Vector Group Ltd.

05/10/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/10/2022 12:57

Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q)

vgr-20220331


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2022

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-5759 65-0949535
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation Commission File Number (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
4400 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida33137
305-579-8000
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code,
of the principal executive offices)
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 (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
☒ Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐ 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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
☐ Yes x No
At May 6, 2022, Vector Group Ltd. had 154,938,177 shares of common stock outstanding.


VECTOR GROUP LTD.

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Vector Group Ltd. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited):
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021
2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficiency for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
6
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
35
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
49
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
49
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
50
Item 1A. Risk Factors
50
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
51
Item 6. Exhibits
52
SIGNATURE
53

1
VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited
March 31,
2022 		December 31,
2021
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 238,305 $ 193,411
Investment securities at fair value 133,338 146,687
Accounts receivable - trade, net 29,885 16,067
Inventories 97,991 94,615
Income taxes receivable, net - 10,948
Other current assets 8,103 10,075
Total current assets 507,622 471,803
Property, plant and equipment, net 36,079 36,883
Investments in real estate, net 9,039 9,098
Long-term investments (includes $31,057 and $32,089 at fair value)
49,799 53,073
Investments in real estate ventures 111,503 105,062
Operating lease right-of-use assets 10,133 10,972
Intangible assets 107,511 107,511
Other assets 80,884 76,685
Total assets $ 912,570 $ 871,087
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY:
Current liabilities:
Current portion of notes payable and long-term debt $ 76 $ 79
Current payments due under the Master Settlement Agreement
68,591 11,886
Income taxes payable, net 3,462 -
Current operating lease liability 3,860 3,838
Other current liabilities 139,961 149,487
Total current liabilities 215,950 165,290
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion 1,399,631 1,398,591
Non-current employee benefits 69,164 68,970
Deferred income taxes, net 31,307 34,768
Non-current operating lease liability 7,885 8,853
Payments due under the Master Settlement Agreement 11,116 13,224
Other liabilities 18,169 22,944
Total liabilities 1,753,222 1,712,640
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Stockholders' deficiency:
Preferred stock, par value $1 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized
- -
Common stock, par value $0.1 per share, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 154,938,177 and 153,959,427 shares issued and outstanding
15,494 15,396
Additional paid-in capital 12,183 11,172
Accumulated deficit (852,863) (852,398)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (15,466) (15,723)
Total Vector Group Ltd. stockholders' deficiency (840,652) (841,553)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficiency $ 912,570 $ 871,087

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
2

VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Revenues:
Tobacco* $ 309,048 $ 268,463
Real estate 2,994 2,525
Total revenues 312,042 270,988
Expenses:
Cost of sales:
Tobacco* 211,537 164,031
Real estate 1,278 876
Total cost of sales 212,815 164,907
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses 24,029 30,101
Litigation settlement and judgment expense 72 5
Operating income 75,126 75,975
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense (25,098) (28,721)
Loss on extinguishment of debt - (21,362)
Equity in (losses) earnings from investments (2,242) 577
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures (1,877) 1,589
Other, net (1,145) 2,706
Income before provision for income taxes 44,764 30,764
Income tax expense 12,222 9,214
Income from continuing operations 32,542 21,550
Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes - 10,407
Net income $ 32,542 $ 31,957
Per basic common share:
Net income from continuing operations applicable to common shares $ 0.21 $ 0.14
Net income from discontinued operations applicable to common shares - 0.06
Net income applicable to common shares $ 0.21 $ 0.20
Per diluted common share:
Net income from continuing operations applicable to common shares $ 0.21 $ 0.14
Net income from discontinued operations applicable to common shares - 0.06
Net income applicable to common shares $ 0.21 $ 0.20

*Revenues and cost of sales include federal excise taxes of $116,079, and $97,714 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
3

VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Dollars in Thousands)
Unaudited
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Net income $ 32,542 $ 31,957
Net unrealized losses on investment securities available for sale:
Change in net unrealized losses (1,222) (182)
Net unrealized losses (gains) reclassified into net income 1,165 (41)
Net unrealized losses on investment securities available for sale (57) (223)
Net change in pension-related amounts:
Amortization of loss 404 482
Other comprehensive income 347 259
Income tax effect on:
Change in net unrealized losses on investment securities 316 49
Net unrealized losses (gains) reclassified into net income on investment securities (301) 11
Pension-related amounts (105) (130)
Income tax provision on other comprehensive income (90) (70)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax 257 189
Comprehensive income $ 32,799 $ 32,146

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
4

VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Amounts)
Unaudited
Vector Group Ltd. Stockholders' Deficiency
Additional Paid-In Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Common Stock Accumulated
Shares Amount Capital Deficit Loss Total
Balance as of January 1, 2022 153,959,427 $ 15,396 $ 11,172 $ (852,398) $ (15,723) $ (841,553)
Net income - - - 32,542 - 32,542
Total other comprehensive income - - - - 257 257
Dividends on common stock ($0.20 per share)
- - - (31,767) - (31,767)
Restricted stock grants 1,070,000 107 (107) - - -
Surrender of shares in connection with restricted stock vesting (91,250) (9) (1,029) - - (1,038)
Stock-based compensation - - 2,147 - - 2,147
Other - - - (1,240) - (1,240)
Balance as of March 31, 2022 154,938,177 $ 15,494 $ 12,183 $ (852,863) $ (15,466) $ (840,652)
Vector Group Ltd. Stockholders' Deficiency
Additional Paid-In Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Common Stock Accumulated
Shares Amount Capital Deficit Loss Total
Balance as of January 1, 2021 153,324,629 $ 15,332 $ - $ (653,945) $ (21,074) $ (659,687)
Net income - - - 31,957 - 31,957
Total other comprehensive income - - - - 189 189
Dividends on common stock ($0.20 per share)
- - - (31,618) - (31,618)
Restricted stock grant 870,000 87 (87) - - -
Stock-based compensation - - 2,660 - - 2,660
Balance as of March 31, 2021 154,194,629 $ 15,419 $ 2,573 $ (653,606) $ (20,885) $ (656,499)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
5

