As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 25, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
Registration Statement
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
Vector Group Ltd.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 65-0949535 | |||||||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. employer identification no.) | |||||||
4400 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33137
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan
(Full title of each plan)
J. Bryant Kirkland III
Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
4400 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33137
(305)-579-8000
(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
With a copy to:
Alan J. Fishman
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
125 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
(212) 558-4000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act: ☐
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Vector Group Ltd. (the “Company”) has prepared this Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), to register (i) 4,027,462 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”) issuable under the Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s stockholders on July 26, 2023, and (ii) pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, any additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable under the 2023 Plan by reason of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or or other similar corporate transaction or event.
Concurrently herewith, the Company is filing a Post-Effective Amendment to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-196274) relating to shares of Common Stock that were previously authorized to be awarded under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Management Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”). As of August 25, 2023, there were 3,972,538 shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued under the Prior Plan that were not issued or subject to outstanding awards granted under the Prior Plan. Accordingly, as a result of the approval of the 2023 Plan, these 3,972,538 shares of Common Stock are no longer available for issuance under the Prior Plan. Under the terms of the 2023 Plan, the Company may issue up to 8,000,000 shares of Common Stock, which represents the sum of (i) 4,027,462 newly reserved shares of Common Stock and (ii) the 3,972,538 shares of Common Stock that are no longer available for issuance under the Prior Plan.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. Plan Information.
The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the 2023 Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. Such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) but constitute, along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
Item 2. Company Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the “Note” to Part I of Form S-8.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
The following documents filed with the Commission by the Company are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:
1. | The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed by the Company with the Commission on February 21, 2023, as amended by Amendment No. 1, filed by the Company with the Commission on May 1, 2023. | |||||||
2. | The Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended (i) March 31, 2023, filed by the Company with the Commission on May 9, 2023, and (ii) June 30, 2023, filed with by the Company with the Commission on August 4, 2023. | |||||||
3. | The Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 26, 2023, filed by the Company with the Commission on July 31, 2023. | |||||||
4. | The description of the Company’s Common Stock under the heading “Description of Capital Stock” contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-267358) filed by the Company on September 9, 2022, including any amendments or supplements thereto. | |||||||
All reports and other documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement (other than any such documents or portions thereof that are furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of a Current Report on Form 8-K, unless otherwise indicated therein, including any exhibits included with such Items), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in this Registration Statement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained or incorporated by reference herein or in any subsequently filed document which is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Not Applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by third parties. The directors or officers must have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe their conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, an action only by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may be made only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by directors and officers in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit, and only with respect to a matter as to which they shall have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. No indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant officers or directors are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability. The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for indemnification by the Company its directors, senior officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its charter that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders,(2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) for payments of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions, or (4) for any transaction from
which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for such limitation of liability.
The Company also maintains liability insurance for the benefit of its directors and officers.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
Not Applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits
| Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 26, 2023, filed by the Company with the Commission on July 31, 2023). | ||||||||
| Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan. | ||||||||
| Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement under Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan. | ||||||||
| Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Shares Award Agreement under Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan. | ||||||||
| Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. | ||||||||
| Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. | ||||||||
| Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 and incorporated herein by reference. | ||||||||
| Powers of Attorney (included on signature page of this Part II). | ||||||||
| Filing Fee Table | ||||||||
* Filed herewith.
Item 9. Undertakings
(a) The Company hereby undertakes:
(1) To file during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that, paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by us pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered hereby which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering hereof.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| VECTOR GROUP LTD. | |||||||||||
| (Registrant) | |||||||||||
| By: | /s/ J. Bryant Kirkland III | ||||||||||
| J. Bryant Kirkland III | |||||||||||
| Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |||||||||||
| Date: | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Richard J. Lampen, Marc N. Bell and J. Bryant Kirkland III his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement and any and all registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| SIGNATURE | TITLE | Date | ||||||||||||
| /s/ Howard M. Lorber | President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Howard M. Lorber | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ J. Bryant Kirkland III | Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| J. Bryant Kirkland III | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Bennett S. LeBow | Director | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Bennett S. LeBow | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Henry C. Beinstein | Director | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Henry C. Beinstein | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Ronald J. Bernstein | Director | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Ronald J. Bernstein | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Paul V. Carlucci | Director | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Paul V. Carlucci | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Richard J. Lampen | Director | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Richard J. Lampen | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Jean E. Sharpe | Director | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Jean E. Sharpe | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Barry Watkins | Director | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Barry Watkins | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ Wilson L. White | Director | August 25, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Wilson L. White | ||||||||||||||
