000 in deposits are held in escrow. The loan from New Valley Oaktree loan is subordinate to a $110,000 construction loan and a $24,000 mezzanine loan plus accrued interest. The loan from New Valley Oaktree to Chelsea bears interest at 60.25% per annum, compounded monthly, with $3,750 initially being held in an interest reserve, from which five monthly payments of $300 have been paid to New Valley.

New Valley Chelsea is a variable interest entity; however, the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its investment in Chelsea is $12,000. This investment is being accounted for under the equity method. New Valley Chelsea operates as an investment vehicle for the Chelsea real estate development project. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, Chelsea had approximately $218,615 and $206,778 of total assets, respectively and $198,110 and $185,665 of total liabilities, respectively. No income has been recorded as all amounts have been capitalized in the construction project.

Mortgage receivable/Escena Project. In March 2008, a subsidiary of New Valley purchased a loan secured by a substantial portion of a 450-acre approved master planned community in Palm Springs, California known as “Escena.” The loan, which was in foreclosure, was purchased for its $20,000 face value plus accrued interest and other costs of $1,445. The collateral consists of 867 residential lots with site and public infrastructure, an 18-hole golf course, a substantially completed clubhouse, and a seven-acre site approved for a 450-room hotel.

In April 2009, New Valley’s subsidiary entered into a settlement agreement with Lennar Corporation, a guarantor of the loan, which requires the guarantor to satisfy its obligations under a completion guaranty by completing improvements to the project in settlement, among other things, of its payment guarantees. In addition, the guarantor agreed to pay approximately $250 in legal fees and $1,000 of delinquent taxes and penalties and post a letter of credit to secure its construction obligation. As a result of this settlement, the Company calculated the fair market value of the investment as of March 31, 2009, utilizing the most recent “as is” appraisal of the collateral and the value of the completion guaranty less estimated costs to dispose of the property. Based on these estimates, the Company determined that the fair market value was less than the carrying amount of the mortgage receivable at March 31, 2009, by approximately $5,000. Accordingly, the reserve was increased and a charge of $5,000 was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The Company carried the loan on its condensed balance sheet at its net basis of $12,704 as of March 31, 2009. On April 15, 2009 New Valley completed the foreclosure process and on April 16, 2009, took title to the collateral.

Real Estate Market Conditions. Because the real estate, capital and credit markets have continued to worsen, the Company will continue to perform additional assessments to determine the impact of the markets, if any, on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Thus, future impairment charges may occur.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

11. INVESTMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

As of January 1, 2009, SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” applies to both the Company’s financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities and only applies when other standards require or permit the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 does not require any new fair value measurements but rather introduces a framework for measuring fair value and expands required disclosure about fair value measurements of assets and liabilities.

SFAS No. 157 discusses valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). The statement clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing amounts that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.

SFAS No. 157 utilizes a three-tier fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels:

Level 1		Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2		Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liability, either directory or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3		Unobservable inputs in which there is little market data, which requires the reporting entity to develop their own assumptions.

This hierarchy requires the use of observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value.

The Company’s recurring financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements and the necessary disclosures are as follows:

		Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2009
						Quoted Prices in
						Active Markets for				Significant Other				Significant
						Identical Assets				Observable Inputs				Unobservable Inputs
Description		Total				(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
Assets:
Money market funds		$	192,600			$	192,600			$	—			$	—
Bonds			1,525				1,525
Investment securities available for sale			24,496				18,742				5,754				—
Total		$	218,621			$	212,867			$	5,754			$	—
Liabilities:
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt		$	77,548			$	—			$	—			$	77,548

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

		Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2008
						Quoted Prices in
						Active Markets for				Significant Other				Significant
						Identical Assets				Observable Inputs				Unobservable Inputs
Description		Total				(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
Assets:
Money market funds		$	192,348			$	192,348			$	—			$	—
Investment securities available for sale			28,518				20,627				7,891				—
Total		$	220,866			$	212,975			$	7,891			$	—
Liabilities:
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt		$	77,245			$	—			$	—			$	77,245

The fair value of investment securities available for sale included in Level 1 are based on quoted market prices from various stock exchanges. The Level 2 investment securities available for sale were not registered and therefore do not have direct market quotes or have certain restrictions.

The fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt were derived using a valuation model and have been classified as Level 3. The valuation model assumes future dividend payments by the Company and utilizes interest rates and credit spreads for secured to unsecured debt, unsecured to subordinated debt and subordinated debt to preferred stock to determine the fair value of the derivatives embedded within the convertible debt. The changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt as of March 31, 2009 are disclosed. (See Note 6.)

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company is required to record assets and liabilities at liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges.

The Company’s nonrecurring nonfinancial assets subject to fair value measurements and the necessary disclosures are as follows:

						Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2009
										Quoted Prices
		Three Months								In Active				Significant
		ended								Markets for				Other				Significant
		March 31, 2009								Identical				Observable				Unobservable
		Impairment								Assets				Inputs				Inputs
Description		Charge				Total				(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
Assets:
Mortgage receivable		$	5,000			$	12,704			$	—			$	—			$	12,704
Non-consolidated real estate			3,500				3,000				—				—				3,000
Total		$	8,500			$	15,704			$	—			$	—			$	15,704

The Company estimated the fair value of its mortgage receivable and non-consolidated real estate using observable inputs such as market pricing based on recent events, however, significant judgment was required to select certain inputs from observed market data. The decrease in the mortgage receivable and the non-consolidated real estate are attributed to the decline in the New York and California real estate markets due to various factors including downward pressure on housing prices, the impact of the recent contraction in the subprime and mortgage markets generally and a large inventory of unsold homes at the same time that sales volumes are decreasing. The $8,500 impairment charge for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was included in the earnings for the period.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

12. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company’s significant business segments for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 were Liggett, Vector Tobacco and New Valley. The Liggett segment consists of the manufacture and sale of conventional cigarettes and, for segment reporting purposes, includes the operations of Medallion (which operations are held for legal purposes as part of Vector Tobacco). The Vector Tobacco segment includes the development and marketing of the low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products as well as the development of reduced risk cigarette products and, for segment reporting purposes, excludes the operations of Medallion. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The New Valley segment includes the Company’s equity income and investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses and mortgage receivable.

Financial information for the Company’s operations before taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 follows:

						Vector				New				Corporate
		Liggett				Tobacco				Valley				and Other				Total
Three months ended March 31, 2009
Revenues		$	120,887			$	329				—				—			$	121,216
Operating income (loss)			38,410	(1)			(2,785	)			—				(4,465	)			31,160
Equity loss on non-consolidated real estate businesses			—				—				(995	)			—				(995	)
Identifiable assets			287,783				2,168				56,762				336,513				683,226
Depreciation and amortization			1,985				28				—				580				2,593
Capital expenditures			744				59				—				—				803
Three months ended March 31, 2008
Revenues		$	131,645			$	560				—				—			$	132,205
Operating income (loss)			37,344				(2,410	)			—				(6,893	)			28,041
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses			—				—				13,320				—				13,320
Identifiable assets			336,829				2,176				53,350				396,206				788,561
Depreciation and amortization			1,853				30				—				585				2,468
Capital expenditures			1,215				12				—				—				1,227