VECTOR GROUP LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in Thousands)
Unaudited
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 74,796 $ 78,364
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities 16,933 10,228
Maturities of investment securities 21,105 13,968
Purchase of investment securities (27,231) (38,441)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments - 4,389
Purchase of long-term investments (1,000) (5,813)
Investments in real estate ventures (8,488) (8,087)
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures 3,310 7,577
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies (765) (564)
Increase in restricted assets - (3)
Capital expenditures (1,222) (1,931)
Paydowns of investment securities 63 172
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 2,705 (18,505)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt - 875,000
Deferred financing costs - (20,000)
Repayments of debt (11) (853,158)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility 67,298 259
Repayments on revolving credit facility (67,298) (259)
Dividends on common stock (31,658) (32,273)
Other (938) (21)
Net cash used in financing activities (32,607) (30,452)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 44,894 29,407
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 194,849 365,677
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 239,743 $ 395,084

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)Basis of Presentation:
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Vector Group Ltd. (the "Company" or "Vector") include the accounts of Liggett Group LLC ("Liggett"), Vector Tobacco LLC ("Vector Tobacco"), Liggett Vector Brands LLC ("Liggett Vector Brands"), New Valley LLC ("New Valley") and other less significant subsidiaries. New Valley includes the accounts of 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. Liggett Vector Brands coordinates Liggett and Vector Tobacco's sales and marketing efforts. Certain references to "Liggett" refer to the Company's tobacco operations, including the business of Liggett and Vector Tobacco, unless otherwise specified. New Valley is engaged in the real estate business.
The unaudited, interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") 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. GAAP for complete financial statements. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). 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.
(b)Distributions and Dividends on Common Stock:

The Company records distributions on its common stock as dividends in its condensed consolidated statements of stockholders' deficiency to the extent of retained earnings. Any amounts exceeding retained earnings are recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital to the extent paid-in-capital is available and then to accumulated deficit.

(c)Earnings Per Share ("EPS"):

Net income for purposes of determining basic and diluted EPS for discontinued operations and net income available to common stockholders was as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Net income from continuing operations $ 32,542 $ 21,550
Net income from discontinued operations - 10,407
Net income 32,542 31,957
Income from continuing operations attributable to participating securities (983) (776)
Net income applicable to common shares $ 31,559 $ 31,181

Net income for purposes of determining basic and diluted EPS for continuing operations applicable to common shares was as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Net income from continuing operations $ 32,542 $ 21,550
Income from continuing operations attributable to participating securities (983) (754)
Net income available to common stockholders $ 31,559 $ 20,796

7
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Basic and diluted EPS for continuing and discontinued operations were calculated using the following common shares:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS 152,586,900 152,249,440
Plus incremental shares related to stock options and non-vested restricted stock 158,353 134,650
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS 152,745,253 152,384,090

It may not be possible to recalculate EPS attributable to common stockholders by adjusting EPS from continuing operations by EPS from discontinued operations as each amount is calculated independently.

The following non-vested restricted stock was outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, but was not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the impact of the per share expense associated with the restricted stock was greater than the average market price of the common shares during the respective periods.
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Weighted-average shares of non-vested restricted stock - 97,222
Weighted-average expense per share $ - $ 14.31

(d)Other, net:

Other, net consisted of:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Interest and dividend income $ 450 $ 534
Net (losses) gains recognized on investment securities (3,039) 2,415
Net periodic benefit cost other than the service costs (236) (244)
Other income 1,680 1
Other, net $ (1,145) $ 2,706

(e)Other Assets:

Other assets consisted of:
March 31,
2022 		December 31, 2021
Restricted assets $ 1,551 $ 1,551
Prepaid pension costs 44,866 44,585
Other assets 34,467 30,549
Total other assets $ 80,884 $ 76,685
8
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

(f)Other Current Liabilities:

Other current liabilities consisted of:
March 31,
2022 		December 31, 2021
Accounts payable $ 7,453 $ 9,443
Accrued promotional expenses 57,610 55,647
Accrued excise and payroll taxes payable, net 21,375 22,919
Accrued interest 32,667 30,676
Accrued salaries and benefits 4,042 13,982
Allowance for sales returns 6,063 6,669
Other current liabilities 10,751 10,151
Total other current liabilities $ 139,961 $ 149,487

(g)Reconciliation of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash:

The components of "Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash" in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows were as follows:
March 31,
2022 		December 31,
2021
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 238,305 $ 193,411
Restricted cash and cash equivalents included in other assets 1,438 1,438
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows
$ 239,743 $ 194,849

(h)Related Party Transactions:

Agreements with Douglas Elliman.The Company received $1,050 under the Transition Services Agreement and $491 under the Aircraft Lease Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Real estate venture investments. Douglas Elliman has been engaged by the developers as the sole broker or the co-broker for several of the real estate development projects that New Valley owns an interest in through its real estate venture investments. Douglas Elliman had gross commissions of approximately $900 and $2,357 from these projects for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

(i)New Accounting Pronouncements:

ASUs to be adopted in future periods:
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The ASU requires that an acquirer recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

9
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

2. REVENUE RECOGNITION

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company disaggregates revenues by segment.
Tobacco. Tobacco segment revenues are not disaggregated because all revenues are generated from the discount segment of the U.S. cigarette industry.

