UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):     February 24, 2011

VECTOR GROUP LTD.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

DELAWARE
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-5759		65-0949535
(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

100 S.E. Second Street, Miami, Florida		33131
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(305) 579-8000
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Not Applicable)
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 2.02.		Results of Operations and Financial Condition

               On February 24, 2011, Vector Group Ltd. announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2010. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

               The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01.		Financial Statements and Exhibit
(c)		Exhibit.

Exhibit No.		Exhibit
99.1		Press Release issued February 24, 2011

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: February 24, 2011

Exhibit 99.1

      

		630 Third Avenue  New York, NY 10017 T 212.687.8080  F. 212.687.8344

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
		Contact:		Paul Caminiti/Carrie Bloom/Jonathan Doorley
				Sard Verbinnen & Co
				212-687-8080

VECTOR GROUP REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2010
FINANCIAL RESULTS

     MIAMI, FL, February 24, 2011 — Vector Group Ltd. (NYSE: VGR) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

     For the full year ended December 31, 2010, revenues were $1.063 billion, compared to $801.5 million for 2009. The increase in revenues in 2010 was primarily due to increased unit sales of approximately 24.9% in 2010 compared to 2009 and the increase in federal excise taxes on cigarettes, which became effective on April 1, 2009. The Company recorded operating income of $111.3 million for 2010, compared to operating income of $143.2 million for 2009. Net income for 2010 was $54.1 million, or $0.71 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $24.8 million, or $0.33 per diluted common share, for 2009. The results for 2010 included pre-tax charges of $16.2 million related to litigation judgment expense and another $3.0 million settlement charge and $11.5 million of pre-tax gains from changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt. Adjusting for these items, the Company’s operating income for 2010 would have been $130.5 million and the Company’s net income for 2010 would have been $58.7 million, or $0.77 per diluted common share. The results for 2009 included a one-time pre-tax gain of $5.0 million related to an exercise of an option from the 1999 brand transaction with Philip Morris, a one-time income tax benefit of $6.2 million associated with the recognition of a deferred tax asset, a pre-tax charge of $18.6 million on extinguishment of debt and $35.9 million of pre-tax charges from changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt, pre-tax impairment charges of $8.5 million on real estate investments, $2.1 million in pre-tax income from the Company’s investment in the St. Regis Hotel, which was sold in March 2008, and $0.9 million of restructuring charges. Adjusting for these items, the Company’s net income for 2009 would have been $52.4 million, or $0.69 per diluted common share.

     Fourth quarter 2010 revenues were $277.6 million, compared to revenues of $236.7 million in the fourth quarter 2009. The increase in revenues in 2010 was primarily due to increased unit sales of approximately 17.0% in the 2010 period compared to the 2009 period. The Company recorded operating income of $29.3 million in the 2010 fourth quarter, compared to operating income of $36.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Net income for the 2010 fourth quarter was $12.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $13.4 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share, in the 2009 fourth quarter. The results for the three months ended December 31, 2010 included a $1.8 million pre-tax settlement charge and $1.2 million of pre-tax charges from changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt. Adjusting for these items, the Company’s operating income for the 2010 fourth quarter would have been $31.1 million and the Company’s net income for the 2010 fourth quarter would have been $13.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share. The results for the three months ended December 31, 2009 included $10.1 million of pre-tax charges from changes in the fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt which was offset by $2.1 million of pre-tax income from the Company’s investment in the St. Regis Hotel. Adjusting for these items, the Company’s net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 would have been $18.2 million, or $0.24 per diluted common share.

     For the three months and year ended December 31, 2010, the Company’s tobacco segment had revenues of $277.6 million and $1.063 billion, respectively, compared to $236.7 million and $801.5 million for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2009, respectively. Operating income was $33.7 million and $130.2 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2010, compared to $41.7 million and $160.9 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2009, respectively. Adjusting for the litigation judgment and settlement charges, operating income for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2010 was $35.5 million and $149.3 million, respectively. Adjusting for the one-time gain on the brand transaction and the restructuring expenses, operating income for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2009 was $41.6 million and $156.8 million. As a result of the suspension of the marketing of low nicotine and nicotine-free cigarette products as well as a significant reduction in Vector Tobacco’s research-related activities, the Liggett and Vector Tobacco businesses have been combined into a single segment and 2009 information has been recast to conform to the 2010 presentation.

     Conference Call to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Results

     As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. (ET) to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2010 results. Investors can access the call by dialing 800-859-8150 and entering 47999142 as the conference ID number. The call will also be available via live webcast at www.investorcalendar.com.

     A replay of the call will be available shortly after the call ends on February 25, 2011 through March 11, 2011. To access the replay, dial 877-656-8905 and enter 47999142 as the conference ID number. The archived webcast will also be available at www.investorcalendar.com for 30 days.

     Vector Group is a holding company that indirectly owns Liggett Group LLC and Vector Tobacco Inc. and directly owns New Valley LLC. Additional information concerning the company is available on the company’s website, www.VectorGroupLtd.com.

[Financial Table Follows]

# # #

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

		Three Months ended								Twelve Months ended
		December 31,								December 31,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Revenues*		$	277,618			$	236,748			$	1,063,289			$	801,494
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold*			225,041				179,298				845,106				577,386
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses			21,435				21,362				90,709				85,041
Litigation judgment expense			1,800								16,161
Gain on brand transaction			—				—				—				(5,000	)
Restructuring and impairment charges			—				(100	)			—				900
Operating income			29,342				36,188				111,313				143,167
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense			(23,010	)			(18,522	)			(84,096	)			(68,490	)
Changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt			(1,211	)			(10,080	)			11,524				(35,925	)
Provision for loss on investments			—				—				—				(8,500	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			—				(129	)			—				(18,573	)
Gain on sales of investment securities available for sale			1,031				—				19,869				—
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses			12,144				9,685				23,963				15,213
Other, net			276				1,368				2,997				1,645
Income before provision for income taxes			18,572				18,510				85,570				28,537
Income tax expense			(6,556	)			(5,077	)			(31,486	)			(3,731	)
Net income		$	12,016			$	13,433			$	54,084			$	24,806
Per basic common share:
Net income applicable to common shares		$	0.16			$	0.18			$	0.71			$	0.33
Per diluted common share:
Net income applicable to common shares		$	0.16			$	0.18			$	0.71			$	0.33
Cash distributions declared per share		$	0.40			$	0.38			$	1.54			$	1.47