VECTOR GROUP LTD - Quarter Report: 2010 September (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

VECTOR GROUP LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

100 S.E. Second Street
Miami, Florida 33131
305/579-8000
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code,
of the principal executive offices)

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. þ Yes o No

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

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

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

     At November 4, 2010, Vector Group Ltd. had 74,906,710 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

VECTOR GROUP LTD.

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

				Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.		Vector Group Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited):
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009					2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009					3
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Deficiency for the nine months ended September 30, 2010					4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009					5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements					6
Item 2 .		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			39
Item 3.		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			55
Item 4.		Controls and Procedures			55
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.		Legal Proceedings			56
Item 1A.		Risk Factors			56
Item 6.		Exhibits			57
SIGNATURE					58
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-32.2
EX-99.1
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

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

		September 30,				December 31,
		2010				2009
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	258,564			$	209,454
Investment securities available for sale			72,120				51,743
Accounts receivable — trade			5,975				8,098
Inventories			101,724				98,486
Deferred income taxes			24,149				14,154
Restricted assets			4,763				3,138
Other current assets			3,894				4,135
Total current assets			471,189				389,208
Property, plant and equipment, net			50,227				42,986
Investment in Escena, net			13,407				13,244
Long-term investments accounted for at cost			46,033				50,323
Long-term investments accounted for under the equity method			10,481				—
Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses			57,514				49,566
Investments in townhomes			16,275				—
Restricted assets			4,451				4,835
Deferred income taxes			39,627				39,838
Intangible asset			107,511				107,511
Prepaid pension costs			9,723				8,994
Other assets			32,566				29,037
Total assets		$	859,004			$	735,542
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY:
Current liabilities:
Current portion of notes payable and long-term debt		$	17,254			$	21,889
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt			769				—
Current portion of employee benefits			1,029				1,029
Accounts payable			11,858				4,355
Accrued promotional expenses			14,311				12,745
Income taxes payable, net			14,352				19,924
Accrued excise and payroll taxes payable, net			4,850				24,093
Settlement accruals			106,177				18,803
Deferred income taxes			32,957				17,254
Accrued interest			8,021				13,840
Other current liabilities			14,305				15,076
Total current liabilities			225,883				149,008
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion			410,601				334,920
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt			139,511				153,016
Non-current employee benefits			35,583				34,247
Deferred income taxes			52,664				45,120
Other liabilities			32,458				23,913
Total liabilities			896,700				740,224
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ deficiency:
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized			—				—
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 78,317,016 and 74,510,595 shares issued and 74,906,710 and 71,262,684 shares outstanding			7,491				7,126
Additional paid-in capital			—				15,928
Accumulated deficit			(27,731	)			—
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(4,599	)			(14,879	)
Less: 3,410,306 and 3,247,911 shares of common stock in treasury, at cost			(12,857	)			(12,857	)
Total stockholders’ deficiency			(37,696	)			(4,682	)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficiency		$	859,004			$	735,542

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

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

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Revenues*		$	295,124			$	236,736			$	785,671			$	564,746
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold*			239,160				177,798				620,065				398,088
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses			26,088				21,966				69,274				63,679
Litigation judgment expense			—				—				14,361				—
Gain on brand transaction			—				—				—				(5,000	)
Restructuring charges			—				—				—				1,000
Operating income			29,876				36,972				81,971				106,979
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense			(21,511	)			(16,808	)			(61,086	)			(49,968	)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			—				—				—				(18,444	)
Change in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt			1,660				(6,054	)			12,735				(25,845	)
Impairment charges on investments			—				—				—				(8,500	)
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses			7,060				4,712				18,838				5,528
Gain on sale of investment securities available for sale			708				—				11,819				—
Other, net			(257	)			51				2,721				277
Income before provision for income taxes			17,536				18,873				66,998				10,027
Income tax expense (benefit)			6,629				2,654				24,930				(1,346	)
Net income		$	10,907			$	16,219			$	42,068			$	11,373
Per basic common share:
Net income applicable to common shares		$	0.14			$	0.21			$	0.55			$	0.15
Per diluted common share:
Net income applicable to common shares		$	0.14			$	0.21			$	0.55			$	0.15
Cash distributions and dividends declared per share		$	0.38			$	0.36			$	1.14			$	1.09

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

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

																		Accumulated
										Additional								Other
		Common Stock								Paid-In				Accumulated				Comprehensive				Treasury
		Shares				Amount				Capital				Deficit				Loss				Stock				Total
Balance, December 31, 2009			71,262,684			$	7,126			$	15,928			$	—			$	(14,879	)		$	(12,857	)		$	(4,682	)
Net income			—				—				—				42,068				—				—				42,068
Pension-related minimum liability adjustments, net of income taxes			—				—				—				—				1,458				—				1,458
Forward contract adjustments, net of income taxes			—				—				—				—				27				—				27
Unrealized loss on long-term investments accounted for under the equity method, net of income taxes			—				—				—				—				(120	)			—				(120	)
Change in net unrealized gain on investment securities, net of income taxes			—				—				—				—				15,515				—				15,515
Net unrealized gains reclassified into net income, net of income taxes			—				—				—				—				(6,600	)			—				(6,600	)
Unrealized gain on investment securities, net of income taxes			—				—				—				—				8,915				—				8,915
Total other comprehensive income			—				—				—				—				—				—				10,280
Total comprehensive income			—				—				—				—				—				—				52,348
Tax benefit of options exercised			—				—				121				—				—				—				121
Distributions and dividends on common stock			—				—				(18,065	)			(69,442	)			—				—				(87,507	)
Effect of stock dividend			3,567,023				357								(357	)											—
Restricted stock grants			50,000				5				(5	)			—				—				—				—
Exercise of stock options			78,944				8				973				—				—				—				981
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting			(51,941	)			(5	)			(1,035	)			—				—				—				(1,040	)
Amortization of deferred compensation			—				—				2,083				—				—				—				2,083
Balance, September 30, 2010			74,906,710			$	7,491			$	—			$	(27,731	)		$	(4,599	)		$	(12,857	)		$	(37,696	)

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

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

		Nine Months				Nine Months
		Ended				Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2010				2009
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	101,063			$	9,334
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale or maturity of investment securities			16,140				—
Purchase of investment securities			(9,394	)			(12,300	)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments			1,106				1,407
Purchase of long-term investments			(5,062	)			(51	)
Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses			(1,533	)			(467	)
Purchase of Aberdeen mortgages			(13,462	)			—
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses			3,539				5,548
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies			(918	)			(839	)
Decrease in non-current restricted assets			384				1,969
Issuance of notes receivable			(720	)			—
Investment in joint venture			(2,500	)			—
Cash acquired in Aberdeen consolidation			473				—
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets			187				—
Capital expenditures			(15,730	)			(3,005	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(27,490	)			(7,738	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt issuance			89,373				118,782
Deferred financing costs			(2,582	)			(5,573	)
Repayments of debt			(7,175	)			(4,516	)
Borrowings under revolver			732,708				526,949
Repayments on revolver			(750,091	)			(530,766	)
Dividends and distributions on common stock			(87,797	)			(87,451	)
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options and warrants			980				398
Excess tax benefit of options exercised			121				6,944
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities			(24,463	)			24,767
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents			49,110				26,363
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			209,454				211,105
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	258,564			$	237,468

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

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

1.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)

Basis of Presentation:

		The condensed consolidated financial statements of Vector Group Ltd. (the “Company” or “Vector”) include the accounts of VGR Holding LLC (“VGR Holding”), Liggett Group LLC (“Liggett”), Vector Tobacco Inc. (“Vector Tobacco”), Liggett Vector Brands Inc. (“Liggett Vector Brands”), New Valley LLC (“New Valley”) and other less significant subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
		Liggett is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. Vector Tobacco is engaged in research related to reduced risk cigarette products and the sale of cigarettes in the United States. New Valley is engaged in the real estate business and is seeking to acquire additional operating companies and real estate properties.
		The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary (which are normal and recurring) to state fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The consolidated results of operations for interim periods should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year.
		Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2009 financial information to conform to the 2010 presentation.

(b)

Distributions and Dividends on Common Stock:

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

(c)

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”):

		Information concerning the Company’s common stock has been adjusted to give retroactive effect to the 5% stock dividend paid to Company stockholders on September 29, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The dividends were recorded at par value of $357 and $333 since the Company did not have retained earnings at September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. All per share amounts have been updated to reflect the retrospective effect of the stock dividends.
		Net income for purposes of determining basic EPS was as follows:

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Net income		$	10,907			$	16,219			$	42,068			$	11,373
Income attributable to participating securities			(228	)			(740	)			(897	)			(519	)
Net income available to common stockholders		$	10,679			$	15,479			$	41,171			$	10,854

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

Net income for purposes of determining diluted EPS was as follows:

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Net income		$	10,907			$	16,219			$	42,068			$	11,373
Expense attributable to 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Exchange Notes			—				—				3,770				—
Expense attributable to 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note			—				—				2,009				—
Expense attributable to 5% Convertible Debentures			—				13				—				—
Income attributable to participating securities			(228	)			(741	)			(1,020	)			(519	)
Net income available to common stockholders		$	10,679			$	15,491			$	46,827			$	10,854

Basic and diluted EPS were calculated using the following shares:

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS			74,350,806				72,693,939				74,301,086				72,600,680
Plus incremental shares related to stock options and non-vested restricted stock			463,939				131,577				284,283				63,331
Plus incremental shares related to convertible debt			—				63,192				10,613,370				—
Weighted-average shares for fully diluted EPS			74,814,745				72,888,708				85,198,739				72,664,011

The following stock options, non-vested restricted stock and shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible debt were outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS.

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Number of stock options			260,319				534,914				639,905				573,813
Weighted-average exercise price		$	21.03			$	17.88			$	17.00			$	16.99
Weighted-average shares of non-vested restricted stock			—				186,673				21,346				206,628
Weighted-average expense per share			N/A			$	15.49			$	16.02			$	15.48
Weighted-average number of shares issuable upon conversion of debt			17,143,180				17,167,799				6,529,810				15,768,989
Weighted-average conversion price		$	15.61			$	15.60			$	16.85			$	15.51

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

(d)

Comprehensive Income:

Other comprehensive income is a component of stockholders’ equity and includes such items as the unrealized gains and losses on investment securities available for sale, forward foreign contracts and minimum pension liability adjustments. The Company’s comprehensive income was $10,885 and $52,348 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The Company’s comprehensive income was $27,199 and $22,104 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.

(e)

Fair Value of Derivatives Embedded within Convertible Debt:

The range of estimated fair market values of the Company’s embedded derivatives was between $143,129 and $137,537. The Company recorded the fair market value of its embedded derivatives at the midpoint of the inputs at $140,280 as of September 30, 2010. The estimated fair market value of the Company’s embedded derivatives could change significantly based on future market conditions. (See Note 4.)

(f)

New Accounting Pronouncements:

		In June 2009, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting and disclosure requirements for transfers of financial assets. The guidance requires additional disclosures for transfers of financial assets and changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets. The Company adopted this guidance for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
		In June 2009, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting and disclosure requirements for the consolidation of variable interest entities. The amended guidance eliminates exceptions to consolidating qualifying special purpose entities, contains new criteria for determining the primary beneficiary, and increases the frequency of required reassessments to determine whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. This guidance also contains a new requirement that any term, transaction, or arrangement that does not have a substantive effect on an entity’s status as a variable interest entity, a company’s power over a variable interest entity, or a company’s obligation to absorb losses or its right to receive benefits of an entity must be disregarded. The elimination of the qualifying special-purpose entity concept and its consolidation exception means more entities will be subject to consolidation assessments and reassessments. The Company adopted this guidance for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
		In January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance intended to improve disclosure about fair value measurements. The guidance requires entities to disclose significant transfers in and out of fair value hierarchy levels and the reasons for the transfers and to present information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements separately in the reconciliation of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). Additionally, the guidance clarifies that a reporting entity should provide fair value measurements for each class of assets and liabilities and disclose the inputs and valuation techniques used for fair value measurements using significant other observable inputs (Level 2) and significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009 except for the disclosure about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the Level 3 reconciliation, which will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance, with the exception of the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the Level 3 reconciliation. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s 2010 condensed consolidated financial statements. The remaining disclosures will be added to the Company’s future filings when applicable.

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

2.

INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of:

		September 30,				December 31,
		2010				2009
Leaf tobacco		$	48,874			$	48,942
Other raw materials			3,908				3,497
Work-in-process			285				2,388
Finished goods			68,007				59,294
Inventories at current cost			121,074				114,121
LIFO adjustments			(19,350	)			(15,635	)
		$	101,724			$	98,486

		The Company has a leaf inventory management program whereby, among other things, it is committed to purchase certain quantities of leaf tobacco. The purchase commitments are for quantities not in excess of anticipated requirements and are at prices, including carrying costs, established at the commitment date. At September 30, 2010, Liggett had leaf tobacco purchase commitments of approximately $36,325.
		All of the Company’s inventories at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 have been reported under the LIFO method.

3.

LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

Long-term investments accounted at cost consist of the following:

		September 30, 2010								December 31, 2009
		Carrying				Fair				Carrying				Fair
		Value				Value				Value				Value
Investment partnerships		$	45,134			$	67,893			$	49,486			$	68,679
Real estate partnership			899				1,080				837				1,261
		$	46,033			$	68,973			$	50,323			$	69,940

		The fair value determination disclosed above would be classified as Level 3 under the fair value hierarchy disclosed in Note 8 if such assets were recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value. The fair values were determined on unobservable inputs and were based on company assumptions, and information obtained from the partnerships based on the indicated market values of the underlying assets or investment portfolio.
		The changes in the fair value of the long-term investments accounted for at cost as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

		2010				2009
Balance as of January 1		$	69,940			$	54,997
Unrealized gain (loss) on long-term investments			1,018				(357	)

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

		2010				2009
Balance as of March 31			70,958				54,640
Revision for partnership now accounted for under the equity method			(5,790	)			—
Distributions			(1,002	)			—
Unrealized (loss) gain on long-term investments			(2,090	)			8,432
Balance as of June 30			62,076				63,072
Contributions			62				52
Unrealized gain on long-term investments			6,835				6,863
Balance as of September 30		$	68,973			$	69,987

		Long-term investments accounted for under the equity method:
		The Company recorded an equity loss of $436 and equity income of $2,334 related to a limited partnership for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. Included in this amount was the impact of an error identified by the Company, which resulted in an out-of-period adjustment of approximately $1,650 (approximately $980 after taxes) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The error occurred because the Company’s ownership in the limited partnership increased from a nominal percentage to more than 10% during the fourth quarter of 2008 (due to significant withdrawals from other partners); thus, the Company’s investment should have been accounted for under the equity method for all previous periods in which the investment was held. The Company assessed the materiality of this error on all previously issued financial statements in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 99 and concluded that the error was immaterial to all previously issued financial statements. The impact of correcting this error in the current year is not expected to be material to the Company’s 2010 consolidated financial statements. This adjustment was recognized within other income in the consolidated statements of operations. The carrying value of this investment was approximately $10,500 as of September 30, 2010 which approximated its fair value because the underlying securities are classified as available for sale.
		In the future, the Company may invest in other investments, including limited partnerships, real estate investments, equity securities, debt securities, derivatives and certificates of deposit, depending on risk factors and potential rates of return.

4.

