Vector Group Ltd
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant o
Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
o Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
o Definitive Proxy
Statement
þ Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material under Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 |
Vector Group Ltd.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
o Fee computed on
table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1) |
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
Common Shares, par value $.01 per share, of New Valley
Corporation.
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(2) |
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
9,616,822, which represents 22,260,607 outstanding common shares
of New Valley Corporation on November 22, 2005, less
12,849,118 shares owned by VGR Holding Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Vector Group Ltd., plus an additional 205,333
common shares of New Valley Corporation reserved for issuance
upon exercise of outstanding stock options all as reported to
Vector Group Ltd. by New Valley Corporation on November 22,
2005.
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(3) |
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on
which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined): |
The filing fee was determined based on the product of
(a) $9.15, the market price of the common shares of New
Valley Corporation computed in accordance with Exchange Act
Rules 0-11(d), based upon the average of the high and low
sale prices of the New Valley Corporation common shares as
quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market on November 16, 2005 and
(b) 9,616,822, the maximum number of shares to be acquired
pursuant to the offer. In accordance with Section 14(g) of
the Exchange Act, the filing fee was determined by multiplying
.0001177 by the sum of the preceding sentence.
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(4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
$87,993,921
$10,357
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
Schedule and the date of its filing. |
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(1) |
Amount Previously Paid: |
$10,425
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(2) |
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
Form S-4; Schedule TO-T
Vector Group Ltd.
October 20, 2005 and November 16, 2005, respectively
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
100 S.E. Second Street
Miami, Florida 33131
PROXY STATEMENT SUPPLEMENT
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
We have previously sent to you proxy materials for the important
special meeting of stockholders of Vector Group Ltd. to be held
on December 8, 2005. Your Board of Directors has
recommended that stockholders vote FOR the issuance of shares of
Vectors common stock pursuant to Vectors proposed
exchange offer for all of the outstanding common shares of New
Valley Corporation not currently owned by Vector as well as the
issuance of Vector common stock pursuant to the subsequent
merger.
We encourage you to read the accompanying documents carefully
because they contain important supplemental information
concerning important recent developments relating to
Vectors proposed exchange offer. Among other things, these
developments include an increased exchange ratio of 0.54 shares
of Vector common stock for each outstanding common share of New
Valley. As a result, Vector would issue approximately
5.2 million shares to complete the New Valley transaction.
These developments occurred following the mailing to you on or
about November 7, 2005 of the notice of special meeting of
stockholders of Vector and the proxy statement.
Your vote is important because the approval of the issuance of
Vector common stock requires the affirmative vote of the
majority of the votes cast (provided that the total vote cast
for the proposed issuance represents over 50% in interest of all
of the shares of Vector common stock entitled to vote
thereon). Whether or not you have already done so, please
vote TODAY by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy
card in the postage-paid envelope provided.
If you have already voted on the issuance of shares of Vector
common stock pursuant to Vectors proposed exchange offer
and wish to change your vote, you may do so by using the
enclosed new proxy card. If you have already voted on such
issuance and do not wish to change your vote, your original vote
will be counted. You may revoke your vote as described in the
proxy statement mailed to you on or about November 7, 2005 by an
instrument of revocation delivered at or prior to the special
meeting to the secretary of Vector, by a duly executed proxy
bearing a date or time later than the date or time of the proxy
being revoked, or at the special meeting if you are present and
elect to vote in person.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Bennett S. LeBow |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Miami, Florida
November 23, 2005
PROXY STATEMENT SUPPLEMENT
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement Supplement is being furnished by the Board
of Directors (the Vector Board) of Vector Group,
Ltd., a Delaware corporation (Vector), in connection
with the solicitation of proxies by the Vector Board for use at
the special meeting of the stockholders of Vector to be held at
the Bank of America Tower, 100 S.E. Second Street, 19th Floor
Auditorium, Miami, Florida 33131 on Thursday, December 8,
2005, at 11:00 a.m. local time, and at any postponement or
adjournment. This Proxy Statement Supplement amends and
supplements the Vector proxy statement dated November 7,
2005, which was first mailed to stockholders on or about
November 7, 2005, and regards the vote relating to the
issuance of shares of Vectors common stock, par value $.10
per share (the Vector Common Stock), pursuant to
Vectors proposed exchange offer (the Exchange
Offer) for all of the outstanding common shares, par value
$.01 per share (the New Valley Stock), of New Valley
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (New Valley),
not currently owned by Vector as well as the issuance of Vector
common stock pursuant to the subsequent merger.