Real Estate. Real Estate segment revenues are disaggregated in the table below.
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Real Estate Segment Revenues
Sales on facilities primarily from Escena $ 2,969 $ 1,625
Revenues from investments in real estate 25 900
Total real estate revenues $ 2,994 $ 2,525

3. LEASES

The Company has operating and finance leases for corporate and sales offices, and certain vehicles and equipment. The components of lease expense were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Operating lease cost $ 1,125 $ 1,166
Short-term lease cost
103 91
Variable lease cost
56 52
Finance lease cost:
Amortization
14 16
Interest on lease liabilities
2 3
Total lease cost
$ 1,300 $ 1,328

10
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases
$ 1,235 $ 1,266
Operating cash flows from finance leases
2 3
Financing cash flows from finance leases
14 15
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases
- 7
Finance leases
- -

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had $120 in undiscounted lease payments relating to operating leases for equipment that have not yet commenced. The operating leases will commence in the second half of 2022 with lease terms ranging between 2 and 3 years.

4. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On December 29, 2021, the Company completed the distribution to its stockholders (including Vector common stock underlying outstanding stock options awards and restricted stock awards) of the common stock of Douglas Elliman Inc. (the "Distribution").

There were no assets or liabilities of discontinued operations of Douglas Elliman as of March 31, 2022 or December 31, 2021.

The financial results of Douglas Elliman through the completion of the Distribution are presented as income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes on the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. The following table presents financial results of Douglas Elliman for the periods prior to the completion of the Distribution:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2022 2021
(Dollars in thousands)
Revenues:
Real estate $ - $ 272,776
Expenses:
Cost of sales - 198,635
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses - 59,913
Operating income - 14,228
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense - (30)
Other, net - 48
Pretax income from discontinued operations - 14,246
Income tax expense - 3,839
Income from discontinued operations $ - $ 10,407

11
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The following table presents the information regarding certain components of cash flows from discontinued operations:
Three Months Ended March 31,
2022 2021
(Dollars in thousands)
Depreciation and amortization $ - $ 2,123
Non-cash lease expense - 4,487
Capital expenditures - (597)

5. INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of:
March 31,
2022 		December 31,
2021
Leaf tobacco $ 40,483 $ 38,825
Other raw materials 9,115 7,560
Work-in-process 692 2,639
Finished goods 66,328 64,218
Inventories at current cost 116,618 113,242
LIFO adjustments (18,627) (18,627)
$ 97,991 $ 94,615

All of the Company's inventories at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are reported under the LIFO method. The $18,627 LIFO adjustment as of March 31, 2022 reduced the current cost of inventories by $12,128 for Leaf tobacco, $829 for Other raw materials, $18 for Work-in-process and $5,652 for Finished goods. The $18,627 LIFO adjustment as of December 31, 2021 reduced the current cost of inventories by $12,128 for Leaf tobacco, $829 for Other raw materials, $18 for Work-in-process and $5,652 for Finished goods.

The amount of capitalized Master Settlement Agreement ("MSA") cost in "Finished goods" inventory was $20,971 and $20,450 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Federal excise tax capitalized in inventory was $26,021 and $25,160 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

At March 31, 2022, Liggett had tobacco purchase commitments of approximately $8,293. Liggett has a single-source supply agreement for reduced ignition propensity cigarette paper through December 2022.

12
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

6. INVESTMENT SECURITIES

Investment securities consisted of the following:
March 31,
2022 		December 31, 2021
Debt securities available for sale $ 91,838 $ 103,906
Equity securities at fair value:
Marketable equity securities 18,962 19,560
Mutual funds invested in debt securities 22,538 23,221
Long-term investment securities at fair value (1)
31,057 32,089
Total equity securities at fair value 72,557 74,870
Total investment securities at fair value 164,395 178,776
Less:
Long-term investment securities at fair value (1)
31,057 32,089
Current investment securities at fair value $ 133,338 $ 146,687
Long-term investment securities at fair value(1)
$ 31,057 $ 32,089
Equity-method investments 18,742 20,984
Total long-term investments $ 49,799 $ 53,073
Equity securities at cost (2)
$ 6,200 $ 5,200
(1) These assets are measured at net asset value ("NAV") as a practical expedient under ASC 820.
(2) These assetsare without readily determinable fair values that do not qualify for the NAV practical expedient and are included in Other assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Net (losses) gains recognized on investment securities were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Net (losses) gains recognized on equity securities $ (1,874) $ 2,374
Net gains recognized on debt securities available for sale - 55
Impairment expense (1,165) (14)
Net (losses) gains recognized on investment securities $ (3,039) $ 2,415
(a) Debt Securities Available for Sale:
The components of debt securities available for sale at March 31, 2022 were as follows:
Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gains 		Gross
Unrealized
Losses 		Fair
Value
Marketable debt securities $ 91,827 $ 11 $ - $ 91,838


13
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The table below summarizes the maturity dates of debt securities available for sale at March 31, 2022.
Investment Type: Fair Value Under 1 Year 1 Year up to 5 Years More than 5 Years
U.S. Government securities $ 5,585 $ 4,805 $ 780 $ -
Corporate securities 55,324 30,317 25,007 -
U.S. mortgage-backed securities 19,173 1,793 17,380 -
Commercial paper 10,540 10,540 - -
Foreign fixed-income securities 1,216 1,216 - -
Total debt securities available for sale by maturity dates
$ 91,838 $ 48,671 $ 43,167 $ -

The components of debt securities available for sale at December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gains 		Gross
Unrealized
Losses 		Fair
Value
Marketable debt securities $ 103,838 $ 68 $ - $ 103,906

There were no available-for-sale debt securities with continuous unrealized losses for less than 12 months and 12 months or greater at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Gross realized gains and losses on debt securities available for sale were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Gross realized gains on sales $ 1 $ 56
Gross realized losses on sales (1) (1)
Net gains recognized on debt securities available for sale $ - $ 55
Impairment expense $ (1,165) $ (14)

Although management generally does not have the intent to sell any specific securities at the end of the period, in the ordinary course of managing the Company's investment securities portfolio, management may sell securities prior to their maturities for a variety of reasons, including diversification, credit quality, yield and liquidity requirements.