NOTES PAYABLE, LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

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

		September 30,				December 31,
		2010				2009
Vector:
11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015, net of unamortized discount of $3,560 and $4,849		$	321,440			$	245,151
6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $38,786 and $39,755*			11,214				10,245
6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Exchange Notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $66,172 and $69,749*			41,358				37,781
3.875% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2026, net of unamortized discount of $83,192 and $83,589*			26,808				26,411
Liggett:
Revolving credit facility			—				17,382
Term loan under credit facility			6,355				6,755

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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

		September 30,				December 31,
		2010				2009
Equipment loans			13,635				4,852
V.T. Aviation:
Note payable			2,810				3,882
VGR Aviation:
Note payable			3,406				3,687
Other			829				663
Total notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations			427,855				356,809
Less:
Current maturities			(17,254	)			(21,889	)
Amount due after one year		$	410,601			$	334,920

		Revolving Credit Facility — Liggett:
		Liggett has a $50,000 credit facility with Wachovia Bank, N.A. (“Wachovia”), none of which was outstanding at September 30, 2010. Availability as determined under the facility was approximately $36,000 based on eligible collateral at September 30, 2010. On November 1, 2010, Liggett and Wachovia entered into the credit facility’s Seventh Amendment to permit Liggett to incur Capital Expenditures (as defined in the credit facility) of up to $33,000 solely for the fiscal year ended 2010. The Seventh Amendment is effective as of August 31, 2010.
		11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 — Vector:
		In September 2009, the Company sold an additional $85,000 principal amount of its 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (the “Senior Secured Notes”) at 94% of face value in a private offering to qualified institutional investors in accordance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.
		In April 2010, the Company sold another $75,000 principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes at 101% of face value in a private offering to qualified institutional investors in accordance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. The Company will amortize the deferred costs and debt premium related to the additional Senior Secured Notes over the estimated life of the debt. The Company received net proceeds from the 2010 offering of approximately $73,500.
		In June 2010, the Company completed an offer to exchange the Senior Secured Notes issued in September 2009 and April 2010 for an equal amount of newly issued 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015. The new Senior Secured Notes have substantially the same terms as the original notes, except that the new Senior Secured Notes have been registered under the Securities Act.
		Equipment Loans — Liggett:
		Between March and September 2010, in connection with the purchase of equipment, Liggett entered into six financing agreements for a total of $7,961, payable in 60 installments totaling $154. The weighted average interest rate is 5.94% per annum and the interest rate on the various notes ranges between 5.84% and 6.13% per annum. In May 2010, Liggett purchased equipment for $2,467 through an additional financing agreement, payable in 30 installments of $27 and then a final installment of $1,880. Interest is calculated at 2.59% per annum. In August 2010, Liggett also refinanced $3,575 of debt related to previous equipment purchases. The refinanced debt has an interest rate of 5.95% and is payable in 36 installments totaling $109. Each of these equipment loans is collateralized by the purchased equipment.
		Non-cash Interest Expense — Vector:
		Components of non-cash interest expense is as follows:

		Three Months Ended								Nine months ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Amortization of debt discount		$	2,033			$	1,414			$	5,481			$	6,991
Amortization of deferred finance costs			1,276				961				3,418				2,913
		$	3,309			$	2,375			$	8,899			$	9,904

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Unaudited

Fair Value of Notes Payable and Long-term Debt:

		September 30, 2010								December 31, 2009
		Carrying				Fair				Carrying				Fair
		Value				Value				Value				Value
Notes payable and long-term debt		$	427,855			$	709,944			$	356,809			$	573,439

5.		CONTINGENCIES
		Tobacco-Related Litigation:
		Overview
		Since 1954, Liggett and other United States cigarette manufacturers have been named as defendants in numerous direct, third-party and purported class actions predicated on the theory that cigarette manufacturers should be liable for damages alleged to have been caused by cigarette smoking or by exposure to secondary smoke from cigarettes. New cases continue to be commenced against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers. The cases generally fall into the following categories: (i) smoking and health cases alleging personal injury brought on behalf of individual plaintiffs (“Individual Actions”); (ii) smoking and health cases primarily alleging personal injury or seeking court-supervised programs for ongoing medical monitoring, as well as cases alleging the use of the terms “lights” and/or “ultra lights” constitutes a deceptive and unfair trade practice, common law fraud or violation of federal law, purporting to be brought on behalf of a class of individual plaintiffs (“Class Actions”); and (iii) health care cost recovery actions brought by various foreign and domestic governmental plaintiffs and non-governmental plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for health care expenditures allegedly caused by cigarette smoking and/or disgorgement of profits (“Health Care Cost Recovery Actions”). As new cases are commenced, the costs associated with defending these cases and the risks relating to the inherent unpredictability of litigation continue to increase. The future financial impact of the risks and expenses of litigation and the effects of the tobacco litigation settlements discussed below are not quantifiable at this time. For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, Liggett incurred legal expenses and other litigation costs totaling approximately $4,792 and $1,326, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, Liggett incurred legal expenses and other litigation costs totaling approximately $22,418 (which includes payment of the $14,361 Lukacs judgment discussed below) and $4,286, respectively.
		Litigation is subject to uncertainty and it is possible that there could be adverse developments in pending or future cases. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending tobacco-related or other litigation could encourage the commencement of additional litigation. Damages claimed in some tobacco-related or other litigation are or can be significant.
		Although Liggett has been able to obtain required bonds or relief from bonding requirements in order to prevent plaintiffs from seeking to collect judgments while adverse verdicts are on appeal, there remains a risk that such relief may not be obtainable in all cases. This risk has been reduced given that a majority of states now limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all. Liggett has secured approximately $3,826 in bonds as of September 30, 2010.
		In June 2009, Florida amended its existing bond cap statute by adding a $200,000 bond cap that applies to all Engle progeny cases (defined below) in the aggregate and establishes individual bond caps for individual Engle progeny cases in amounts that vary depending on the number of judgments in effect at a given time. The legislation applies to judgments entered after the effective date and remains in effect until December 31, 2012.

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		Certain plaintiffs have challenged the constitutionality of the bond cap statute. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of such challenges, it is possible that the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows could be materially affected by an unfavorable outcome of such challenges.
		The Company and its subsidiaries record provisions in their consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when they determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur: (i) management has concluded that it is not probable that a loss has been incurred in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; or (ii) management is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of any of the pending tobacco-related cases and, therefore, management has not provided any amounts in the consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any. Liggett believes, and has been so advised by counsel, that it has valid defenses to the litigation pending against it, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts. All such cases are, and will continue to be vigorously defended. However, Liggett may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if it believes it is in its best interest to do so.
		Individual Actions
		As of September 30, 2010, there were 36 individual cases pending against Liggett and/or the Company, where one or more individual plaintiffs allege injury resulting from cigarette smoking, addiction to cigarette smoking or exposure to secondary smoke and seek compensatory and, in some cases, punitive damages. In addition, there were approximately 7,031 Engle progeny cases pending against Liggett and the Company, in state and federal courts in Florida, and approximately 100 individual cases pending in West Virginia state court as part of a consolidated action. The following table lists the number of individual cases by state that are pending against Liggett or its affiliates as of September 30, 2010 (excluding Engle progeny cases in Florida and the consolidated cases in West Virginia):

		Number
State		of Cases
Florida			15
New York			9
Louisiana			5
Maryland			3
West Virginia			2
Missouri			1
Ohio			1

