1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. 1)* VECTOR GROUP LTD. -------------------- (NAME OF ISSUER) COMMON STOCK, $.10 PAR VALUE ------------------------------ (TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES) 92240M-10-8 (CUSIP NUMBER) MARC E. KASOWITZ KASOWITZ, BENSON, TORRES & FRIEDMAN LLP 1633 BROADWAY NEW YORK, NY 10019 (212) 506-1700 ----------------------------------------------------- (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) SEPTEMBER 29, 2000 -------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of ss.ss.240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d.1(g), check the following box [ ]. Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). Page 1 of 8 Pages
2 - ----------------------------- --------------------------------------- CUSIP NO. 92240M-10-8 PAGE 2 OF 8 PAGES - ----------------------------- --------------------------------------- =============== =============================================================== Name of Reporting Person 1 S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person KASOWITZ, BENSON, TORRES & FRIEDMAN LLP =============== =============================================================== 2 Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) [X] (b) [ ] =============== =============================================================== 3 SEC Use Only =============== =============================================================== 4 Source of Funds (See Instructions) OO =============== =============================================================== 5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] =============== =============================================================== 6 Citizenship or Place of Organization New York ========================== ------- ============================================ 7 Sole Voting Power 1,112,549 ------- ============================================ 8 Shared Voting Power - 0 - ------- ============================================ Number of Shares 9 Sole Dispositive Power Beneficially Owned by 1,112,549 Each Reporting Person With ======= ============================================ 10 Shared Dispositive Power - 0 - =============== =============================================================== 11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,112,549 =============== =============================================================== 12 Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) [ ] =============== =============================================================== 13 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) --------------------------------------------------------------- 4.16% =============== =============================================================== 14 Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) PN =============== ===============================================================
3 - ----------------------------- --------------------------------------- CUSIP NO. 92240M-10-8 PAGE 3 OF 8 PAGES - ----------------------------- --------------------------------------- =============== =============================================================== Name of Reporting Person 1 S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person MARC E. KASOWITZ =============== =============================================================== 2 Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) [X] (b) [ ] =============== =============================================================== 3 SEC Use Only =============== =============================================================== 4 Source of Funds (See Instructions) N/A =============== =============================================================== 5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] =============== =============================================================== 6 Citizenship or Place of Organization United States ========================== ------- ============================================ 7 Sole Voting Power - 0 - ------- ============================================ 8 Shared Voting Power 1,112,549 ------- ============================================ Number of Shares 9 Sole Dispositive Power Beneficially Owned by - 0 - Each Reporting Person With ======= ============================================ 10 Shared Dispositive Power 1,112,549 =============== =============================================================== 11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,112,549 =============== =============================================================== 12 Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) [ ] =============== =============================================================== 13 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 4.16% =============== =============================================================== 14 Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN =============== ===============================================================
4 - ----------------------------- --------------------------------------- CUSIP NO. 92240M-10-8 PAGE 4 OF 8 PAGES - ----------------------------- --------------------------------------- =============== ================================================================ Name of Reporting Person 1 S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person DANIEL R. BENSON =============== ================================================================ 2 Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) [X] (b) [ ] =============== ================================================================ 3 SEC Use Only =============== ================================================================ 4 Source of Funds (See Instructions) N/A =============== ================================================================ 5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] =============== ================================================================ 