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): December 3, 2010
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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1-5759
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65-0949535 |
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(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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100 S.E. Second Street, Miami, Florida
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33131 |
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code) |
(305) 579-8000
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable.
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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):
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On December 3, 2010, Vector Group Ltd. (the Company) completed a private placement of $90 million
aggregate principal amount of its 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (the Notes) to Jefferies &
Company, Inc. (the Initial Purchaser) in accordance with Rule 144A and Regulation S of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Notes are governed by the terms of an Indenture, dated as
of August 16, 2007 (the Base Indenture), as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated
as of July 15, 2008 (the First Supplemental Indenture), a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as
of September 1, 2009 (the Second Supplemental Indenture), a Third Supplemental Indenture, dated
as of April 20, 2010 (the Third Supplemental Indenture), and a Fourth Supplemental Indenture,
dated as of December 3, 2010 (the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and together with the Base
Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Third
Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors named
therein (the Subsidiary Guarantors) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the
Trustee).
The Notes were issued at 103% of the face value. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the
issuance for general corporate purposes.
Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year,
commencing on February 15, 2011. The Notes will pay interest in cash at a rate of 11% per year.
Interest on overdue principal and interest and liquidated damages, if any, will accrue at a rate
that is 1% higher than the then applicable interest rate on the Notes.
The Notes mature on August 15, 2015. The Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time
prior to August 15, 2011 at a make-whole redemption price. On or after August 15, 2011 the Company
may redeem some or all of the Notes at a premium that will decrease over time, plus accrued and
unpaid interest and liquidated damages, if any, to the redemption date.
The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by all of the
wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of the Company that are engaged in the conduct of the Companys
cigarette businesses. In addition, some of the guarantees are secured by second priority or first
priority security interests in certain collateral of some of the Subsidiary Guarantors pursuant to
security and pledge agreements. The Company will not provide any security for the Notes.
In the event of a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture), each holder of the Notes may
require the Company to repurchase some or all of its Notes at a repurchase price equal to 101% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated
damages, if any, to the date of purchase.
If an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 11% Senior Secured Notes
due 2015 may declare the Notes immediately due and payable, except that an Event of Default
resulting from a bankruptcy or similar proceeding with respect to the Company or with respect to
the Subsidiary Guarantors who, individually or as a group, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary (as defined in the Indenture) will automatically cause the Notes to become immediately
due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Note
holders.
In connection with the issuance of the Notes, on December 3, 2010, the Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Initial Purchaser. The Company and
the Subsidiary Guarantors have agreed to consummate a registered exchange offer for the Notes
within 360 days after the date of the initial issuance of the Notes. The Company and the Subsidiary
Guarantors have agreed to file and keep effective for a certain time period a shelf registration
statement for the resale of the Notes if an exchange offer cannot be effected and under certain
other circumstances. The Company will be required to pay liquidated damages on the Notes if it
fails to timely comply with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement until such time
as it complies.
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The summary of the foregoing transactions is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of
the related agreements. Copies of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Registration Rights
Agreement are attached as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 hereto, respectively, and are incorporated herein by
reference. Copies of the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental
Indenture and the Third Supplemental Indenture were filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Companys Current
Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Committee (the SEC) on August 17,
2007, July 15, 2008, September 1, 2009 and April 20, 2010, respectively. Copies of the security and
pledge agreements of certain of the Subsidiary Guarantors were filed as Exhibits 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4
to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 17, 2007.
The Initial Purchaser or its affiliates from time to time have provided in the past and may provide
in the future investment banking, commercial lending and financial advisory services to the Company
and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business. The Initial Purchaser and its affiliates
beneficially own approximately 1.3% of the Companys common stock.
U.S. Bank National Association has in the past provided and may from time to time in the future
provide trustee, registrar, exchange agent, paying agent and other services to the Company.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet
Arrangement of a Registrant.
See Item 1.01, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On December 3, 2010, the Company issued a press release, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1
and is incorporated herein by reference, announcing the completion of the $90 million debt
offering.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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4.1 |
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Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 3, 2010,
among Vector Group Ltd., the Subsidiary Guarantors named
therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee |
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4.2 |
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Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2010,
between Vector Group Ltd., the Subsidiary Guarantors named
therein and Jefferies & Company, Inc. |
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99.1 |
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Press Release dated December 3, 2010 |
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