		Liggett Only Cases. There are currently six cases pending where Liggett is the only tobacco company defendant. Cases where Liggett is the only defendant could increase substantially as a result of the Engle progeny cases. In February 2009, in Ferlanti v. Liggett Group, a Florida state court jury awarded compensatory damages of $1,200 as well as $96 in expenses, but found that the plaintiff was 40% at fault. Therefore, plaintiff’s award was reduced to $720 in compensatory damages. Punitive damages were not awarded. Liggett appealed the award. In September 2010, the court awarded plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees of $996. In Hausrath v. Philip Morris, a case pending in New York state court, where two individuals are suing, plaintiffs dismissed all defendants other than Liggett. There has been no recent activity in the case. In Blitch v. Liggett Group, an Engle progeny case, trial is scheduled for March 2011. The other three individual actions, in which Liggett is the only tobacco company defendant, are dormant. In Davis v. Liggett Group, another Liggett only case, judgment was entered against Liggett in the amount of $540 plus attorneys’ fees. The judgment was paid by Liggett and this matter is concluded.
		The plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in cases in which individuals seek recovery for injuries allegedly caused by cigarette smoking are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, breach of special duty, strict liability, fraud, concealment, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, concert of action, unjust enrichment, common law public nuisance, property damage, invasion of privacy, mental anguish, emotional distress, disability, shock, indemnity and violations of deceptive trade practice laws, the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt

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		Organizations Act (“RICO”), state RICO statutes and antitrust statutes. In many of these cases, in addition to compensatory damages, plaintiffs also seek other forms of relief including treble/multiple damages, medical monitoring, disgorgement of profits and punitive damages. Although alleged damages often are not determinable from a complaint, and the law governing the pleading and calculation of damages varies from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction, compensatory and punitive damages have been specifically pleaded in a number of cases, sometimes in amounts ranging into the hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars.
		Defenses raised in individual cases include lack of proximate cause, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, lack of design defect, statute of limitations, equitable defenses such as “unclean hands” and lack of benefit, failure to state a claim and federal preemption.
		In addition to several adverse verdicts against Liggett, jury awards in individual cases have also been returned against other cigarette manufacturers in recent years. The awards in these individual actions, often in excess of millions of dollars, may be for both compensatory and punitive damages. There are several significant jury awards against other cigarette manufacturers which are currently on appeal and several awards which are final and have been paid.
		Engle Progeny Cases. In 2000, a jury in Engle v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. rendered a $145,000,000 punitive damages verdict in favor of a “Florida Class” against certain cigarette manufacturers, including Liggett. Pursuant to the Florida Supreme Court’s July 2006 ruling in Engle, which decertified the class on a prospective basis, and affirmed the appellate court’s reversal of the punitive damages award, former class members had one year from January 11, 2007 in which to file individual lawsuits. In addition, some individuals who filed suit prior to January 11, 2007, and who claim they meet the conditions in Engle, are attempting to avail themselves of the Engle ruling. Lawsuits by individuals requesting the benefit of the Engle ruling, whether filed before or after the January 11, 2007 deadline, are referred to as the “Engle progeny cases.” Liggett and the Company have been named in approximately 7,031 Engle progeny cases in both federal (3,862 cases) and state (3,169 cases) courts in Florida. Other cigarette manufacturers have also been named as defendants in these cases, although as a case proceeds, one or more defendants may ultimately be dismissed from the action. These cases include approximately 8,172 plaintiffs, approximately 3,862 of whom have claims pending in federal court and 4,970 state court. Duplicate cases were filed in federal and state court on behalf of approximately 660 plaintiffs. The number of state court Engle progeny cases will likely increase as the courts may require multi-plaintiff cases to be severed into individual cases. The total number of plaintiffs may also increase as a result of attempts by existing plaintiffs to add additional parties.
		As of October 31, 2010, in addition to the Lukacs case described below, the following Engle progeny cases have resulted in judgments against Liggett:

Compensatory

Punitive Damages

Date

Case Name

County

Damages Against Liggett

Against Liggett

August 2009

Campbell v. R.J. Reynolds

Escambia

$

156

None

March 2010

Douglas v. R.J. Reynolds

Hillsborough

$

1,350

None

April 2010

Clay v. R.J. Reynolds

Escambia

$

349

$

1,000

April 2010

Putney v. R.J. Reynolds

Broward

$

3,008

None

		These judgments are currently on appeal or will be appealed. As of September 30, 2010, there were 38 Engle progeny cases scheduled for trial in 2010 and 2011, where Liggett and the Company are named defendants. For further information on the Engle case and on Engle progeny cases, see “Class Actions — Engle Case,” below.
		Lukacs Case. In June 2002, the jury in a Florida state court action entitled Lukacs v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., awarded $37,500 in compensatory damages, jointly and severally, in a case involving Liggett and two other cigarette manufacturers, which amount was subsequently reduced by the court. The jury found Liggett 50%

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responsible for the damages incurred by the plaintiff. The Lukacs case was the first case to be tried as an individual Engle progeny case, but was tried almost five years prior to the Florida Supreme Court’s final decision in Engle. In November 2008, the court entered final judgment in the amount of $24,835 (for which Liggett was 50% responsible), plus interest from June 2002. Plaintiff filed a motion seeking an award of attorneys’ fees from Liggett based on plaintiff’s prior proposal for settlement. In March 2010, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the decision, per curiam. In June 2010, Liggett paid its share of the judgment and settled claims for attorneys’ fees and accrued interest for a total payment of approximately $14,361.

		Class Actions
		As of September 30, 2010, there were six actions pending for which either a class had been certified or plaintiffs were seeking class certification, where Liggett is a named defendant, including one alleged price fixing case. Other cigarette manufacturers are also named in these actions.
		Plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in class action cases are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, nuisance, breach of express and implied warranties, breach of special duty, conspiracy, concert of action, violation of deceptive trade practice laws and consumer protection statutes and claims under the federal and state anti-racketeering statutes. Plaintiffs in the class actions seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, treble/multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, creation of medical monitoring and smoking cessation funds, disgorgement of profits, and injunctive and equitable relief.
		Defenses raised in these cases include, among others, lack of proximate cause, individual issues predominate, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, statute of limitations and federal preemption.
		Engle Case. In May 1994, Engle was filed against Liggett and others in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The class consisted of all Florida residents who, by November 21, 1996, “have suffered, presently suffer or have died from diseases and medical conditions caused by their addiction to cigarette smoking.” In July 1999, after the conclusion of Phase I of the trial, the jury returned a verdict against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers on certain issues determined by the trial court to be “common” to the causes of action of the plaintiff class. The jury made several findings adverse to the defendants including that defendants’ conduct “rose to a level that would permit a potential award or entitlement to punitive damages.” Phase II of the trial was a causation and damages trial for three of the class plaintiffs and a punitive damages trial on a class-wide basis, before the same jury that returned the verdict in Phase I. In April 2000, the jury awarded compensatory damages of $12,704 to the three class plaintiffs, to be reduced in proportion to the respective plaintiff’s fault. In July 2000, the jury awarded approximately $145,000,000 in punitive damages, including $790,000 against Liggett.