EXHIBIT 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
Form S-8
(Form Type)
Vector Group Ltd.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1—Newly Registered Securities
| Security Type | Security Class Title | Fee Calculation Rule | Amount Registered(1) | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit | Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Fee Rate | Amount of Registration Fee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | Vector Group Ltd. Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share, that may be issued under the Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan | Other | 4,027,462(2) | $10.51 | $42,328,625.62 | 0.00011020 | $4,664.61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Offering Amounts | $42,328,625.62 | $4,664.61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fee Offsets | $- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Fee Due | $4,664.61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to which this exhibit relates shall also cover any additional shares of common stock, $0.10 par value (the “Common Stock”), of Vector Group Ltd. (the “Registrant”) that may be issued to adjust the number of shares issued pursuant to the plans described herein in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar corporate transaction or event. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) Amount represents 8,000,000 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”) minus 3,972,538 shares of Common Stock (the “Unused Reserve”) that were authorized to be issued under the Registrant’s Amended and Restated 2014 Management Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”), but were not issued or subject to outstanding awards granted under the Prior Plan and are now available for issuance under the 2023 Plan. Concurrently with the filing of this Registration Statement on Form S-8, the Registrant is filing a Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-196274) (the “Prior Registration Statement”) to register the offer and sale of the Unused Reserve under the 2023 Plan (as such shares would no longer be issuable under the Prior Plan as of the effective date of the 2023 Plan). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) Estimated on the basis of $10.51 per share, the average of the high and low sales prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on August 18, 2023 pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) of the Securities Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EXHIBIT 4.3
RESTRICTED SHARES AWARD AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO THE
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
2023 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made as of [Grant Date] (“Grant Date”), by and between Vector Group Ltd., a Delaware Corporation, with its principal office at 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 10th Floor, Miami, FL 33137 (the “Company”), and [Participant] (the “Participant”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) originally adopted the Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan on June 15, 2023 (approved by the stockholders of the Company on July 26, 2023) (as such plan may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, the Plan provides that the Company, through the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), can grant awards of Restricted Shares to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants who provide services to the Company; and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Committee has determined that Participant, an Employee of the Company, shall be awarded Restricted Shares in the amount set forth below and subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Participant each agree as follows:
1. Grant of Restricted Shares. Subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Participant [Amount of] Restricted Shares effective as of the Grant Date. The Participant shall be entitled to all rights of a holder of shares of common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) set forth in Section 4 hereof as of the Grant Date. Pursuant to the Plan and Section 2 of this Agreement, the Restricted Shares are subject to certain restrictions, some of which shall expire in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and Section 2 hereof. A book entry in Participant’s name evidencing the Restricted Shares will be made with the Company or its designated agent until such Restricted Shares are released to the Participant or forfeited in accordance with this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided herein, capitalized terms used herein that are not defined herein shall have the meanings attributable thereto in the Plan.
2. Vesting. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2(b) and 3 hereof, the Restricted Shares shall become vested in the following percentages and at the following times, subject to the Participant’s continued employment or engagement with the Company through and on the applicable Vesting Date:
| Percentage of Restricted Shares | Vesting Date | ||||
| [Vesting Schedule] | [Vesting Dates] | ||||
There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting of the Restricted Shares in or during the months, days or periods prior to each Vesting Date, and all vesting of the Restricted Shares shall occur only on the applicable Vesting Date. Upon the termination or cessation of the Participant’s employment or engagement with the Company, other than upon an Acceleration Event, any portion of the Restricted Shares which is not yet then vested shall automatically and without notice terminate, be forfeited and be and become null and void except as otherwise provided herein.
(b) [Notwithstanding any other term or provision of this Agreement, in the event that an Acceleration Event (as defined below) occurs, the Restricted Shares subject to this Agreement shall become immediately fully vested as of the date of the Acceleration Event. For purposes of this Agreement, an “Acceleration Event” shall mean the first to occur of any of the following: the Participant’s employment or engagement with the Company and its Related Entities terminates as a result of a Without Cause Termination, Good Reason Termination, or the Participant’s death or Disability.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i)“Disability” shall mean mental or physical impairment or incapacity rendering the Participant substantially unable to perform his duties for more than 180 days out of any 360-day period during such Participant’s employment with the Company. A determination of Disability shall be made by the Board in its reasonable discretion after obtaining the advice of a medical doctor mutually selected by the Company and the Participant. If the parties cannot agree upon a medical doctor, each party shall select a medical doctor and the two doctors shall select a third who shall be the approved medical doctor for this purpose.
(ii)“Good Reason” means (a) with respect to a Participant employed pursuant to a written employment agreement which agreement includes a definition of “Good Reason,” “Good Reason” as defined in that agreement or (b) with respect to any other Participant, the occurrence of any of the following in the absence of written consent of a Participant, (i) the transfer of the Participant’s primary work site to a new primary work site that is more than 50 miles from the Participant’s current, primary work site; or (ii) a diminution of the Participant’s base salary by more than 10%, unless such diminution applies to all similarly situated employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, placing the Participant on a paid leave for up to 90 days, pending the determination of whether there is a basis to terminate the Participant for Cause, shall not constitute Good Reason. If the Participant does not deliver to the Company or the Subsidiary of whom he is an Employee, as applicable, a written notice of termination within 60 days after the Participant has knowledge that an event constituting Good Reason has occurred, the event will no longer constitute Good Reason. In addition, the Participant must give the Company or the Subsidiary, as applicable, notice and 30 days to cure the event constituting Good Reason.
(iii)“Good Reason Termination” shall mean a termination of the Participant’s employment by the Participant for Good Reason.
(iv)“Without Cause Termination” shall mean a termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company or a subsidiary thereof
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other than for Cause (as defined in Section 2.11 of the Plan) or as a result of the Participant’s death or disability.]1
3. Effect of Vesting; Forfeiture.
(a) Upon the vesting of any Restricted Shares, such vested Restricted Shares will no longer be subject to forfeiture as provided in this Agreement. Promptly after vesting, the Company will deliver to the Participant the Restricted Shares that have vested subject to applicable tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 10.
(b) If the Participant’s employment or engagement with the Company and the Related Entities is terminated for any reason other than a Without Cause Termination or a Good Reason Termination, the Participant shall automatically forfeit any unvested Restricted Shares and the Company shall acquire such unvested Restricted Shares for the amount paid by the Participant for such Restricted Shares (or, if no amount was paid by the Participant for such Restricted Shares, then the Company shall acquire such Restricted Shares for no consideration). The Committee shall have the power and authority to enforce on behalf of the Company any rights of the Company under this Agreement in the event of the Participant’s forfeiture of the Restricted Shares pursuant to this Section 3.
4. Rights as a Holder of Restricted Shares. From and after the Grant Date, the Participant shall have, with respect to the Restricted Shares (whether vested or unvested), all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote the shares, to receive and retain all regular cash dividends payable to holders of shares of record on and after the Grant Date (although such dividends will be treated, to the extent required by applicable law, as additional compensation for tax purposes), and to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a holder of shares with respect to the Restricted Shares; provided, that, to the extent the Company issues a dividend in the form of shares or other property, such shares or other property shall be subject to the same restrictions that are then applicable to the Restricted Shares under the Plan and this Agreement and such restrictions shall expire at the same time as the restrictions on the Restricted Shares expire. Participant shall not be required to repay any cash dividends received with respect to Restricted Shares that are subsequently forfeited prior to vesting.
5. Taxes; Section 83(b) Election. The Participant acknowledges that (i) no later than the earlier of (x) the date on which any Restricted Shares shall have become vested or (y) the date on which the Participant makes a Section 83(b) election (if he or she so chooses to make such an election), the Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding payment of, any Federal, state or local or other taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Restricted Shares which shall have become so vested; (ii) the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant any Federal, state or local or other taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Restricted Shares which shall have become so vested, including that the Company may, but shall not be required to, sell a number of Restricted Shares sufficient to cover applicable withholding taxes; and (iii) in the event that the Participant does not satisfy (i) above on a timely basis, the Company may, but shall not be required to, pay such required withholding and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, treat such amount as a demand loan to the Participant at the maximum rate permitted by law, with such loan, at the Company’s sole discretion and provided the Company so notifies the Participant within thirty (30) days of the making of the loan, secured by the Restricted Shares and any failure by the Participant to pay the loan upon demand shall entitle the Company to all of
1 To be included in recipient award agreement on a case by case basis as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
3
the rights at law of a creditor secured by the Restricted Shares. The Company may hold as security any certificates representing any Restricted Shares and, upon demand of the Company, the Participant shall deliver to the Company any certificates in his or her possession representing the Restricted Shares together with a stock power duly endorsed in blank. The Participant also acknowledges that it is his or her sole responsibility, and not the Company’s, to file timely and properly any election under Section 83(b) of the Code, and any corresponding provisions of state tax laws, if the Participant wishes to utilize such election.
6. No Obligation to Continue Employment. This Agreement is not an agreement of employment. Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the issuance of the Restricted Shares hereunder constitute an agreement by the Company or any Related Entity thereof to employ or to continue to employ the Participant during the entire, or any portion of, the term of this Agreement, including but not limited to any period during which any Restricted Shares are outstanding.
7. Legend. In the event that a certificate evidencing the Restricted Shares is issued, the certificate representing the Restricted Shares shall have endorsed thereon the following legends:
(a) “THE ANTICIPATION, ALIENATION, ATTACHMENT, SALE, TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, ENCUMBRANCE OR CHARGE OF THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING FORFEITURE) OF VECTOR GROUP LTD. (THE “COMPANY”) 2023 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN ORIGINALLY ADOPTED BY THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON JUNE 15, 2023 (APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ON JULY 26, 2023) (AS SUCH PLAN MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “PLAN”) AND AN AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER AND THE COMPANY DATED AS OF [GRANT DATE]. COPIES OF SUCH PLAN AND AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.”
(b) Any legend required to be placed thereon by applicable blue sky laws of any state.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be obligated to issue a certificate representing the Restricted Shares prior to vesting as set forth in Section 2 hereof.
8. Power of Attorney. The Company, its successors and assigns, is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, of the Participant for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instruments which such attorney-in-fact may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment as attorney-in-fact is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. The Company, as attorney-in-fact for the Participant, may in the name and stead of the Participant, make and execute all conveyances, assignments and transfers of the Restricted Shares provided for herein, and the Participant hereby ratifies and confirms that which the Company, as said attorney-in-fact, shall do by virtue hereof. Nevertheless, the Participant shall, if so requested by the Company, execute and deliver to the Company all such instruments as may, in the judgment of the Company, be advisable for this purpose.
9. Transferability. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Restricted Shares shall not be subject to a Transfer (as defined below), otherwise than by will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the shares become vested under Section 2 hereof. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the executors,
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administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Participant. Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 9, any attempt to effectuate a Transfer of any Restricted Shares shall be void ab initio. For purposes of this Agreement, “Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, encumbrance, gift, donation, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, or other disposition, whether similar or dissimilar to those previously enumerated, whether voluntary or involuntary, and including, but not limited to, any disposition by operation of law, by court order, by judicial process, or by foreclosure, levy or attachment.
