8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-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): January 14, 2021

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 Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities Registered Pursuant to 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:	Trading	Name of each exchange
	Symbol(s)	on which registered:
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share	VGR	New York Stock Exchange

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 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On January 14, 2021, the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Vector Group Ltd. (“Vector”) appointed Richard J. Lampen to the additional position of Chief Operating Officer and to serve as a member of the Board, effective immediately.

Mr Lampen, age 67, has served as Executive Vice President of Vector since 1995. He also serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of its subsidiary, New Valley and as a member of the Board of Managers of its subsidiary, Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC. Mr. Lampen served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (“Ladenburg”), a publicly-traded diversified financial services company, from September 2006 to February 2020, and as Chairman from September 2018 until February 2020, when the company was acquired by Advisor Group, a portfolio company of Reverence Capital Partners. From October 2008 until October 2019, Mr. Lampen served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Castle Brands Inc. (“Castle”), a publicly-traded spirits company, before its acquisition by Pernod Ricard. Vector held an approximate 10% interest in Ladenburg and an approximate 8% equity interest in Castle.

In connection with Mr. Lampen’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer, the Compensation Committee of the Board, effective January 1, 2021, increased Mr. Lampen’s base salary to $1,250,000 per annum and his annual incentive compensation target bonus opportunity to 75% of base salary (from his current base salary of $900,000 and current target bonus opportunity of 50% of base salary). Vector and Mr. Lampen entered into an amendment of his employment agreement to reflect these changes (the “Amendment”). The Amendment is included as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Mr. Lampen has not been appointed to any committee of the Board. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Lampen and any other person pursuant to which he was appointed to serve as Chief Operating Officer and as a director. Mr. Lampen does not have any direct or indirect interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)     Exhibit.

Exhibit No.	Exhibit
10.1	Amendment to the Employment Agreement dated January 15, 2021 between Vector Group Ltd. and Richard J. Lampen.

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
	J. Bryant Kirkland III
	Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Date: January 15, 2021

EX-10.1

EXHIBIT 10.1

January 15, 2021

Mr. Richard J. Lampen

Address on file with the Company

Re: Appointment as Chief Operating Officer

Dear Dick:

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Vector Group Ltd. (together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”), I express deep appreciation for your many contributions to the Company and congratulate you on your appointment to the additional position of Chief Operating Officer.

In connection with your appointment, we are making the following modifications to your Employment Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2006 and amended as of February 22, 2012 (your “Employment Agreement”), by and between the Company and you.

•Salary. Effective January 1, 2021, Section 3(a) of your Employment Agreement is revised to adjust your “Base Salary” to $1,250,000 per annum.

•Annual Incentive Compensation. Effective beginning for the Company’s 2021 fiscal year, Section 3(b) of your Employment Agreement is revised to adjust your target bonus opportunity to 75% of Base Salary.

•Severance. The second sentence of Section 6(a) of your Employment Agreement is revised to provide for a maximum cash bonus of 75% of Base Salary.

This letter constitutes an amendment to your Employment Agreement and forms a part of your Employment Agreement. Except as amended by this letter, your Employment Agreement is confirmed and ratified in all respects.

We look forward to your continued leadership.

Sincerely,

Vector Group LTD.

By: /s/ Howard M. Lorber

Howard M. Lorber

President and Chief Executive Officer

I agree with and accept the foregoing terms.

/s/ Richard J. Lampen

Richard J. Lampen

XML

Document and Entity Information Document	Jan. 14, 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 14, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	VECTOR GROUP LTD.
Entity Central Index Key	0000059440
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	1-5759
Entity Tax Identification Number	65-0949535
Entity Address, Address Line One	4400 Biscayne Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	Miami
Entity Address, State or Province	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	33137
City Area Code	305
Local Phone Number	579-8000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $0.10 per share
Trading Symbol	VGR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false