(b) Equity Securities at Fair Value:

The following is a summary of unrealized and realized net losses and gains recognized in net income on equity securities at fair value during the three and three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively:

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Net (losses) gains recognized on equity securities $ (1,874) $ 2,374
Less: Net gains recognized on equity securities sold 293 169
Net unrealized (losses) gains recognized on equity securities still held at the reporting date $ (2,167) $ 2,205

14
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The Company's mutual funds invested in debt securities are classified as Level 1 under the fair value hierarchy disclosed in Note 11. Their fair values are based on quoted prices for identical assets in active markets or inputs that are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. The Company has unfunded commitments of $514 related to long-term investment securities at fair value as of March 31, 2022.

The Company received cash distributions of $202 and $4,389 related to its long-term investment securities at fair value for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company classified the $202 distributions as operating cash inflows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and the $4,389 distributions as investing cash inflows for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

(c) Equity-Method Investments:

Equity-method investments consisted of the following:
March 31,
2022 		December 31, 2021
Mutual fund and hedge funds $ 18,742 $ 20,984

At March 31, 2022, the Company's ownership percentages in the mutual fund and hedge funds accounted for under the equity method ranged from 6.45% to 37.70%. The Company's ownership percentage in these investments meets the threshold for equity-method accounting.

Equity in (losses) earnings from investments were:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Mutual fund and hedge funds $ (2,242) $ 577

(d) Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Values That Do Not Qualify for the NAV Practical Expedient

Equity securities without readily determinable fair values that do not qualify for the NAV practical expedient consisted of investments in various limited liability companies at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The total carrying value of these investments was $6,200 as of March 31, 2022 and $5,200 as of December 31, 2021, and was included in "Other assets" on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. No impairment or other adjustments related to observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments were identified for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
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7. NEW VALLEY LLC

Investments in real estate ventures:

The components of "Investments in real estate ventures" were as follows:
Range of Ownership (1)
March 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
New York City Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area ("SMSA")
4.2% - 37.0%
$ 21,266 $ 22,654
All other U.S. areas
19.6% - 89.1%
60,359 57,485
81,625 80,139
Apartment Buildings:
All other U.S. areas 50.0% 11,391 11,900
11,391 11,900
Hotels:
New York City SMSA
0.4% - 12.3%
1,347 1,635
International 49.0% 1,259 1,522
2,606 3,157
Commercial:
New York City SMSA 49.0% 8,070 -
All other U.S. areas 1.6% 7,444 7,290
15,514 7,290
Other:
15.0% - 49.0%
367 2,576
Investments in real estate ventures $ 111,503 $ 105,062
_____________________________
(1)The Range of Ownership reflects New Valley's estimated current ownership percentage. New Valley's actual ownership percentage as well as the percentage of earnings and cash distributions may ultimately differ as a result of a number of factors including potential dilution, financing or admission of additional partners.
Contributions:

The components of New Valley's contributions to its investments in real estate ventures were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
New York City SMSA $ 369 $ 180
All other U.S. areas - 6,661
369 6,841
Hotels:
New York City SMSA 49 1,246
49 1,246
Commercial:
New York City SMSA 8,070 -
8,070 -
Total contributions $ 8,488 $ 8,087

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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

For ventures where New Valley previously held an investment, New Valley contributed its proportionate share of additional capital along with contributions by the other investment partners during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021. New Valley's direct investment percentage for these ventures did not significantly change.

Distributions:

The components of distributions received by New Valley from its investments in real estate ventures were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
New York City SMSA $ 900 $ -
All other U.S. areas - 2,833
900 2,833
Apartment Buildings:
All other U.S. areas 200 4,608
200 4,608
Commercial:
All other U.S. areas 218 136
218 136
Other 2,725 -
Total distributions $ 4,043 $ 7,577

Of the distributions received by New Valley from its investment in real estate ventures, $733 were from distributions of earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2022, and $3,310 and $7,577 were a return of capital for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Distributions from earnings are included in cash from operations in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, while distributions from return of capital are included in cash flows from investing activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
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Equity in Earnings (losses) from Real Estate Ventures:

New Valley recognized equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
New York City SMSA $ (1,216) $ (1,505)
All other U.S. areas (482) (41)
(1,698) (1,546)
Apartment Buildings:
All other U.S. areas (309) 4,608
(309) 4,608
Hotels:
New York City SMSA (494) (462)
International (263) (506)
(757) (968)
Commercial:
New York City SMSA - 122
All other U.S. areas 372 93
372 215
Other: 515 (720)
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures $ (1,877) $ 1,589

VIE Consideration:

The Company has determined that New Valley is the primary beneficiary of one real estate venture because it controls the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the real estate venture. Consequently, New Valley consolidates this variable interest entity ("VIE").

The carrying amount of the consolidated assets of the VIE was $0 at both March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. Those assets are owned by the VIE, not the Company. The consolidated VIE had no recourse liabilities as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. A VIE's assets can only be used to settle the obligations of that VIE. The VIE is not a guarantor of the Company's senior notes and other debts payable.

