EX-99.1 2 g16572exv99w1.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1
(sard verbinnen letterhead)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Contact:   Paul Caminiti/Carrie Bloom/Jonathan Doorley
        Sard Verbinnen & Co
        212-687-8080
VECTOR GROUP REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2008 FINANCIAL RESULTS
____________________________
     MIAMI, FL, November 10, 2008 — Vector Group Ltd. (NYSE: VGR) today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.
     Third quarter 2008 revenues were $145.6 million, compared to revenues of $136.1 million in the third quarter of 2007. The Company recorded operating income of $37.5 million in the 2008 third quarter, compared to operating income of $33.7 million in the third quarter of 2007. Net income for the 2008 third quarter was $14.8 million, or $0.21 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $15.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted common share, in the 2007 third quarter. The results for the three months ended September 30, 2008 included pre-tax impairment charges on a mortgage receivable of $4.0 million and long-term investments of $3.0 million. Adjusting for these charges, the Company’s income for the 2008 third quarter would have been $19.0 million, or $0.27 per diluted common share.
     For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, revenues were $420.8 million, compared to $410.3 million for the first nine months of 2007. The Company recorded operating income of $99.9 million for the 2008 nine-month period, compared to operating income of $88.6 million for the 2007 period. Net income for the 2008 nine-month period was $48.3 million, or $0.70 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $59.6 million, or $0.87 per diluted common share, for the 2007 period. The results for 2008 included $12.0 million of pre-tax income from the Company’s investment in the St. Regis hotel, which was sold in March 2008, and $7.0 million of pre-tax impairment charges. Adjusting for these items, the Company’s net income for the first nine months of 2008 would have been $45.3 million, or $0.66 per diluted common share. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 included a $19.6 million pre-tax gain associated with the Company’s previously announced NASA litigation settlement and an $8.1 million pre-tax gain from the exchange of notes receivable from Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc., which had been previously written-off, for shares of Ladenburg common stock and approximately $1.7 million of accrued interest. Adjusting for these gains, the Company’s income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 would have been $43.2 million, or $0.63 per diluted common share.
      
      
      
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     For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company’s conventional cigarette business, which includes Liggett Group cigarettes and USA brand cigarettes, had revenues of $144.8 million and $418.8 million, respectively, compared to $135.2 million and $407.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively. Operating income was $45.9 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $127.0 million for the first nine months of 2008, compared to $40.4 million and $113.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively.
Conference Call To Discuss Third Quarter 2008 Results
     As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. (ET) to discuss third quarter 2008 results. Investors can access the call by dialing 800-859-8150 and entering 58660030 as the conference ID number. The call will also be available via live webcast at www.vcall.com
     A replay of the call will also be available shortly after the call ends on November 11, 2008 through November 25, 2008. To access the replay, dial 877-656-8905 and enter 58660030 as the conference ID number. The archived webcast will also be available at www.vcall.com for 30 days.
     Vector Group is a holding company that indirectly owns Liggett Group LLC, Vector Tobacco Inc. and New Valley LLC. Additional information concerning the company is available on the company’s website, www.VectorGroupLtd.com.
[Financial Table Follows]
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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,  
    2008     2007       2008     2007  
           
 
Revenues*
  $ 145,601     $ 136,053       $ 420,766     $ 410,296  
 
                                 
Expenses:
                                 
Cost of goods sold*
    84,999       80,182         251,036       252,089  
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses
    23,067       22,164         69,809       69,597  
 
                         
Operating income
    37,535       33,707         99,921       88,610  
 
                                 
Other income (expenses):
                                 
Interest and dividend income
    1,094       2,445         4,440       5,862  
Interest expense
    (15,515 )     (12,113 )       (46,025 )     (30,767 )
Change in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt
    522       (6,331 )       7,837       (4,215 )
Provision for loss on investments
    (7,000 )     (58 )       (7,000 )     (1,216 )
Gain from exchange of LTS notes
                        8,121  
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses
    5,202       6,589         22,706       15,926  
Income from lawsuit settlement
                        20,000  
Other, net
    (1 )     (6 )       (578 )     (42 )
 
                         
 
                                 
Income before provision for income taxes
    21,837       24,233         81,301       102,279  
Income tax expense
    7,010       9,169         33,042       42,707  
 
                         
 
                                 
Net income
  $ 14,827     $ 15,064       $ 48,259     $ 59,572  
 
                         
 
                                 
Per basic common share:
                                 
 
                                 
Net income applicable to common shares
  $ 0.22     $ 0.22       $ 0.72     $ 0.89  
 
                         
 
                                 
Per diluted common share:
                                 
 
                                 
Net income applicable to common shares
  $ 0.21     $ 0.22       $ 0.70     $ 0.87  
 
                         
 
                                 
Cash distributions and dividends declared per share
  $ 0.38     $ 0.36       $ 1.14     $ 1.09  
 
                         
 
*   Revenues and Cost of goods sold include excise taxes of $43,327, $43,025, $127,050 and $132,305, respectively.

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