10. Tax Withholding. Upon each vesting of the Restricted Shares, the Company shall withhold shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the maximum statutory amount to satisfy any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld as a result of such vesting.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal legal representatives, successors, trustees, administrators, distributes, devisees and legatees. The Company may assign to, and require, any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree in writing to perform this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may not assign this Agreement or any of the Participant’s rights, interest or obligations hereunder.
(b) This award of Restricted Shares shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or stockholders of the Company to make or authorize an adjustment, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure or the business of the Company, any merger or consolidation of the Company or subsidiaries, any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Restricted Shares, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.
(c) The Participant agrees that the award of the Restricted Shares hereunder is special incentive compensation and that, with the exception of dividends paid thereon, will not be taken into account as “salary”, “Base Salary” (as defined in the Participant’s employment agreement), “compensation” or “bonus” in determining the amount of any matching payment under the Liggett Vector Brands Savings Plan or any other pension, retirement or profit-sharing plan of the Company or subsidiary thereof or any life insurance, disability or other benefit plan of the Company or subsidiary thereof.
(d) No modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party against whom it is sought to be enforced.
(e) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one contract, and such execution may be evidenced by electronic means pursuant to any procedures established by the Company for electronic acceptance.
(f) The failure of any party hereto at any time to require performance by another party of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the right of such party to require performance of that provision, and any waiver by any party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision, a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right under this Agreement.
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(g) The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way restrict or modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.
(h) All notices, consents, requests, approvals, instructions and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and validly given or made when delivered, or on the second succeeding business day after being mailed by registered or certified mail, whichever is earlier, to the persons entitled or required to receive the same, at the addresses set forth at the heading of this Agreement or to such other address as either party may designate by like notice. Notices to the Company shall be addressed to Vector Group Ltd. at 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 10th Floor, Miami, Florida 33137, Attn: Marc N. Bell, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.
(i) This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of Florida (disregarding any choice of law rules which might look to the laws of any other jurisdiction).
12. Provisions of Plan Control. This Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, including, without limitation, the amendment provisions thereof, and to such rules, regulations and interpretations relating to the Plan as may be adopted thereunder and as may be in effect from time to time. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Plan has been delivered to the Participant. If and to the extent that this Agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall control, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof (other than any other documents expressly contemplated herein or in the Plan) and supersedes any prior agreements between the Company and the Participant.
[signature page(s) follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
By: __________________________________
Name: [Name of Officer]
Title: [Title of Officer]
Participant:
___________________________________________
[Participant]
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EXHIBIT 4.4
PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED SHARES AWARD AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO THE
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
2023 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made as of [Grant Date] (“Grant Date”), by and between Vector Group Ltd., a Delaware Corporation, with its principal office at 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 10th Floor, Miami, FL 33137 (the “Company”), and [Participant] (the “Participant”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) originally adopted the Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan on June 15, 2023 (approved by the stockholders of the Company on July 26, 2023) (as such plan may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, the Plan provides that the Company, through the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), can grant awards of Restricted Shares to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants who provide services to the Company; and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Committee has determined that Participant, an Employee of the Company, shall be awarded Restricted Shares in the amount set forth below and subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Participant each agree as follows:
1. Grant of Restricted Shares. Subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Participant [Amount of] Restricted Shares effective as of the Grant Date. The Participant shall be entitled to all rights of a holder of shares of common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) set forth in Section 4 hereof as of the Grant Date. Pursuant to the Plan and Section 2 of this Agreement, the Restricted Shares are subject to certain restrictions, some of which shall expire in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and Section 2 hereof. A book entry in Participant’s name evidencing the Restricted Shares will be made with the Company or its designated agent until such Restricted Shares are released to the Participant or forfeited in accordance with this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided herein, capitalized terms used herein that are not defined herein shall have the meanings attributable thereto in the Plan.
2. Vesting. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2(b) hereof, the Restricted Shares shall become vested in the following percentages and at the following times subject to both (i) satisfying the target for [Performance Criteria] (as defined below) on the applicable Vesting Date and (ii) Participant’s continued employment or engagement with the Company through and on the applicable Vesting Date:
Vesting Date Number of Vested Shares (Cumulative)
[Vesting Dates] [Vesting Schedule]
[Description of Performance Criteria]
There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting of the Restricted Shares in or during the months, days or periods prior to each Vesting Date, and all vesting of the Restricted Shares shall occur only on the applicable Vesting Date. Upon the termination or cessation of the Participant’s employment or engagement with the Company, except as provided in Section 2(b) below, any portion of the Restricted Shares which is not yet then vested shall automatically and without notice terminate, be forfeited and be and become null and void except as otherwise provided herein.
(b) [Notwithstanding any other term or provision of this Agreement, in the event the Participant’s employment or engagement with the Company and its Related Entities terminates as a result of a Without Cause Termination, Good Reason Termination, or the Participant’s death or Disability, the requirement to be continuously employed on any future Vesting Date shall be waived and vesting of the Restricted Shares will continue to be subject to achievement of the applicable level of [Performance Criteria].
(c) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i)“Disability” shall mean mental or physical impairment or incapacity rendering the Participant substantially unable to perform his duties for more than 180 days out of any 360-day period during such Participant’s employment with the Company. A determination of Disability shall be made by the Board in its reasonable discretion after obtaining the advice of a medical doctor mutually selected by the Company and the Participant. If the parties cannot agree upon a medical doctor, each party shall select a medical doctor and the two doctors shall select a third who shall be the approved medical doctor for this purpose.
(ii)“Good Reason” means (a) with respect to a Participant employed pursuant to a written employment agreement which agreement includes a definition of “Good Reason,” “Good Reason” as defined in that agreement or (b) with respect to any other Participant, the occurrence of any of the following in the absence of written consent of a Participant, (i) the transfer of the Participant’s primary work site to a new primary work site that is more than 50 miles from the Participant’s current, primary work site; or (ii) a diminution of the Participant’s base salary by more than 10%, unless such diminution applies to all similarly situated employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, placing the Participant on a paid leave for up to 90 days, pending the determination of whether there is a basis to terminate the Participant for Cause, shall not constitute Good Reason. If the Participant does not deliver to the Company or the Subsidiary of whom he is an Employee, as applicable, a written notice of termination within 60 days after the Participant has knowledge that an event constituting Good Reason has occurred, the event will no longer constitute Good Reason. In addition, the Participant must give the Company or the Subsidiary, as applicable, notice and 30 days to cure the event constituting Good Reason.
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(iii)“Good Reason Termination” shall mean a termination of the Participant’s employment by the Participant for Good Reason.
(iv)“Without Cause Termination” shall mean a termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company or a subsidiary thereof other than for Cause (as defined in Section 2.11 of the Plan) or as a result of the Participant’s death or disability.]1
3. Effect of Vesting; Forfeiture.
(a) Upon the vesting of any Restricted Shares, such vested Restricted Shares will no longer be subject to forfeiture as provided in this Agreement. Promptly after vesting, the Company will deliver to the Participant the Restricted Shares that have vested subject to applicable tax withholding obligations pursuant to Section 10.
(b) If the Participant’s employment or engagement with the Company and the Related Entities is terminated for any reason other than a Without Cause Termination or a Good Reason Termination, the Participant shall automatically forfeit any unvested Restricted Shares and the Company shall acquire such unvested Restricted Shares for the amount paid by the Participant for such Restricted Shares (or, if no amount was paid by the Participant for such Restricted Shares, then the Company shall acquire such Restricted Shares for no consideration). The Committee shall have the power and authority to enforce on behalf of the Company any rights of the Company under this Agreement in the event of the Participant’s forfeiture of the Restricted Shares pursuant to this Section 3.
4. Rights as a Holder of Restricted Shares. From and after the Grant Date, the Participant shall have, with respect to the Restricted Shares (whether vested or unvested), all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote the shares, to receive and retain all regular dividends payable to holders of shares of record on and after the Grant Date, and to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a holder of shares with respect to the Restricted Shares; provided, that, the right to receive and retain such regular dividends (whether paid in the form of cash, shares or other property) shall be subject to the same restrictions that are then applicable to the Restricted Shares under the Plan and this Agreement and such restrictions shall expire at the same time as the restrictions on the Restricted Shares expire.
5. Taxes; Section 83(b) Election. The Participant acknowledges that (i) no later than the earlier of (x) the date on which any Restricted Shares shall have become vested or (y) the date on which the Participant makes a Section 83(b) election (if he or she so chooses to make such an election), the Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding payment of, any Federal, state or local or other taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Restricted Shares which shall have become so vested; (ii) the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant any Federal, state or local or other taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Restricted Shares which shall have become so vested, including that the Company may, but shall not be required to, sell a number of Restricted Shares sufficient to cover applicable withholding taxes; and (iii) in the event that the Participant does not satisfy (i) above on a timely basis, the Company may, but shall not be required to, pay such required withholding and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, treat such amount as a demand loan to the Participant at the maximum rate permitted by law, with such loan, at the Company’s sole discretion and provided the Company so notifies the
1 To be included in recipient award agreement on a case by case basis as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion
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Participant within thirty (30) days of the making of the loan, secured by the Restricted Shares and any failure by the Participant to pay the loan upon demand shall entitle the Company to all of the rights at law of a creditor secured by the Restricted Shares. The Company may hold as security any certificates representing any Restricted Shares and, upon demand of the Company, the Participant shall deliver to the Company any certificates in his or her possession representing the Restricted Shares together with a stock power duly endorsed in blank. The Participant also acknowledges that it is his or her sole responsibility, and not the Company’s, to file timely and properly any election under Section 83(b) of the Code, and any corresponding provisions of state tax laws, if the Participant wishes to utilize such election.
6. No Obligation to Continue Employment. This Agreement is not an agreement of employment. Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the issuance of the Restricted Shares hereunder constitute an agreement by the Company or any Related Entity thereof to employ or to continue to employ the Participant during the entire, or any portion of, the term of this Agreement, including but not limited to any period during which any Restricted Shares are outstanding.
7. Legend. In the event that a certificate evidencing the Restricted Shares is issued, the certificate representing the Restricted Shares shall have endorsed thereon the following legends:
(a) “THE ANTICIPATION, ALIENATION, ATTACHMENT, SALE, TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, ENCUMBRANCE OR CHARGE OF THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING FORFEITURE) OF VECTOR GROUP LTD. (THE “COMPANY”) 2023 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN ORIGINALLY ADOPTED BY THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON JUNE 15, 2023 (APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ON JULY 26, 2023) (AS SUCH PLAN MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “PLAN”) AND AN AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER AND THE COMPANY DATED AS OF [GRANT DATE]. COPIES OF SUCH PLAN AND AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.”
(b) Any legend required to be placed thereon by applicable blue sky laws of any state.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be obligated to issue a certificate representing the Restricted Shares prior to vesting as set forth in Section 2 hereof.
8. Power of Attorney. The Company, its successors and assigns, is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, of the Participant for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instruments which such attorney-in-fact may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment as attorney-in-fact is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. The Company, as attorney-in-fact for the Participant, may in the name and stead of the Participant, make and execute all conveyances, assignments and transfers of the Restricted Shares provided for herein, and the Participant hereby ratifies and confirms that which the Company, as said attorney-in-fact, shall do by virtue hereof. Nevertheless, the Participant shall, if so requested by the Company, execute and deliver to the Company all such instruments as may, in the judgment of the Company, be advisable for this purpose.
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9. Transferability. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Restricted Shares shall not be subject to a Transfer (as defined below), otherwise than by will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the shares become vested under Section 2 hereof. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Participant. Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 9, any attempt to effectuate a Transfer of any Restricted Shares shall be void ab initio. For purposes of this Agreement, “Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, encumbrance, gift, donation, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, or other disposition, whether similar or dissimilar to those previously enumerated, whether voluntary or involuntary, and including, but not limited to, any disposition by operation of law, by court order, by judicial process, or by foreclosure, levy or attachment.
10. Tax Withholding. Upon each vesting of the Restricted Shares, the Company shall withhold shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the maximum statutory amount to satisfy any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld as a result of such vesting.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal legal representatives, successors, trustees, administrators, distributes, devisees and legatees. The Company may assign to, and require, any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree in writing to perform this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may not assign this Agreement or any of the Participant’s rights, interest or obligations hereunder.
(b) This award of Restricted Shares shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or stockholders of the Company to make or authorize an adjustment, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure or the business of the Company, any merger or consolidation of the Company or subsidiaries, any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Restricted Shares, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.
(c) The Participant agrees that the award of the Restricted Shares hereunder is special incentive compensation and that, with the exception of dividends paid thereon, will not be taken into account as “salary”, “Base Salary” (as defined in the Participant’s employment agreement), “compensation” or “bonus” in determining the amount of any matching payment under the Liggett Vector Brands Savings Plan or any other pension, retirement or profit-sharing plan of the Company or subsidiary thereof or any life insurance, disability or other benefit plan of the Company or subsidiary thereof.
(d) No modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party against whom it is sought to be enforced.
(e) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one contract, and such execution may be evidenced by electronic means pursuant to any procedures established by the Company for electronic acceptance.
(f) The failure of any party hereto at any time to require performance by another party of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the right of such party to require
5
performance of that provision, and any waiver by any party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision, a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right under this Agreement.
(g) The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way restrict or modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.
(h) All notices, consents, requests, approvals, instructions and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and validly given or made when delivered, or on the second succeeding business day after being mailed by registered or certified mail, whichever is earlier, to the persons entitled or required to receive the same, at the addresses set forth at the heading of this Agreement or to such other address as either party may designate by like notice. Notices to the Company shall be addressed to Vector Group Ltd. at 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 10th Floor, Miami, Florida 33137, Attn: Marc N. Bell, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.
(i) This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of Florida (disregarding any choice of law rules which might look to the laws of any other jurisdiction).
12. Provisions of Plan Control. This Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, including, without limitation, the amendment provisions thereof, and to such rules, regulations and interpretations relating to the Plan as may be adopted thereunder and as may be in effect from time to time. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Plan has been delivered to the Participant. If and to the extent that this Agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall control, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof (other than any other documents expressly contemplated herein or in the Plan) and supersedes any prior agreements between the Company and the Participant.
[signature page(s) follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
By: __________________________________
Name: [Name of Officer]
Title: [Title of Officer]
Participant:
___________________________________________
[Participant]
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EXHIBIT 4.5
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
RESTRICTED SHARES AWARD AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO THE
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
2023 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made as of [Grant Date] (“Grant Date”), by and between Vector Group Ltd., a Delaware Corporation, with its principal office at 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 10th Floor, Miami, FL 33137 (the “Company”), and [Participant] (the “Participant”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) originally adopted the Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan on June 15, 2023 (approved by the stockholders of the Company on July 26, 2023) (as such plan may be amended from time to time, the “Plan”);
WHEREAS, the Plan provides that the Company, through the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), can grant awards of Restricted Shares to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants who provide services to the Company; and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Committee has determined that Participant, a Non-Employee Director of the Company, shall be awarded Restricted Shares in the amount set forth below and subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Participant each agree as follows:
1. Grant of Restricted Shares. Subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Participant [Amount of] Restricted Shares effective as of the Grant Date, subject to the same terms as were approved by the Committee on such date. The Participant shall be entitled to all rights of a holder of shares of common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) set forth in Section 4 hereof as of the Grant Date. Pursuant to the Plan and Section 2 of this Agreement, the Restricted Shares are subject to certain restrictions, some of which shall expire in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and Section 2 hereof. A book entry in Participant’s name evidencing the Restricted Shares will be made with the Company or its designated agent until such Restricted Shares are released to the Participant or forfeited in accordance with this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided herein, capitalized terms used herein that are not defined herein shall have the meanings attributable thereto in the Plan.