This Proxy Statement Supplement, which you should read in
conjunction with the November 7, 2005 proxy statement, is
first being mailed to stockholders on or about November 23,
2005.
UPDATE WITH RESPECT TO THE
EXCHANGE OFFER AND SUBSEQUENT MERGER
The Increased Exchange Offer
On November 16, 2005, Vector announced that it increased
its Exchange Offer to the stockholders of New Valley to acquire
all of the outstanding New Valley Stock that Vector does not
already own.
Vector currently owns 12,849,118 shares of New Valley Stock,
representing approximately 57.7% of all of the outstanding
shares of New Valley Stock. If Vector successfully completes the
Exchange Offer, it will own more than 90% of the outstanding New
Valley Stock, and would then effect a short form
merger of one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries with New Valley.
Under the subsequent merger, unless a stockholder properly
perfects its appraisal rights under Delaware law, each share of
New Valley Stock not acquired in the Exchange Offer would be
converted into the same consideration as each share of New
Valley Stock that was tendered into the Exchange Offer. In both
the Exchange Offer and the subsequent merger, Vector Common
Stock will be issued at an exchange ratio of 0.54 shares of
Vector Common Stock for each share of New Valley Stock. Based on
the closing price of Vector Common Stock on November 16,
2005, the day of our announcement of the increased Exchange
Offer, the exchange ratio of 0.54 shares of Vector Common Stock
for each share of New Valley Stock reflects a value of
approximately $10.82 per share of New Valley Stock and a 45%
premium above the closing price of New Valley Stock on
September 26, 2005, the last trading day before the Vector
Board publicly announced its intention to commence the Exchange
Offer. Successful completion of the Exchange Offer and
subsequent merger would require the issuance of approximately
5,193,084 shares of Vector Common Stock, not giving effect to
outstanding options to purchase shares of New Valley Stock.
For information regarding the background, reasons, terms and
effect of, and interests of certain persons in the Exchange
Offer and subsequent merger, as well as a description of Vector
Common Stock and financial statements and related information,
see the Prospectus dated November 23, 2005 enclosed
herewith.
Reasons for Seeking Stockholder Approval
As previously disclosed in the November 7, 2005 proxy
statement, Vectors ability to issue the shares of Vector
Common Stock in exchange for shares of New Valley Stock is
subject to stockholder approval as required by
Section 312.03(b) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed
Company Manual (the NYSE Manual).
Section 312.03(b) requires stockholder approval of stock
issuances in which a director, officer or substantial
stockholder of Vector will be issued a number of shares
exceeding 1% of the outstanding shares of the issuing
companys common stock. The issuance of Vector Common Stock
to New Valley stockholders pursuant to the Exchange Offer would
result in the issuance of shares of Vector Common Stock greater
than 1% of the outstanding shares of Vector Common Stock to
(i) Howard M. Lorber, a director, an officer and, together
with certain of his affiliated entities, a substantial
stockholder of Vector, and (ii) Carl C. Icahn, together
with certain of his affiliated entities, a substantial
stockholder of Vector. Upon successful completion of the
Exchange Offer, Messrs. Lorber and Icahn and their
respective affiliates would receive approximately 485,248 and
681,850 shares of Vector Common Stock, respectively, equal to
approximately 1.1% and 1.5% of the 44,733,460 outstanding shares
of Vector Common Stock on the date hereof, respectively.
Approval of the issuance of Vector Common Stock in the Exchange
Offer, if given, will be effective for the issuance of Vector
Common Stock at the 0.54 exchange ratio regardless of the other
terms and conditions or the timing of the Exchange Offer or the
subsequent merger or other factors that might be related thereto.
Pursuant to Section 312.07 of the NYSE Manual, an
affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast (provided
that the total vote cast for the proposed issuance represents
over 50% in interest of all of the shares of Vector Common Stock
entitled to vote thereon) regarding the proposed issuance is
required for approval of the proposed issuance of Vector Common
Stock. Certain directors and executive officers of Vector, who
collectively own approximately 29.3% of the outstanding Vector
Common Stock on the record date, have indicated that they
currently intend to vote their shares of Vector Common Stock in
favor of the proposed issuance.