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		In May 2003, Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court and remanded the case with instructions to decertify the class. The judgment in favor of one of the three class plaintiffs, in the amount of $5,831, was overturned as time barred and the court found that Liggett was not liable to the other two class plaintiffs.
		In July 2006, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the decision vacating the punitive damages award and held that the class should be decertified prospectively, but determined that the following Phase I findings are entitled to res judicata effect in Engle progeny cases: (i) that smoking causes lung cancer, among other diseases; (ii) that nicotine in cigarettes is addictive; (iii) that defendants placed cigarettes on the market that were defective and unreasonably dangerous; (iv) that defendants concealed material information knowing that the information was false or misleading or failed to disclose a material fact concerning the health effects or addictive nature of smoking; (v) that defendants agreed to conceal or omit information regarding the health effects of cigarettes or their addictive nature with the intention that smokers would rely on the information to their detriment; (vi) that defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that were defective; and (vii) that defendants were negligent. The Florida Supreme Court decision also allowed former class members to proceed to trial on individual liability issues (using the above findings) and compensatory and punitive damage issues, provided they filed their individual lawsuits by January 2008. In December 2006, the Florida Supreme Court added the finding that defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that, at the time of sale or supply, did not conform to the representations made by defendants. In October 2007, the United States Supreme Court denied defendants’ petition for writ of certiorari. As a result of the Engle decision, approximately 8,172 former Engle class members have claims pending against the Company and Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers.
		Three federal district courts (in the Merlob, Brown and Burr cases) ruled that the findings in Phase I of the Engle proceedings could not be used to satisfy elements of plaintiffs’ claims, and two of those rulings (Brown and Burr) were certified by the trial court for interlocutory review. The certification was granted by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the appeals were consolidated (in February 2009, the appeal in Burr was dismissed for lack of prosecution). In July 2010, the Eleventh Circuit ruled that plaintiffs do not have an unlimited right to use the findings from the original Engle trial to meet their burden of establishing the elements of their claims at trial. Rather, plaintiffs may only use the findings to establish specific facts that they demonstrate with a reasonable degree of certainty were actually decided by the original Engle jury. The Eleventh Circuit remanded the case to the district court to determine what specific factual findings the Engle jury actually made.
		Other Class Actions. In Smith v. Philip Morris, a Kansas state court case filed in February 2000, plaintiffs allege that cigarette manufacturers conspired to fix cigarette prices in violation of antitrust laws. Plaintiffs seek to recover an unspecified amount in actual and punitive damages. Class certification was granted in November 2001. Discovery is ongoing.
		Class action suits have been filed in a number of states against cigarette manufacturers, alleging, among other things, that use of the terms “light” and “ultra light” constitutes unfair and deceptive trade practices, among other things. In December 2008, the United States Supreme Court, in Altria Group v. Good, ruled that the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act did not preempt the state law claims asserted by the plaintiffs and that they could proceed with their claims under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act. This ruling has resulted in the filing of additional “lights” class action cases in other states against other cigarette manufacturers. Although Liggett was not a defendant in the Good case, and is not a defendant in a substantial majority of other “lights” class actions, an adverse ruling or commencement of additional “lights” related class actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
		In November 1997, in Young v. American Tobacco Co., a purported personal injury class action was commenced on behalf of plaintiff and all similarly situated residents in Louisiana who, though not themselves cigarette smokers, are alleged to have been exposed to secondhand smoke from cigarettes which were manufactured by the defendants, and who suffered injury as a result of that exposure. The plaintiffs seek to recover an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. In October 2004, the trial court stayed this case pending the outcome of the appeal in Scott v. American Tobacco Co. (see discussion below).

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		In June 1998, in Cleary v. Philip Morris, a putative class action was brought in Illinois state court on behalf of persons who were allegedly injured by: (i) defendants’ purported conspiracy to conceal material facts regarding the addictive nature of nicotine; (ii) defendants’ alleged acts of targeting their advertising and marketing to minors; and (iii) defendants’ claimed breach of the public’s right to defendants’ compliance with laws prohibiting the distribution of cigarettes to minors. Plaintiffs sought disgorgement of all profits unjustly received through defendants’ sale of cigarettes to plaintiffs and the class. In March 2009, plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint adding, among other things, allegations regarding defendants’ sale of “lights” cigarettes. The case was then removed to federal court on the basis of this new claim. In November 2009, plaintiffs filed a revised motion for class certification as to the three proposed classes, which motion was denied by the court. In February 2010, the court granted summary judgment in favor of defendants as to all claims, other than a “lights” claim involving another cigarette manufacturer. The court granted leave to the plaintiffs to reinstate the motion as to the addiction claims. Plaintiffs filed a Fourth Amended Complaint in an attempt to resurrect their addiction claims. In June 2010, the court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the Fourth Amended Complaint and in July 2010, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for reconsideration. Plaintiffs appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in August 2010.
		In April 2001, in Brown v. Philip Morris USA, a California state court granted in part plaintiffs’ motion for class certification and certified a class comprised of adult residents of California who smoked at least one of defendants’ cigarettes “during the applicable time period” and who were exposed to defendants’ marketing and advertising activities in California. In March 2005, the court granted defendants’ motion to decertify the class based on a recent change in California law. In June 2009, the California Supreme Court reversed and remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings regarding whether the class representatives have, or can, demonstrate standing. In August 2009, the California Supreme Court denied defendants’ rehearing petition and issued its mandate. In September 2009, plaintiffs sought reconsideration of the court’s September 2004 order finding that plaintiffs’ allegations regarding “lights” cigarettes are preempted by federal law, in light of the recent United States Supreme Court decision in Altria Group v. Good. In March 2010, the trial court granted reconsideration of its September 2004 order granting partial summary judgment to defendants with respect to plaintiffs’ “lights” claims on the basis of judicial decisions issued since its order was issued, including the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Altria v Good, thereby reinstating plaintiffs’ “lights” claims. Since the trial court’s prior ruling decertifying the class was reversed on appeal by the California Supreme Court, the parties and the court are treating all claims currently being asserted by the plaintiffs as certified, subject, however, to defendants’ challenge to the class representatives standing to assert their claims. In June 2010, plaintiffs filed a motion seeking collateral estoppel effect from the findings in the case brought by the Department of Justice (see DOJ Lawsuit described below). Trial is scheduled to start on May 6, 2011.
		Although not technically a class action, in In Re: Tobacco Litigation (Personal Injury Cases), a West Virginia state court consolidated approximately 750 individual smoker actions that were pending prior to 2001 for trial of certain common issues. In January 2002, the court severed Liggett from the trial of the consolidated action, which commenced in June 2010 and ended in a mistrial. If the case were to proceed against Liggett, it is estimated that Liggett could be a defendant in approximately 100 of the individual cases.
		In July 2010, an action entitled Calistro v. Altria Group was commenced against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, on behalf of a putative class of smokers who, although have no personal injury, contend they were injured by the defendants’ alleged fraudulent concealment and other purported misconduct regarding the addictive nature of nicotine and the promotion of “light” cigarettes. The plaintiffs seek equitable relief, compensatory and punitive damages, including, without limitation, damages for medical monitoring and nicotine rehabilitation programs. In September 2010, Liggett and its affiliates were voluntarily dismissed from the action.
		In addition to the cases described above, numerous class actions remain certified against other cigarette manufacturers, including Scott. In that case, in May 2004 a Louisiana jury awarded plaintiffs approximately