2. Vesting. (a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2(b) and 3 hereof, the Restricted Shares shall become vested in the following percentages and at the following times, subject to the Participant’s continued engagement with the Company through and on the applicable Vesting Date:
| Percentage of Restricted Shares | Vesting Date | ||||
| [Vesting Schedule] | [Vesting Dates] | ||||
There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting of the Restricted Shares in or during the months, days or periods prior to each Vesting Date, and all vesting of the Restricted Shares shall occur only on the applicable Vesting Date. Upon the termination or cessation of the Participant’s engagement with the Company, other than upon an Acceleration Event, any portion of the Restricted Shares which is not yet then vested shall automatically and without notice terminate, be forfeited and be and become null and void except as otherwise provided herein.
(b) Notwithstanding any other term or provision of this Agreement, in the event that an Acceleration Event (as defined below) occurs, the Restricted Shares subject to this Agreement shall become immediately fully vested as of the date of the Acceleration Event. For purposes of this Agreement, an “Acceleration Event” shall mean the first to occur of any of the following: a Change in Control (as defined below) provided that the Participant’s engagement with the Company and its Related Entities continues through and on the date of such Change in Control or the Participant’s engagement with the Company and its Related Entities thereof terminates due to the Participant’s death or Disability.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i)“Disability” shall mean mental or physical impairment or incapacity rendering the Participant substantially unable to perform his duties for more than 180 days out of any 360-day period during such Participant’s engagement with the Company. A determination of Disability shall be made by the Board in its reasonable discretion after obtaining the advice of a medical doctor mutually selected by the Company and the Participant. If the parties cannot agree upon a medical doctor, each party shall select a medical doctor and the two doctors shall select a third who shall be the approved medical doctor for this purpose.
(ii)“Change in Control” shall be as defined in Section 13.3 of the Plan.
3. Effect of Vesting; Forfeiture.
(a) Upon the vesting of any Restricted Shares, such vested Restricted Shares will no longer be subject to forfeiture as provided in this Agreement. Promptly after vesting, the Company will deliver to the Participant the Restricted Shares that have vested subject to applicable tax withholding obligations, if any, pursuant to Section 10.
(b) If the Participant’s engagement with the Company and the Related Entities is terminated for any reason other than in connection with Participant’s death or disability, the Participant shall automatically forfeit any unvested Restricted Shares and the Company shall acquire such unvested Restricted Shares for the amount paid by the Participant for such Restricted Shares (or, if no amount was paid by the Participant for such Restricted Shares, then the Company shall acquire such Restricted Shares for no consideration). The Committee shall have the power and authority to enforce on behalf of the Company any rights of the Company under this Agreement in the event of the Participant’s forfeiture of the Restricted Shares pursuant to this Section 3.
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4. Rights as a Holder of Restricted Shares. From and after the Grant Date, the Participant shall have, with respect to the Restricted Shares (whether vested or unvested), all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote the shares, to receive and retain all regular dividends payable to holders of shares of record on and after the Grant Date, and to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a holder of shares with respect to the Restricted Shares; provided, that, the right to receive and retain such regular dividends (whether paid in the form of cash, shares or other property) shall be subject to the same restrictions that are then applicable to the Restricted Shares under the Plan and this Agreement and such restrictions shall expire at the same time as the restrictions on the Restricted Shares expire.
5. Taxes; Section 83(b) Election. The Participant acknowledges that (i) no later than the earlier of (x) the date on which any Restricted Shares shall have become vested or (y) the date on which the Participant makes a Section 83(b) election (if he or she so chooses to make such an election), the Participant shall pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company regarding payment of, any Federal, state or local or other taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Restricted Shares which shall have become so vested; (ii) the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant any Federal, state or local or other taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Restricted Shares which shall have become so vested, including that the Company may, but shall not be required to, sell a number of Restricted Shares sufficient to cover applicable withholding taxes; and (iii) in the event that the Participant does not satisfy (i) above on a timely basis, the Company may, but shall not be required to, pay such required withholding and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, treat such amount as a demand loan to the Participant at the maximum rate permitted by law, with such loan, at the Company’s sole discretion and provided the Company so notifies the Participant within thirty (30) days of the making of the loan, secured by the Restricted Shares and any failure by the Participant to pay the loan upon demand shall entitle the Company to all of the rights at law of a creditor secured by the Restricted Shares. The Company may hold as security any certificates representing any Restricted Shares and, upon demand of the Company, the Participant shall deliver to the Company any certificates in his or her possession representing the Restricted Shares together with a stock power duly endorsed in blank. The Participant also acknowledges that it is his or her sole responsibility, and not the Company’s, to file timely and properly any election under Section 83(b) of the Code, and any corresponding provisions of state tax laws, if the Participant wishes to utilize such election.
6. No Obligation to Continue Employment. This Agreement is not an agreement of employment. Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the issuance of the Restricted Shares hereunder constitute an agreement by the Company or any Related Entity thereof to employ or to continue to employ the Participant during the entire, or any portion of, the term of this Agreement, including but not limited to any period during which any Restricted Shares are outstanding.
7. Legend. In the event that a certificate evidencing the Restricted Shares is issued, the certificate representing the Restricted Shares shall have endorsed thereon the following legends:
(a) “THE ANTICIPATION, ALIENATION, ATTACHMENT, SALE, TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, ENCUMBRANCE OR CHARGE OF THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING FORFEITURE) OF VECTOR GROUP LTD. (THE “COMPANY”) 2023 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN ORIGINALLY ADOPTED BY THE COMPANY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON JUNE 15, 2023 (APPROVED BY THE
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STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ON JULY 26, 2023) (AS SUCH PLAN MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “PLAN”) AND AN AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER AND THE COMPANY DATED AS OF [GRANT DATE]. COPIES OF SUCH PLAN AND AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.”
(b) Any legend required to be placed thereon by applicable blue sky laws of any state.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be obligated to issue a certificate representing the Restricted Shares prior to vesting as set forth in Section 2 hereof.
8. Power of Attorney. The Company, its successors and assigns, is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, of the Participant for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instruments which such attorney-in-fact may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment as attorney-in-fact is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. The Company, as attorney-in-fact for the Participant, may in the name and stead of the Participant, make and execute all conveyances, assignments and transfers of the Restricted Shares provided for herein, and the Participant hereby ratifies and confirms that which the Company, as said attorney-in-fact, shall do by virtue hereof. Nevertheless, the Participant shall, if so requested by the Company, execute and deliver to the Company all such instruments as may, in the judgment of the Company, be advisable for this purpose.
9. Transferability. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Restricted Shares shall not be subject to a Transfer (as defined below), otherwise than by will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the shares become vested under Section 2 hereof. The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Participant. Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 9, any attempt to effectuate a Transfer of any Restricted Shares shall be void ab initio. For purposes of this Agreement, “Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, encumbrance, gift, donation, assignment, pledge, hypothecation, or other disposition, whether similar or dissimilar to those previously enumerated, whether voluntary or involuntary, and including, but not limited to, any disposition by operation of law, by court order, by judicial process, or by foreclosure, levy or attachment.
10. Tax Withholding. Upon each vesting of the Restricted Shares, the Company shall withhold shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the maximum statutory amount to satisfy any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld as a result of such vesting.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal legal representatives, successors, trustees, administrators, distributes, devisees and legatees. The Company may assign to, and require, any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree in writing to perform this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may not assign this Agreement or any of the Participant’s rights, interest or obligations hereunder.
(b) This award of Restricted Shares shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or stockholders of the Company to make or authorize an adjustment,
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recapitalization or other change in the capital structure or the business of the Company, any merger or consolidation of the Company or subsidiaries, any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the Restricted Shares, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any sale or transfer of all or part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.
(c) The Participant agrees that the award of the Restricted Shares hereunder is special incentive compensation and that, with the exception of dividends paid thereon, will not be taken into account as “salary”, “Base Salary” (as defined in the Participant’s employment agreement), “compensation” or “bonus” in determining the amount of any matching payment under the Liggett Vector Brands Savings Plan or any other pension, retirement or profit-sharing plan of the Company or subsidiary thereof or any life insurance, disability or other benefit plan of the Company or subsidiary thereof.
(d) No modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party against whom it is sought to be enforced.
(e) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one contract, and such execution may be evidenced by electronic means pursuant to any procedures established by the Company for electronic acceptance.
(f) The failure of any party hereto at any time to require performance by another party of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the right of such party to require performance of that provision, and any waiver by any party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision, a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right under this Agreement.
(g) The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way restrict or modify any of the terms or provisions hereof.
(h) All notices, consents, requests, approvals, instructions and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and validly given or made when delivered, or on the second succeeding business day after being mailed by registered or certified mail, whichever is earlier, to the persons entitled or required to receive the same, at the addresses set forth at the heading of this Agreement or to such other address as either party may designate by like notice. Notices to the Company shall be addressed to Vector Group Ltd. at 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 10th Floor, Miami, Florida 33137, Attn: Marc N. Bell, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.
(i) This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of the state of Florida (disregarding any choice of law rules which might look to the laws of any other jurisdiction).
12. Provisions of Plan Control. This Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, including, without limitation, the amendment provisions thereof, and to such rules, regulations and interpretations relating to the Plan as may be adopted thereunder and as may be in effect from time to time. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the Plan has been delivered to the Participant. If and to the extent that this Agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall control, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter
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hereof (other than any other documents expressly contemplated herein or in the Plan) and supersedes any prior agreements between the Company and the Participant.
[signature page(s) follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
By: __________________________________
Name: [Name of Officer]
Title: [Title of Officer]
Participant:
___________________________________________
[Participant]
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EXHIBIT 5.1
[Letterhead of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP]
August 25, 2023
Vector Group Ltd.,
4400 Biscayne Boulevard,
Miami, Florida 33137.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) of 4,027,462 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of Vector Group Ltd., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), issuable under the Vector Group Ltd. 2023 Management Incentive Plan (the “MIP” and, such shares issuable under the MIP, the “Securities”), we, as your counsel, have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Upon the basis of such examination, it is our opinion that when the registration statement relating to the Securities (the “Registration Statement”) has become effective under the Act, the terms of the issuance of the Securities have been duly established in conformity with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and the MIP, and the Securities have been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the MIP, the Securities will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
In rendering the foregoing opinion, we are not passing upon, and assume no responsibility for, any disclosure in any registration statement or any related prospectus or other offering material relating to the offer and sale of the Securities.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
We have relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 21, 2023, relating to the financial statements of Vector Group Ltd. and the effectiveness of Vector Group Ltd.'s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Vector Group Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2022.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Miami, Florida
August 25, 2023