The issuance of Vector Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange
Offer is a condition to the consummation of the Exchange Offer.
Therefore, if the proposed issuance of Vector Common Stock is
not approved by the stockholders, the Exchange Offer will not be
consummated.
Opinion of Vectors Financial Advisor
Vector engaged Jefferies & Company, Inc.
(Jefferies) pursuant to an engagement letter dated
as of September 27, 2005 to serve as its financial advisor
in connection with the Exchange Offer. On November 16,
2005, Jefferies rendered to the Vector Board its opinion as
investment bankers to the effect that, as of that date and based
upon and subject to the various considerations and assumptions
set forth therein, the exchange ratio of 0.54 shares of Vector
Common Stock to be issued in exchange for each outstanding share
of New Valley Stock not owned by Vector was fair, from a
financial point of view, to Vector. For a summary of the
Jefferies opinion and the material financial and comparative
analyses performed by Jefferies that was presented to the Vector
Board on November 16, 2005 in connection with the delivery
of its opinion, see BACKGROUND AND REASONS FOR THE OFFER
AND SUBSEQUENT MERGER Opinion of Jefferies
beginning on page 33 of the Prospectus dated
November 23, 2005. The full text of the Jefferies opinion,
which sets forth the assumptions made, matters considered and
limitations on the scope of review undertaken by Jefferies in
rendering its opinion, is attached as Annex D to the
Prospectus dated November 23, 2005.
The Jefferies opinion was provided to the Vector Board in
connection with its consideration of the Exchange Offer, and
therefore addresses only the fairness to Vector, from a
financial point of view and as of the date of the Jefferies
opinion, of the exchange ratio to be offered in the Exchange
Offer. The Jefferies opinion does not address the fairness of
the exchange ratio to the New Valley stockholders or any other
aspect of the Exchange Offer, nor does it constitute a
recommendation as to how any Vector stockholder should vote on
the share issuance or any other matter relevant to the Exchange
Offer or as to whether any New Valley stockholder should tender
their shares of New Valley Stock in the Exchange
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Offer. Vector has agreed to pay Jefferies $100,000 for its
services in connection with the delivery of its opinion to the
Vector Board on November 16, 2005. Previously, Vector had
agreed to pay Jefferies $325,000 for its services in connection
with the Exchange Offer payable upon delivery of its original
opinion relating to the Exchange Offer to the Vector Board on
September 27, 2005.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Vector and New Valley file annual, quarterly and special
reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). You
may read and copy any reports, statements or other information
that Vector and New Valley file at the SECs public
reference room at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549.
Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on
the public reference rooms. Vector and New Valleys SEC
filings are also available to the public from commercial
retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov.
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By Order of the Board of Directors, |
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Bennett S. LeBow |
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Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Dated: November 23, 2005
3
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
PROXY
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR USE AT
THE DECEMBER 8, 2005 SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OF VECTOR GROUP LTD.
The undersigned stockholder of Vector Group Ltd. (Vector) hereby constitutes and appoints
each of Marc N. Bell and Joselynn D. Van Siclen attorney and proxy of the undersigned, with power
of substitution, to attend, vote and act for the undersigned at the Special Meeting of Stockholders
of Vector, a Delaware corporation, to be held at the Bank of America
Tower, 100 S.E. Second Street,
19th Floor Auditorium, Miami, Florida 33131 on Thursday,
December 8, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. local time, and at any
adjournments or postponements thereof, with respect to the following on the reverse side of this
proxy card and, in their discretion, on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting
and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
The Board of Directors, recommends that stockholders vote FOR the approval of the issuance of
shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share, of Vector (the Vector Common Stock) to be
issued pursuant to the proposed Exchange Offer and subsequent merger as described in this proxy statement.
(Continued and to be signed on the reverse side.)
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
December 8, 2005
Please date, sign and mail
your
proxy card in the
envelope provided as soon
as possible.
ê Please detach along
perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. ê
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR
BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x
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To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. |
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Approval of Issuance of Shares of
Vector Common Stock: |
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The
shares represented by this proxy will be voted in the manner directed
by the undersigned stockholder. If not otherwise directed, this proxy
will be voted FOR the issuance of the shares of Vector Common Stock. |
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Signature
of Stockholder
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Date:
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Signature of Stockholder
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Date:
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Note: |
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Please sign exactly as your name or
names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder
should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is
a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized
officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |