Vector (VGR) 8-K Results of Operations and Financial Condition

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 24, 2018

VECTOR GROUP LTD.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

DELAWARE

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-5759	65-0949535
(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
4400 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida	33137
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(305) 579-8000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 240.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 2.02 Results of Operation and Financial Condition.

On October 24, 2018, Vector Group Ltd. (NYSE:VGR) (the “Company”) announced certain preliminary estimated financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Such preliminary estimated financial results are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information furnished under Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of the Company’s filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings, except to the extent expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Tobacco Adjusted Operating Income, Tobacco Segment Adjusted EBITDA, Real Estate Segment (New Valley LLC) Adjusted EBITDA and Douglas Elliman Adjusted EBITDA (hereafter referred to as “theNon-GAAP Financial Measures”) are financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). AllNon-GAAP Financial Measures and their reconciliations to GAAP measures have been presented as part of Exhibit 99.1. Exhibit 99.1 contains information relating to the Company’sNon-GAAP Financial Measures for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures include adjustments for theone-timenon-cash benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 arising out of the remeasurement of certain tax assets and liabilities, purchase accounting associated with the Company’s acquisition of its additional 20.59% interest in Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, as well as the related purchase accounting adjustments.Non-GAAP Financial Measures also include adjustments for litigation settlement and judgment expenses in the Tobacco segment, settlements of long-standing disputes related to the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) in the Tobacco segment, restructuring and pension settlement expense in the Tobacco segment,non-cash stock compensation expense (for purposes of Adjusted EBITDA only) andnon-cash interest items associated with the Company’s convertible debt.

The Company believes that theNon-GAAP Financial Measures are important measures that supplement discussions and analysis of its results of operations and enhances an understanding of its operating performance. The Company believes theNon-GAAP Financial Measures provide investors and analysts with a useful measure of operating results unaffected by differences in capital structures and ages of related assets among otherwise comparable companies.

Management uses theNon-GAAP Financial Measures as measures to review and assess operating performance of the Company’s business, and management and investors should review both the overall performance (GAAP net income) and the operating performance (theNon-GAAP Financial Measures) of the Company’s business. While management considers theNon-GAAP Financial Measures to be important, they should be considered in addition to, but not as substitutes for or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as operating income, net income and cash flows from operations. In addition, theNon-GAAP Financial Measures are susceptible to varying calculations and the Company’s measurement of theNon-GAAP Financial Measures may not be comparable to those of other companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form8-K contains forward-looking statements, which involve risk and uncertainties. The words “could,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “plan,” or “continue” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual results could differ significantly from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences in results and outcomes include, without limitation, those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance

on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) revise or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, or otherwise (except as may be required by law), in order to reflect any event or circumstance which may arise after the date of this Current Report on Form8-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibit is included with this report and is being furnished solely for purposes of Item 2.02 of this Form8-K:

99.1 Preliminary estimated financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

SIGNATURE

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

		VECTOR GROUP LTD.
	By:	/s/ J. Bryant Kirkland III
Date: October 24, 2018		J. Bryant Kirkland III
		Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer