Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

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 LLC (“Liggett Vector Brands”), New Valley LLC (“New Valley”) and other less significant subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Liggett and Vector Tobacco are engaged in the manufacture and 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 accompanying unaudited, interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and, in management's opinion, contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. 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, 2012 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.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2012 financial information to conform to the 2013 presentation.

Distributions and Dividends on Common Stock

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.

Earnings Per Share

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 28, 2012. All per share amounts and references to share amounts have been updated to reflect the retrospective effect of the stock dividends.

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

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2013			2012
Net loss attributable to Vector Group Ltd.	$	(1,681	)	$	(7,690	)
Income attributable to participating securities	—			—
Net loss available to common stockholders	$	(1,681	)	$	(7,690	)

Basic and diluted EPS were calculated using the following shares:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2013	2012
Weighted-average shares for basic and fully diluted EPS	86,822,475	83,013,566

The following stock options, non-vested restricted stock and shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible debt were outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the effect was anti-dilutive.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2013		2012
Number of stock options	512,819		499,257
Weighted-average exercise price	$	13.18	$	12.95
Weighted-average shares of non-vested restricted stock	18,936		402,522
Weighted-average expense per share	$	15.01	$	11.05
Weighted-average number of shares issuable upon   conversion of debt	26,962,402		18,180,400
Weighted-average conversion price	$	15.98	$	14.11

Fair Value of Derivatives Embedded within Convertible Debt

Fair Value of Derivatives Embedded within Convertible Debt:

The Company has estimated the fair market value of the embedded derivatives based principally on the results of a valuation model. The estimated fair value of the derivatives embedded within the convertible debt is based principally on the present value of future dividend payments expected to be received by the convertible debt holders over the term of the debt. The discount rate applied to the future cash flows is estimated based on a spread in the yield of the Company's debt when compared to risk-free securities with the same duration; thus, a readily determinable fair market value of the embedded derivatives is not available. The valuation model assumes future dividend payments by the Company and utilizes interest rates and credit spreads for secured to unsecured debt, unsecured to subordinated debt and subordinated debt to preferred stock to determine the fair value of the derivatives embedded within the convertible debt. The valuation also considers other items, including current and future dividends and the volatility of the Company's stock price.  The range of estimated fair market values of the Company's embedded derivatives was between $166,386 and $171,852.  The Company recorded the fair market value of its embedded derivatives at the midpoint of the inputs at $169,079 as of March 31, 2013. At December 31, 2012, the range of estimated fair market values of the Company's embedded derivatives was between $169,424 and $174,909.  The Company recorded the fair market value of its embedded derivatives at the midpoint of the inputs at $172,128 as of December 31, 2012.  The estimated fair market value of the Company's embedded derivatives could change significantly based on future market conditions. (See Note 4.)