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		$590,000 against other cigarette manufacturers to fund a statewide 10-year smoking cessation program for members of the class. In April 2010, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed in part prior decisions ordering the defendants to fund a statewide 10-year smoking cessation program. The court of appeal reduced the amount of the judgment to approximately $241,000, plus interest from July 2008.
		Health Care Cost Recovery Actions
		As of September 30, 2010, there were four Health Care Cost Recovery Actions pending against Liggett. Other cigarette manufacturers are also named in these cases. The claims asserted in health care cost recovery actions vary. Although, typically, no specific damage amounts are pled, it is possible that requested damages might be in the billions of dollars. In these cases, plaintiffs typically assert equitable claims that the tobacco industry was “unjustly enriched” by their payment of health care costs allegedly attributable to smoking and seek reimbursement of those costs. Relief sought by some, but not all, plaintiffs include punitive damages, multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, injunctions prohibiting alleged marketing and sales to minors, disclosure of research, disgorgement of profits, funding of anti-smoking programs, additional disclosure of nicotine yields, and payment of attorney and expert witness fees.
		Other claims asserted include the equitable claim of indemnity, common law claims of negligence, strict liability, breach of express and implied warranty, breach of special duty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy, public nuisance, claims under state and federal statutes governing consumer fraud, antitrust, deceptive trade practices and false advertising, and claims under RICO.
		DOJ Lawsuit. In September 1999, the United States government commenced litigation against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The action sought to recover an unspecified amount of health care costs paid and to be paid by the federal government for lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other smoking-related illnesses allegedly caused by the fraudulent and tortious conduct of defendants, to restrain defendants and co-conspirators from engaging in alleged fraud and other allegedly unlawful conduct in the future, and to compel defendants to disgorge the proceeds of their unlawful conduct. Claims were asserted under RICO.
		In August 2006, the trial court entered a Final Judgment against each of the cigarette manufacturing defendants, except Liggett. In May 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia affirmed most of the district court’s decision. In February 2010, the government and all defendants, other than Liggett, filed petitions for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. In June 2010, the United States Supreme Court, without comment, denied review. As a result, the cigarette manufacturing defendants, other than Liggett, are now subject to the trial court’s Final Judgment which ordered the following relief: (i) an injunction against “committing any act of racketeering” relating to the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, health consequences or sale of cigarettes in the United States; (ii) an injunction against participating directly or indirectly in the management or control of the Council for Tobacco Research, the Tobacco Institute, or the Center for Indoor Air Research, or any successor or affiliated entities of each (iii) an injunction against “making, or causing to be made in any way, any material false, misleading, or deceptive statement or representation or engaging in any public relations or marketing endeavor that is disseminated to the United States public and that misrepresents or suppresses information concerning cigarettes” (iv) an injunction against conveying any express or implied health message though use of descriptors on cigarette packaging or in cigarette advertising or promotional material, including “lights,” “ultra lights,” and “low tar,” which the court found could cause consumers to believe one cigarette brand is less hazardous that another brand; (v) the issuance of “corrective statements” in various media regarding the adverse health effects of smoking, the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine, the lack of any significant health benefit from smoking “low tar” or “light” cigarettes, defendants’ manipulation of cigarette design to ensure optimum nicotine delivery and the adverse health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; (vi) the disclosure of defendants’ public document websites and in the Minnesota document repository of all documents produced to the government in the lawsuit or produced in any future court or administrative action concerning smoking and health until 2021, with certain additional requirements as to documents withheld from production under a claim or privilege or confidentiality; (vii) the disclosure of disaggregated marketing data to the government in the same form and on

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		the same schedules as defendants now follow in disclosing such data to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) for a period of ten years; (viii) certain restrictions on the sale or transfer by defendants of any cigarette brands, brand names, formulas or cigarette business within the United States; and (ix) payment of the government’s costs in bringing the action.
		It is unclear what impact, if any, the Final Judgment will have on the cigarette industry as a whole. To the extent that the Final Judgment leads to a decline in industry-wide shipments of cigarettes in the United States or otherwise results in restrictions that adversely affect the industry, Liggett’s sales volume, operating income and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
		In City of St. Louis v. American Tobacco Company, a case pending in Missouri state court since December 1998, the City of St. Louis and approximately 38 hospitals and former hospitals seek recovery of costs expended by the hospitals on behalf of patients who suffer, or have suffered, from illnesses allegedly resulting from the use of cigarettes. In June 2005, the court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to claims for damages which accrued prior to November 16, 1993. In April 2010, the court further determined that each plaintiff is barred from seeking damages which accrued more than five years prior to the time that plaintiff joined the suit. In that same order, the court granted partial summary judgment for defendants barring plaintiffs’ claims for future damages. In July 2010, the court dismissed certain other claims brought by plaintiffs, on the grounds they were preempted. Defendants have filed other summary judgment motions that remain pending. Trial is scheduled to start on January 10, 2011.
		In June 2005, the Jerusalem District Court in Israel added Liggett as a defendant in an action commenced in 1998 by the largest private insurer in that country, General Health Services, against the major United States cigarette manufacturers. The plaintiff seeks to recover the past and future value of the total expenditures for health care services provided to residents of Israel resulting from tobacco related diseases, court ordered interest for past expenditures from the date of filing the statement of claim, increased and/or punitive and/or exemplary damages and costs. The court ruled that, although Liggett had not sold product in Israel since at least 1978, it might still have liability for cigarettes sold prior to that time. The other defendants’ appeal of the district court’s denial of their motion to dismiss was heard by the Israel Supreme Court in March 2005 and the parties are awaiting the court’s decision.
		In May 2008, in National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare v. Philip Morris USA, a case pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, plaintiffs commenced an action to recover damages equal to twice the amount paid by Medicare for the smoking-related health care services provided from May 21, 2002 to the present, for which treatment defendants’ allegedly were required to make payment under the Medicare Secondary Payer provisions of the Social Security Act. In July 2008, defendants’ filed a motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims and plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment. In March 2009, the court granted defendants’ motion and dismissed the case. In May 2009, plaintiffs noticed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and in September 2010, the court vacated the District Court’s decision, and remanded the case with instructions for the District Court to dismiss the complaint on other grounds.
		Upcoming Trials
		In addition to the January 2011 trial in the City of St. Louis case and the May 2011 trial in the Brown case, both discussed above, as of September 30, 2010, there were 38 Engle progeny cases that are scheduled for trial in 2010 and 2011. Additionally, a Palm Beach County Florida individual case is on the February – April 2011 trial calender. The Company and/or Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers are currently named as defendants in each of these cases, although as a case proceeds, one or more defendants may ultimately be dismissed from the action. Cases against other cigarette manufacturers are also currently scheduled for trial in 2010 and 2011. Trial dates are subject to change.
		MSA and Other State Settlement Agreements

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
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		In March 1996, March 1997 and March 1998, Liggett entered into settlements of smoking-related litigation with 45 states and territories. The settlements released Liggett from all smoking-related claims made by those states and territories, including claims for health care cost reimbursement and claims concerning sales of cigarettes to minors.
		In November 1998, Philip Morris, Brown & Williamson, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard (the “Original Participating Manufacturers” or “OPMs”) and Liggett (together with any other tobacco product manufacturer that becomes a signatory, the “Subsequent Participating Manufacturers” or “SPMs”) (the OPMs and SPMs are hereinafter referred to jointly as the “Participating Manufacturers”) entered into the Master Settlement Agreement (the “MSA”) with 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands (collectively, the “Settling States”) to settle the asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and certain other claims of the Settling States. The MSA received final judicial approval in each Settling State.
		As a result of the MSA, the Settling States released Liggett from:

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

		The MSA restricts tobacco product advertising and marketing within the Settling States and otherwise restricts the activities of Participating Manufacturers. Among other things, the MSA prohibits the targeting of youth in the advertising, promotion or marketing of tobacco products; bans the use of cartoon characters in all tobacco advertising and promotion; limits each Participating Manufacturer to one tobacco brand name sponsorship during any 12-month period; bans all outdoor advertising, with certain limited exceptions; prohibits payments for tobacco product placement in various media; bans gift offers based on the purchase of tobacco products without sufficient proof that the intended recipient is an adult; prohibits Participating Manufacturers from licensing third parties to advertise tobacco brand names in any manner prohibited under the MSA; and prohibits Participating Manufacturers from using as a tobacco product brand name any nationally recognized non-tobacco brand or trade name or the names of sports teams, entertainment groups or individual celebrities.
		The MSA also requires Participating Manufacturers to affirm corporate principles to comply with the MSA and to reduce underage use of tobacco products and imposes restrictions on lobbying activities conducted on behalf of Participating Manufacturers. In addition, the MSA provides for the appointment of an independent auditor to calculate and determine the amounts of payments owed pursuant to the MSA.
		Under the payment provisions of the MSA, the Participating Manufacturers are required to make annual payments of $9,000,000 (subject to applicable adjustments, offsets and reductions). These annual payments are allocated based on unit volume of domestic cigarette shipments. The payment obligations under the MSA are the several, and not joint, obligation of each Participating Manufacturer and are not the responsibility of any parent or affiliate of a Participating Manufacturer.
		Liggett has no payment obligations under the MSA except to the extent its market share exceeds a market share exemption of approximately 1.65% of total cigarettes sold in the United States. Vector Tobacco has no payment obligations under the MSA except to the extent its market share exceeds a market share exemption of approximately 0.28% of total cigarettes sold in the United States. According to data from Management Science Associates, Inc., domestic shipments by Liggett and Vector Tobacco accounted for approximately 2.7% of the

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
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Unaudited

		total cigarettes sold in the United States in 2009. For the nine month period ending September 30, 2010, Liggett and Vector Tobacco’s domestic shipments accounted for approximately 3.4% of the total cigarettes sold in the United States. If Liggett’s or Vector Tobacco’s market share exceeds their respective market share exemption in a given year, which it has each year since 2000, then on April 15 of the following year, Liggett and/or Vector Tobacco, as the case may be, must pay on each excess unit an amount equal (on a per-unit basis) to that due from the OPMs for that year. Liggett and Vector Tobacco paid $54,435 for their 2009 MSA obligations.
		Certain MSA Disputes
		NPM Adjustment. In March 2006, an economic consulting firm selected pursuant to the MSA determined that the MSA was a “significant factor contributing to” the loss of market share of Participating Manufacturers, to non-participating manufacturers, for 2003. This is known as the “NPM Adjustment.” The economic consulting firm subsequently rendered the same decision with respect to 2004 and 2005. In March 2009, a different economic consulting firm made the same determination for 2006. As a result, the manufacturers are entitled to potential NPM Adjustments to their 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 MSA payments. The Participating Manufacturers may also be entitled to potential NPM Adjustments to their 2007, 2008 and 2009 payments pursuant to an agreement entered into in June 2009 between the OPMs and the Settling States under which the OPMs agreed to make certain payments for the benefit of the Settling States, in exchange for which the Settling States stipulated that the MSA was a “significant factor contributing to” the loss of market share of Participating Manufacturers in 2007, 2008 and 2009. A Settling State that has diligently enforced its qualifying escrow statute in the year in question may be able to avoid application of the NPM Adjustment to the payments made by the manufacturers for the benefit of that Settling State.
		For 2003 — 2009, Liggett and Vector Tobacco disputed that they owed the Settling States the NPM Adjustments as calculated by the Independent Auditor. As permitted by the MSA, Liggett and Vector Tobacco withheld payment associated with these NPM Adjustment amounts. The total amount withheld or paid into a disputed payment account by Liggett and Vector Tobacco for 2003 — 2009 was $29,236. In 2003, Liggett and Vector Tobacco paid the NPM adjustment amount of $9,345 to the Settling States although both companies continue to dispute this amount is owed. At September 30, 2010, included in “Other assets” on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet was a noncurrent receivable of $6,542 relating to such payment.
		The following amounts have not been expensed by the Company as they relate to Liggett and Vector Tobacco’s NPM Adjustment claims for 2003 — 2005: $6,542 for 2003, $3,789 for 2004 and $800 for 2005. Liggett and Vector Tobacco have expensed all disputed amounts related to the NPM Adjustment since 2005.
		Since April 2006, notwithstanding provisions in the MSA requiring arbitration, litigation was filed in 49 Settling States over the issue of whether the application of the NPM Adjustment for 2003 is to be determined through litigation or arbitration. These actions relate to the potential NPM Adjustment for 2003, which the independent auditor under the MSA previously determined to be as much as $1,200,000 for all Participating Manufacturers. All but one of the 48 courts that have decided the issue have ruled that the 2003 NPM Adjustment dispute is arbitrable. All 47 of those decisions are final and non-appealable. One court, the Montana Supreme Court, ruled that Montana’s claim of diligent enforcement must be litigated. This decision has been appealed. In response to a proposal from the OPMs and many of the SPMs, 45 of the Settling States, representing approximately 90% of the allocable share of the Settling States, entered into an agreement providing for a nationwide arbitration of the dispute with respect to the NPM Adjustment for 2003. In June 2010, the three person arbitration panel was selected and procedural hearings have commenced. Because states representing more than 80% of the allocable share signed the agreement, signing states will receive a 20% reduction of any potential 2003 NPM adjustment. There can be no assurance that Liggett or Vector Tobacco will receive any adjustment as a result of these proceedings.
		Gross v. Net Calculations. In October 2004, the independent auditor notified Liggett and all other Participating Manufacturers that their payment obligations under the MSA, dating from the agreement’s execution in late 1998, had been recalculated using “net” unit amounts, rather than “gross” unit amounts (which had been used since 1999).

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
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Unaudited

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

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

		The change in the method of calculation could result in Liggett owing, at a minimum, approximately $9,500, plus interest, of additional MSA payments for prior years, because the proposed change from “gross” to “net” units would serve to lower Liggett’s market share exemption under the MSA. The Company estimates that Liggett’s future MSA payments would be at least approximately $2,250 higher if the method of calculation is changed. No amounts have been expensed or accrued in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for any potential liability relating to the “gross” versus “net” dispute. There can be no assurance that Liggett will not be required to make additional payments, which payments could adversely affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
		Litigation Challenging the MSA. In Freedom Holdings Inc. v. Cuomo, litigation pending in federal court in New York, certain importers of cigarettes allege that the MSA and certain related New York statutes violate federal antitrust and constitutional law. The district court granted New York’s motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that if all of the allegations of the complaint were assumed to be true, plaintiffs had stated a claim for relief on antitrust grounds. In January 2009, the district court granted New York’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing all claims brought by the plaintiffs, and dissolving the preliminary injunction. Plaintiffs appealed the decision. In October 2010, the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision.
		In Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd. v. King, another proceeding pending in federal court in New York, plaintiffs seek to enjoin the statutes enacted by New York and other states in connection with the MSA on the grounds that the statutes violate the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution and federal antitrust laws. In September 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that if all of the allegations of the complaint were assumed to be true, plaintiffs had stated a claim for relief and that the New York federal court had jurisdiction over the other defendant states. On remand, the trial court held that plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed on the merits. After discovery, the parties cross-moved for summary judgment; briefing concluded in December 2009 and oral argument took place in April 2010.
		Similar challenges to the MSA and MSA-related state statutes are pending in several other states. Liggett and the other cigarette manufacturers are not defendants in these cases. Litigation challenging the validity of the MSA, including claims that the MSA violates antitrust laws, has not been successful to date.
		In October 2008, Vibo Corporation, Inc., d/b/a General Tobacco (“Vibo”) commenced litigation in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky against each of the Settling States and certain Participating Manufacturers, including Liggett and Vector Tobacco. Vibo alleged, among other things, that the market share exemptions (i.e., grandfathered shares) provided to certain SPMs under the MSA, including Liggett and Vector Tobacco, violate federal antitrust and constitutional law. In January 2009, the district court dismissed

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

		the complaint. In January 2010, the court entered final judgment in favor of the defendants. Vibo appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. A decision is pending.
		Other State Settlements. The MSA replaces Liggett’s prior settlements with all states and territories except for Florida, Mississippi, Texas and Minnesota. Each of these four states, prior to the effective date of the MSA, negotiated and executed settlement agreements with each of the other major tobacco companies, separate from those settlements reached previously with Liggett. Liggett’s agreements with these states remain in full force and effect, and Liggett made various payments to these states under the agreements. These states’ settlement agreements with Liggett contained most favored nation provisions which could reduce Liggett’s payment obligations based on subsequent settlements or resolutions by those states with certain other tobacco companies. Beginning in 1999, Liggett determined that, based on each of these four states’ settlements with United States Tobacco Company, Liggett’s payment obligations to those states had been eliminated. With respect to all non-economic obligations under the previous settlements, Liggett believes it is entitled to the most favorable provisions as between the MSA and each state’s respective settlement with the other major tobacco companies. Therefore, Liggett’s non-economic obligations to all states and territories are now defined by the MSA.
		In 2003, in order to resolve any potential issues with Minnesota as to Liggett’s ongoing economic settlement obligations, Liggett negotiated a $100 a year payment to Minnesota, to be paid any year cigarettes manufactured by Liggett are sold in that state. In 2004, the Attorneys General for Florida, Mississippi and Texas advised Liggett that they believed that Liggett had failed to make required payments under the respective settlement agreements with these states from 1998 through 2003 and that additional payments may be due for subsequent years. Liggett believes the states’ allegations are without merit, based, among other things, on the language of the most favored nation provisions of the settlement agreements. Liggett entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Florida providing for a good faith payment by Liggett of $250 and an agreement to mediate the dispute. In October 2010, the parties mediated the dispute and reached an agreement in principle, subject to definitive documentation. The agreement provides for an additional $950 payment and payments of $250 per year over a period of 21 years. The payments in years 12 – 20 will be subject to an inflation adjustment. The Company has accrued for this potential settlement. There can be no assurance that the settlement with Florida will be finalized, that Liggett will resolve the other matters set forth above or that Liggett will not be required to make additional payments, which payments could adversely affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
		Cautionary Statement. Management is not able to predict the outcome of the litigation pending or threatened against Liggett. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties. For example, the jury in the Lukacs case, an Engle progeny case tried in 2002, awarded $24,835 in compensatory damages plus interest against Liggett and two other defendants and found Liggett 50% responsible for the damages. The verdict was affirmed on appeal and Liggett paid $14,361 in June 2010. To date, Liggett has been found liable in four other Engle progeny cases, which are currently on appeal or will be appealed. As a result of the Engle decision, approximately 8,172 former Engle class members have claims pending against the Company and Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers. It is possible that other cases could be decided unfavorably against Liggett and that Liggett will be unsuccessful on appeal. Liggett may enter into discussions in an attempt to settle particular cases if it believes it is in its best interest to do so.
		Management cannot predict the cash requirements related to any future defense costs, settlements or judgments, including cash required to bond any appeals, and there is a risk that those requirements will not be able to be met. An unfavorable outcome of a pending smoking and health case could encourage the commencement of additional similar litigation, or could lead to multiple adverse decisions in the Engle progeny cases. Management is unable to make a reasonable estimate with respect to the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of the cases pending against Liggett or the costs of defending such cases and as a result has not provided any amounts in its condensed consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes. The complaints filed in these cases rarely detail alleged damages. Typically, the claims set forth in an individual’s complaint against the tobacco industry seek money damages in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus punitive damages, costs and legal fees.
		The tobacco industry is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations regarding the marketing, sale, taxation and use of tobacco products imposed by local, state and federal governments. There have been a number of restrictive regulatory actions, adverse legislative and political decisions and other unfavorable developments

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

		concerning cigarette smoking and the tobacco industry. These developments may negatively affect the perception of potential triers of fact with respect to the tobacco industry, possibly to the detriment of certain pending litigation, and may prompt the commencement of additional similar litigation or legislation.
		It is possible that the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome in any of the smoking-related litigation.
		Liggett’s and Vector Tobacco’s management are unaware of any material environmental conditions affecting their existing facilities. Liggett’s and Vector Tobacco’s management believe that current operations are conducted in material compliance with all environmental laws and regulations and other laws and regulations governing cigarette manufacturers. Compliance with federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, has not had a material effect on the capital expenditures, results of operations or competitive position of Liggett or Vector Tobacco.
		Other Matters:
		In February 2004, Liggett Vector Brands and another cigarette manufacturer entered into a five year agreement with a subsidiary of the American Wholesale Marketers Association to support a program to permit certain tobacco distributors to secure, on reasonable terms, tax stamp bonds required by state and local governments for the distribution of cigarettes. This agreement has been extended through February 2014. Under the agreement, Liggett Vector Brands has agreed to pay a portion of losses, if any, incurred by the surety under the bond program, with a maximum loss exposure of $500 for Liggett Vector Brands. To secure its potential obligations under the agreement, Liggett Vector Brands has delivered to the subsidiary of the association a $100 letter of credit and agreed to fund up to an additional $400. Liggett Vector Brands has incurred no losses to date under this agreement, and the Company believes the fair value of Liggett Vector Brands’ obligation under the agreement was immaterial at September 30, 2010.
		In December 2009, a complaint was filed against Liggett in Alabama state court by the estate of a woman who died, in 2007, in a house fire allegedly caused by the ignition of contents of the house by a Liggett cigarette. Plaintiff is suing under the Alabama Extended Manufacturers Liability Doctrine and for breach of warranty and negligence. The plaintiff seeks both punitive and compensatory damages. In January 2010, Liggett removed the case to federal court. In February 2010, Liggett filed a motion to dismiss the case and plaintiff filed a motion to remand. In September 2010, the court granted plaintiff’s motion to remand, but the order has been stayed pending non-binding mediation of the dispute.
		There may be several other proceedings, lawsuits and claims pending against the Company and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries unrelated to tobacco or tobacco product liability. Management is of the opinion that the liabilities, if any, ultimately resulting from such other proceedings, lawsuits and claims should not materially affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

6.

INCOME TAXES

		The Company’s provision for income taxes in interim periods is based on an estimated annual effective income tax rate derived, in part, from estimated annual pre-tax results from ordinary operations. The annual effective income tax rate is reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted on a quarterly basis.
		The Company’s income tax expense consisted of the following:

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

		Three Months Ended								Nine months ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Income before provision for income taxes		$	17,536			$	18,873			$	66,998			$	10,027
Income tax expense (benefit) using estimated annual effective income tax rate			6,973				8,210				26,623				4,362
Changes in effective tax rates			691				610				—				(77	)
Impact of discrete items, net			—				—				—				535
Reduction of valuation allowance			—				(6,166	)			(500	)			(6,166	)
Reversal of unrecognized tax benefits			(1,035	)			—				(1,193	)			—
Income tax expense (benefit)		$	6,629			$	2,654			$	24,930			$	(1,346	)

The Company recorded a benefit of $0 and $500 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and $6,166 and $6,166 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 resulting from the reduction of a previously established valuation allowance of a deferred tax asset. The valuation allowance was reduced for the recognition of state tax net operating losses at Vector Tobacco Inc. after evaluating the impact of the negative and positive evidence that such asset would be realized.

7.		NEW VALLEY LLC
		The components of “Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses” were as follows:

		September 30,				December 31,
		2010				2009
Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC		$	45,781			$	36,086
Aberdeen Townhomes LLC			—				1,248
New Valley Oaktree Chelsea Eleven LLC			11,732				12,232
Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses		$	57,513			$	49,566

		Residential Brokerage Business. New Valley recorded income of $6,300 and $4,712 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and income of $18,078 and $5,328 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, associated with Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC. New Valley received cash distributions from Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC of $3,199 and $1,370 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $8,384 and $4,846 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
		The summarized financial information of Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC is as follows:

		September 30, 2010				December 31, 2009
Cash		$	46,561			$	26,920
Other current assets			5,336				6,664
Property, plant and equipment, net			14,086				13,498
Trademarks			21,663				21,663
Goodwill			38,367				38,601
Other intangible assets, net			1,404				742
Other non-current assets			2,986				2,871

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

		September 30, 2010				December 31, 2009
Notes payable — current			721				776
Current portion of notes payable to member - Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America, Inc.			—				2,487
Current portion of notes payable to member — New Valley			—				2,487
Other current liabilities			21,682				20,724
Notes payable — long term			1,001				2,136
Other long-term liabilities			10,206				7,747
Members’ equity			96,793				74,602

		Three Months Ended								Nine months ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
Revenues		$	92,150			$	80,484			$	267,329			$	189,813
Costs and expenses			79,472				71,271				230,300				177,597
Depreciation expense			918				1,075				2,683				3,408
Amortization expense			87				64				252				192
Other income			794				1,000				1,632				1,000
Interest expense, net			55				732				500				2,025
Income tax expense (benefit)			376				323				1,082				(42	)
Net income		$	12,036			$	8,019			$	34,144			$	7,633