6 Citizenship or Place of Organization United States ========================== ------- ============================================= 7 Sole Voting Power - 0 - ------- ============================================= 8 Shared Voting Power 1,112,549 ------- ============================================= Number of Shares 9 Sole Dispositive Power Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person - 0 - With ======= ============================================= 10 Shared Dispositive Power 1,112,549 =============== ================================================================ 11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,112,549 =============== ================================================================ 12 Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) [ ] =============== ================================================================ 13 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 4.16% =============== ================================================================ 14 Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN =============== ================================================================
5 This Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 1998 (the "Schedule 13D") on behalf of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP ("KBTF"), Marc E. Kasowitz and Daniel R. Benson (collectively, the "Reporting Persons"), in connection with the common stock, $.10 par value (the "Common Stock"), of Vector Group Ltd. (formerly known as Brooke Group Ltd.), a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is hereby amended as follows (unless otherwise defined, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Schedule 13D). All information in this Amendment to the Schedule 13D concerning the Common Stock has been adjusted to give effect to the 5% stock dividends paid to stockholders of the Company on September 30, 1999 and on September 28, 2000. ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF THE TRANSACTION. The following is hereby added after the third paragraph in Item 4 of the Schedule 13D: "On August 29, 2000, KBTF exercised options for 215,019 shares of the Company's Common Stock with an exercise price of $5.44 per share. KBTF surrendered options for 99,981 shares in payment of the exercise price. " ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER. (1) Clauses (a) and (b) of Item 5 of the Schedule 13D are hereby deleted and replaced in their entirety by the following: "The response to Item 4 is incorporated herein. The Reporting Persons currently beneficially own, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3, 1,112,549 shares of Common Stock (including 1,063,125 shares by virtue of their ownership of the option), representing approximately 4.16% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (assuming exercise in full of the option), based on the 25,667,082 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2000 as advised by the Company. KBTF will have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the option. Messrs. Kasowitz and Benson, by virtue of their relationship to KBTF (as disclosed in Item 2), may be deemed to beneficially own within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 the shares of Common Stock acquired by KBTF upon exercise of the option. Each of Messrs. Kasowitz and Benson disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares for all other purposes. " (2) Clause (c) of Item 5 of the Schedule 13D is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety by the following: "On August 29, 2000, KBTF exercised options to purchase 215,019 shares of Common Stock and surrendered options for 99,981 shares in payment of the exercise price. See Item 4. From September 6, 2000 to October 2, 2000, KBTF sold in the open market on the NYSE 165,595 shares of Common Stock as described in Exhibit 2, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. None of the Reporting Persons has effected any other transactions in the Common Stock in the past 60 days." Page 5 of 8 Pages
6 (3) Clause (e) of Item 5 of the Schedule 13D is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety by the following: "As of September 7, 2000, based on the number of shares of Common Stock advised by the Company as then outstanding, the Reporting Persons ceased to be the beneficial owners of more than five percent of the Common Stock." ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS. Exhibit 2: Transactions in the Common Stock in the past 60 days. Page 6 of 8 Pages
7 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: October 6, 2000 KASOWITZ, BENSON, TORRES & FRIEDMAN LLP By: /s/ MARC E. KASOWITZ ------------------------- Name: Marc E. Kasowitz Title: Managing Partner /s/ MARC E. KASOWITZ ------------------------- Marc E. Kasowitz /s/ DANIEL R. BENSON ------------------------- Daniel R. Benson Page 7 of 8 Pages
8 EXHIBIT 2 Transactions in the Common Stock in the past 60 days: NO. OF SHARES RICE PER NAME DATE SOLD SHARE(1) ---- ---- -------------- -------- KBTF 9/6/00 1,785 19.3452 8,190 19.4048 525 19.5238 -------- 10,500 KBTF 9/7/00 3,150 19.4048 KBTF 9/11/00 10,395 19.0476 105 19.1667 -------- 10,500 KBTF 9/12/00 4,095 19.0476 5,250 19.1071 1,575 19.1667 -------- 10,920 KBTF 9/13/00 2,625 18.9881 1,890 19.0476 ------ 4,515 KBTF 9/14/00 4,725 18.9286 22,575 18.9881 8,610 19.0476 -------- 35,910 KBTF 9/15/00 1,155 18.9286 32,445 18.9881 ------ 33,600 KBTF 9/20/00 900 18.0000 KBTF 9/28/00 400 17.1875 4,400 17.2500 11,900 17.3125 ------ 16,700 KBTF 9/29/00 1,500 17.1875 600 17.3125 2,400 17.3750 16,500 17.4375 15,100 17.5000 ------ 36,100 KBTF 10/2/00 1,600 17.0000 1,200 17.0625 ----- 2,800 (1) Excludes brokerage commissions. On August 29, 2000, KBTF exercised options to purchase 215,019 shares of Common Stock at $5.44 per share. See Item 4. Page 8 of 8 Pages