For the remaining investments in real estate ventures, New Valley determined that the entities were VIEs but New Valley was not the primary beneficiary. Therefore, New Valley's investment in such real estate ventures has been accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Maximum Exposure to Loss:

New Valley's maximum exposure to loss from its investments in real estate ventures consisted of the net carrying value of the venture adjusted for any future capital commitments and/or guarantee arrangements. The maximum exposure to loss was as follows:
March 31, 2022
Condominium and Mixed Use Development:
New York City SMSA $ 21,266
All other U.S. areas 60,359
81,625
Apartment Buildings:
All other U.S. areas 11,391
11,391
Hotels:
New York City SMSA 1,347
International 1,259
2,606
Commercial:
New York City SMSA 8,070
All other U.S. areas 7,444
15,514
Other 367
Total maximum exposure to loss $ 111,503

New Valley capitalized $3,716 and $430 of interest costs into the carrying value of its ventures whose projects were currently under development for three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Combined Financial Statements for Unconsolidated Subsidiaries Accounted for under the Equity Method:

Pursuant to Rule 4-08(g), the following summarized financial data for unconsolidated subsidiaries includes information for the following: Other (Witkoff GP Partners).

Other:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Income Statement
Revenue $ - $ 21
Other expenses 2,829 300,829
Loss from continuing operations $ (2,829) $ (300,808)


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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Investments in Real Estate, net:

The components of "Investments in real estate, net" were as follows:
March 31,
2022 		December 31,
2021
Escena, net $ 9,039 $ 9,098
Investments in real estate, net $ 9,039 $ 9,098

Escena.The assets of "Escena, net" were as follows:
March 31,
2022 		December 31,
2021
Land and land improvements $ 8,520 $ 8,520
Building and building improvements 1,926 1,926
Other 1,636 1,643
12,082 12,089
Less accumulated depreciation (3,043) (2,991)
$ 9,039 $ 9,098

New Valley recorded operating income of $1,239 and $370 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, from Escena. Escena is a master planned community, golf course, and club house in Palm Springs, California. In April 2022, New Valley sold Escena and received approximately $15,300 in net cash proceeds. The Company will account for the transaction in its condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2022.

8. NOTES PAYABLE, LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations consisted of:
March 31,
2022 		December 31,
2021
Vector:
5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2029
$ 875,000 $ 875,000
10.5% Senior Notes due 2026, net of unamortized discount of $2,543 and $2,647
552,457 552,353
Liggett:
Revolving credit facility
24 24
Equipment loans
58 64
Other 24 32
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations 1,427,563 1,427,473
Less:
Debt issuance costs
(27,856) (28,803)
Total notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations 1,399,707 1,398,670
Less:
Current maturities (76) (79)
Amount due after one year $ 1,399,631 $ 1,398,591

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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 - Vector:
As of March 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants related to its 5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2029.
6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 - Vector:
On February 1, 2021, the 6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 were redeemed in full and the Company recorded a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $21,362 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, including $13,013 of premium and $8,349 of other costs and non-cash interest expense related to the recognition of previously unamortized deferred finance costs.
10.5% Senior Notes due 2026 - Vector:
As of March 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants related to its 10.5% Senior Notes due 2026.
Revolving Credit Agreement - Liggett:
As of March 31, 2022, there was $24 outstanding balance due under the Credit Agreement. Availability, as determined under the Credit Agreement, was approximately $83,500 based on eligible collateral at March 31, 2022. As of March 31, 2022, Liggett, Maple, and Vector Tobacco were in compliance with all debt covenants under the Credit Agreement.
Non-Cash Interest Expense - Vector:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Amortization of debt discount, net $ 105 $ 94
Amortization of debt issuance costs 998 893
Loss on extinguishment of 6.125% Senior Secured Notes
- 8,349
$ 1,103 $ 9,336

Fair Value of Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt:
March 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
Value Value Value Value
Senior Notes $ 1,427,457 $ 1,361,869 $ 1,427,353 $ 1,426,176
Liggett and other 106 108 120 124
Notes payable and long-term debt $ 1,427,563 $ 1,361,977 $ 1,427,473 $ 1,426,300

Notes payable and long-term debt are carried on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at amortized cost. The fair value determinations disclosed above are classified as Level 2 under the fair value hierarchy disclosed in Note 11 if such liabilities were recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The estimated fair value of the Company's notes payable and long-term debt has been determined by the Company using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies including the evaluation of the Company's credit risk. The Company used a derived price based upon quoted market prices and trade activity as of March 31, 2022 to determine the fair value of its publicly-traded notes and debentures. The carrying value of the revolving credit facility is equal to fair value. The fair value of the equipment loans and other obligations was determined by calculating the present value of the required future cash flows. However, considerable judgment is required to develop the estimates of fair value and, accordingly, the estimate presented herein is not necessarily indicative of the amount that could be realized in a current market exchange.


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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

9. CONTINGENCIES

Tobacco-Related Litigation:
Overview. Since 1954, Liggett and other United States cigarette manufacturers have been named as defendants in numerous direct, third-party and purported class actions predicated on the theory that cigarette manufacturers should be liable for damages alleged to have been caused by cigarette smoking or by exposure to secondary smoke from cigarettes. The cases have generally fallen into the following categories: (i) smoking and health cases alleging personal injury brought on behalf of individual plaintiffs ("Individual Actions"); (ii) lawsuits by individuals requesting the benefit of the Engleruling ("Engleprogeny cases"); (iii) smoking and health cases primarily alleging personal injury or seeking court-supervised programs for ongoing medical monitoring, as well as cases alleging that use of the terms "lights" and/or "ultra lights" constitutes a deceptive and unfair trade practice, common law fraud or violation of federal law, purporting to be brought on behalf of a class of individual plaintiffs ("Class Actions"); and (iv) health care cost recovery actions brought by various foreign and domestic governmental plaintiffs and non-governmental plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for health care expenditures allegedly caused by cigarette smoking and/or disgorgement of profits ("Health Care Cost Recovery Actions"). The future financial impact of the risks and expenses of litigation are not quantifiable. For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, Liggett incurred tobacco product liability legal expenses and costs totaling $1,645 and $1,525 respectively. Legal defense costs are expensed as incurred.
Litigation is subject to uncertainty and it is possible that there could be adverse developments in pending cases. With the commencement of new cases, the defense costs and the risks relating to the unpredictability of litigation increase. Management reviews on a quarterly basis with counsel all pending litigation and evaluates the probability of a loss being incurred and whether an estimate can be made of the possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending tobacco-related litigation could encourage the commencement of additional litigation. Damages awarded in tobacco-related litigation can be significant.
Bonds. Although Liggett has been able to obtain required bonds or relief from bonding requirements in order to prevent plaintiffs from seeking to collect judgments while adverse verdicts are on appeal, there remains a risk that such relief may not be obtainable in all cases. This risk has been reduced given that a majority of states now limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all. As of March 31, 2022, Liggett had no outstanding bonds.
In June 2009, Florida amended its existing bond cap statute by adding a $200,000 bond cap that applies to all Florida tobacco litigation in the aggregate and establishes individual bond caps in amounts that vary depending on the number of judgments in effect at a given time. The maximum amount of any such bond for an appeal in the Florida state courts will be no greater than $5,000. In several cases, plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the bond cap statute, but to date the courts have upheld the constitutionality of the statute. It is possible that the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome of such challenges.
Accounting Policy. The Company and its subsidiaries record provisions in their consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when they determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur, except as discussed in this Note 9: (i) management has concluded that it is not probable that a loss has been incurred in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; or (ii) management is unable to reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of any of the pending tobacco-related cases and, therefore, management has not provided any amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any.
Although Liggett has generally been successful in managing the litigation filed against it, litigation is subject to uncertainty and significant challenges remain, including with respect to the remaining Engleprogeny cases. There can be no assurances that Liggett's past litigation experience will be representative of future results. Judgments have been entered against Liggett in the past, in Individual Actions and Engleprogeny cases, and several of those judgments were affirmed on appeal and satisfied by Liggett. It is possible that the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome or settlement of any of the remaining smoking-related litigation. Liggett believes, and has been so advised by counsel, that it has valid defenses to the litigation pending against it, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts. All such cases are and will continue to be vigorously defended. Liggett has entered into settlement discussions in individual cases or groups of cases where Liggett has determined it was in its best interest to do so, and it may continue to do so in the future. As cases proceed through the appellate process, the Company will consider accruals on a case-by-case basis if an unfavorable outcome becomes probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Individual Actions
As of March 31, 2022, there were 61 Individual Actions pending against Liggett, where one or more individual plaintiffs allege injury resulting from cigarette smoking, addiction to cigarette smoking or exposure to secondary smoke and seek compensatory and, in some cases, punitive damages. These cases do not include the remaining Engleprogeny cases. The following table lists the number of Individual Actions by state:
State Number
of Cases
Florida 30
Illinois 14
Nevada 5
New Mexico 4
Hawaii 4
Louisiana 2
Massachusetts 1
South Carolina 1
The plaintiffs' allegations of liability in cases in which individuals seek recovery for injuries allegedly caused by cigarette smoking are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, breach of special duty, strict liability, fraud, concealment, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, concert of action, unjust enrichment, common law public nuisance, property damage, invasion of privacy, mental anguish, emotional distress, disability, shock, indemnity, violations of deceptive trade practice laws, the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"), state RICO statutes and antitrust statutes. In many of these cases, in addition to compensatory damages, plaintiffs also seek other forms of relief including treble/multiple damages, medical monitoring, disgorgement of profits and punitive damages. Although alleged damages often are not determinable from a complaint, and the law governing the pleading and calculation of damages varies from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction, compensatory and punitive damages have been specifically pleaded in a number of cases, sometimes in amounts ranging into the hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars.
Defenses raised in Individual Actions include lack of proximate cause, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, lack of design defect, statute of limitations, statute of repose, equitable defenses such as "unclean hands" and lack of benefit, failure to state a claim and federal preemption.
Engle Progeny Cases
In May 1994, the Englecase was filed as a class action against Liggett and others in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The class consisted of all Florida residents who, by November 21, 1996, "have suffered, presently suffer or have died from diseases and medical conditions caused by their addiction to cigarette smoking." A trial was held and the jury returned a verdict adverse to the defendants (approximately $145,000,000 in punitive damages, including $790,000 against Liggett). Following an appeal to the Third District Court of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court in July 2006 decertified the class on a prospective basis and affirmed the appellate court's reversal of the punitive damages award. Former class members had until January 2008 to file individual lawsuits. As a result, Liggett and the Company, and other cigarette manufacturers, were sued in thousands of Engleprogeny cases in both federal and state courts in Florida.
Cautionary Statement About Engle Progeny Cases. Since 2009, judgments have been entered against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers in Engleprogeny cases. A number of the judgments were affirmed on appeal and satisfied by the defendants. Many were overturned on appeal. As of March 31, 2022, 25Engleprogeny cases, where Liggett was a defendant at trial, resulted in verdicts.
There have been 16 verdicts returned in favor of the plaintiffs and nine in favor of Liggett. In five of the cases, punitive damages were awarded against Liggett. Several of the adverse verdicts were overturned on appeal and new trials were ordered. In certain cases, the judgments were entered jointly and severally with other defendants and Liggett faces the risk that one or more co-defendants decline or otherwise fail to participate in the bonding required for an appeal or to pay their proportionate or jury-allocated share of a judgment. As a result, under certain circumstances, Liggett may have to pay more than its proportionate share of any bonding or judgment related amounts. Except as discussed in this Note 9, management is unable to
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VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

estimate the possible loss or range of loss from the remaining Engle progeny cases as there are currently multiple defendants in each case, except as discussed herein and, in most cases, discovery has not occurred or is limited. As a result, the Company lacks information about whether plaintiffs are in fact Engleclass members, the relevant smoking history, the nature of the alleged injury and the availability of various defenses, among other things. Further, plaintiffs typically do not specify the amount of their demand for damages.
Engle Progeny Settlements.
In October 2013, the Company and Liggett entered into a settlement with approximately 4,900Engleprogeny plaintiffs and their counsel. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, Liggett agreed to pay a total of approximately $110,000, with $61,600 paid in an initial lump sum and the balance to be paid in installments over 14 years starting in February 2015. The Company's future payments will be approximately $3,600 per annum through 2028, including an annual cost of living increase that began in 2021. In exchange, the claims of these plaintiffs were dismissed with prejudice against the Company and Liggett.
Liggett subsequently entered into two separate settlement agreements with a total of 152Engleprogeny plaintiffs where Liggett paid a total of $23,150. On an individual basis, Liggett settled an additional 207 Engleprogeny cases for approximately $8,200 in the aggregate. Three of those settlements occurred in the first quarter of 2022.
Notwithstanding the comprehensive nature of the Engleprogeny settlements, 25 plaintiffs' claims remain pending in state court. Therefore, the Company and Liggett may still be subject to periodic adverse judgments which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Judgments Paid in Engle Progeny Cases.
As of March 31, 2022, Liggett paid in the aggregate $40,111, including interest and attorneys' fees, to satisfy the judgments in the following Engleprogeny cases: Lukacs, Campbell, Douglas, Clay, Tullo, Ward, Rizzuto, Lambert, Buchanan, andSantoro.
Liggett Only Cases
There are currently five cases where Liggett is the sole defendant: Cowartand Baluja are Individual Actions and Tumin, Forbing, and Alvarezare Engle progeny cases. It is possible that cases where Liggett is the only defendant could increase as a result of the remaining Engleprogeny cases and newly filed Individual Actions.
Upcoming Trials
As of March 31, 2022, there were eight Individual Actions (Camacho, Geist, Harcourt, Johnson, Lane, Mendez, Rowan, and Sweet) scheduled for trial through March 31, 2023, where Liggett is a named defendant. Trial dates are subject to change and additional cases could be set for trial during this time.
Maryland Cases
Liggett was a defendant in 16 multi-defendant personal injury cases in Maryland alleging claims arising from asbestos and tobacco exposure ("synergy cases"). In June 2017, after the Court of Appeals (Maryland's highest court) ruled that joinder of tobacco and asbestos cases may be possible in certain circumstances and then remanded the case, the trial court dismissed all synergy cases against the tobacco company defendants, including Liggett, without prejudice. At some point, Plaintiffs may seek appellate review or file new cases against the tobacco companies.
Class Actions
As of March 31, 2022, two actions were pending for which either a class had been certified or plaintiffs were seeking class certification where Liggett is a named defendant. Other cigarette manufacturers are also named in these two cases.
In November 1997, in Young v. American Tobacco Co.,a purported class action was brought on behalf of plaintiff and all similarly situated residents in Louisiana who, though not themselves cigarette smokers, allege they were exposed to and suffered injury from secondhand smoke from cigarettes. The plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. The case has been stayed since March 2016 pending completion of the smoking cessation program ordered by the court in Scott v. The American Tobacco Co.
In February 1998, in Parsons v. AC & S Inc., a purported class action was brought on behalf of plaintiff and all West Virginia residents who allegedly have claims arising from their exposure to cigarette smoke and asbestos fibers and seeks compensatory and punitive damages. The case has been stayed since December 2000 as a result of bankruptcy petitions filed by three co-defendants.
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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Plaintiffs' allegations of liability in class action cases are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, nuisance, breach of express and implied warranties, breach of special duty, conspiracy, concert of action, violation of deceptive trade practice laws and consumer protection statutes and claims under the federal and state anti-racketeering statutes. Plaintiffs in the class actions seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, treble/multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, creation of medical monitoring and smoking cessation funds, disgorgement of profits, and injunctive and equitable relief.
Defenses raised in these cases include, among others, lack of proximate cause, individual issues predominate, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, statute of limitations and federal preemption.
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions
As of March 31, 2022, one Health Care Cost Recovery Action was pending against Liggett where the plaintiff seeks to recover damages from Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers based on various theories of recovery as a result of alleged sales of tobacco products to minors. The case is dormant.
The claims asserted in health care cost recovery actions vary, but can include the equitable claim of indemnity, common law claims of negligence, strict liability, breach of express and implied warranty, breach of special duty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy, public nuisance, claims under state and federal statutes governing consumer fraud, antitrust, deceptive trade practices and false advertising, and claims under RICO. Although no specific damage amounts are typically pleaded, it is possible that requested damages might be in the billions of dollars. In these cases, plaintiffs have asserted equitable claims that the tobacco industry was "unjustly enriched" by their payment of health care costs allegedly attributable to smoking and seek reimbursement of those costs. Relief sought by some, but not all, plaintiffs include punitive damages, multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, injunctions prohibiting alleged marketing and sales to minors, disclosure of research, disgorgement of profits, funding of anti-smoking programs, additional disclosure of nicotine yields, and payment of attorney and expert witness fees.
Department of Justice Lawsuit
In September 1999, the United States government commenced litigation against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The action sought to recover, among other things, an unspecified amount of health care costs paid and to be paid by the federal government for smoking-related illnesses allegedly caused by the fraudulent and tortious conduct of defendants. In August 2006, the trial court entered a Final Judgment against each of the cigarette manufacturing defendants, except Liggett. The judgment was affirmed on appeal. As a result, the cigarette manufacturing defendants, other than Liggett, are now subject to the trial court's Final Judgment which ordered, among other things, the issuance of "corrective statements" in various media regarding the adverse health effects of smoking, the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine, the lack of any significant health benefit from smoking "low tar" or "lights" cigarettes, defendants' manipulation of cigarette design to ensure optimum nicotine delivery and the adverse health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
MSA and Other State Settlement Agreements
In March 1996, March 1997 and March 1998, Liggett entered into settlements of smoking-related litigation with 45 states and territories. The settlements released Liggett from all smoking-related claims made by those states and territories, including claims for health care cost reimbursement and claims concerning sales of cigarettes to minors.
In November 1998, Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds and two other companies (the "Original Participating Manufacturers" or "OPMs") and Liggett and Vector Tobacco (together with any other tobacco product manufacturer that becomes a signatory, the "Subsequent Participating Manufacturers" or "SPMs") (the OPMs and SPMs are hereinafter referred to jointly as "PMs") entered into the Master Settlement Agreement (the "MSA") with 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands (collectively, the "Settling States") to settle the asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and certain other claims of the Settling States. The MSA received final judicial approval in each Settling State.
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(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

As a result of the MSA, the Settling States released Liggett and Vector Tobacco from:
•all claims of the Settling States and their respective political subdivisions and other recipients of state health care funds, relating to: (i) past conduct arising out of the use, sale, distribution, manufacture, development, advertising and marketing of tobacco products; (ii) the health effects of, the exposure to, or research, statements or warnings about, tobacco products; and
•all monetary claims of the Settling States and their respective subdivisions and other recipients of state health care funds relating to future conduct arising out of the use of, or exposure to, tobacco products that have been manufactured in the ordinary course of business.
The MSA restricts tobacco product advertising and marketing within the Settling States and otherwise restricts the activities of PMs. Among other things, the MSA prohibits the targeting of youth in the advertising, promotion or marketing of tobacco products; bans the use of cartoon characters in all tobacco advertising and promotion; limits each PM to one tobacco brand name sponsorship during any 12-month period; bans all outdoor advertising, with certain limited exceptions; prohibits payments for tobacco product placement in various media; bans gift offers based on the purchase of tobacco products without sufficient proof that the intended recipient is an adult; prohibits PMs from licensing third parties to advertise tobacco brand names in any manner prohibited under the MSA; and prohibits PMs from using as a tobacco product brand name any nationally recognized non-tobacco brand or trade name or the names of sports teams, entertainment groups or individual celebrities.
The MSA also requires PMs to affirm corporate principles to comply with the MSA and to reduce underage use of tobacco products and imposes restrictions on lobbying activities conducted on behalf of PMs. In addition, the MSA provides for the appointment of an independent auditor to calculate and determine the amounts of payments owed pursuant to the MSA.
Under the payment provisions of the MSA, PMs are required to make annual payments of $9,000,000 (subject to applicable adjustments, offsets and reductions including a "Non-Participating Manufacturers Adjustment" or "NPM Adjustment"). These annual payments are allocated based on unit volume of domestic cigarette shipments. The payment obligations under the MSA are the several, and not joint, obligations of each PM and are not the responsibility of any parent or affiliate of a PM.
Liggett has no payment obligations under the MSA except to the extent its market share exceeds a market share exemption of approximately 1.65% of total cigarettes sold in the United States. Vector Tobacco has no payment obligations under the MSA except to the extent its market share exceeds a market share exemption of approximately 0.28% of total cigarettes sold in the United States. Liggett and Vector Tobacco's domestic shipments accounted for approximately 4.1% of the total cigarettes sold in the United States in 2021. If Liggett's or Vector Tobacco's market share exceeds their respective market share exemption in a given year, then on April 15 of the following year, Liggett and/or Vector Tobacco, as the case may be, must pay on each excess unit an amount equal (on a per-unit basis) to that due from the OPMs for that year. On December 30, 2021, Liggett and Vector Tobacco pre-paid $169,500 of their approximate $179,000 2021 MSA obligation, the balance of which was paid in April 2022, subject to applicable disputes or adjustments.
Certain MSA Disputes
NPM Adjustment.Liggett and Vector Tobacco contend that they are entitled to an NPM Adjustment for each year from 2003 - 2021. The NPM Adjustment is a potential adjustment to annual MSA payments, available when PMs suffer a market share loss to NPMs for a particular year and an economic consulting firm selected pursuant to the MSA determines (or the parties agree) that the MSA was a "significant factor contributing to" that loss. A Settling State that has "diligently enforced" its qualifying escrow statute in the year in question may be able to avoid its allocable share of the NPM Adjustment. For 2003 - 2021, Liggett and Vector Tobacco, as applicable, disputed that they owed the Settling States the NPM Adjustments as calculated by the independent auditor. As permitted by the MSA, Liggett and Vector Tobacco either paid subject to dispute, withheld payment, or paid into a disputed payment account, the amounts associated with these NPM Adjustments.
In June 2010, after the PMs prevailed in 48 of 49 motions to compel arbitration, the parties commenced the arbitration for the 2003 NPM Adjustment. That arbitration concluded in September 2013. It was followed by various challenges filed in state courts by states that did not prevail in the arbitration. Those challenges resulted in reductions, but not elimination of, the amounts awarded. Since then, the PMs have settled the NPM Adjustment dispute with 39 states representing approximately 80% of the MSA allocable share.
The 2004 NPM Adjustment arbitration commenced in 2016, with the arbitration panel issuing interim decisions on most individual states in September 2021, finding two of them liable for the NPM Adjustment; the final individual state hearing was held in February 2022; and a second phase addressing the effect of the settlements on recovery of the NPM Adjustment to start
26
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

thereafter. The parties have selected an arbitration panel to address the NPM Adjustments for 2005-2007, and are engaged in discovery, with a common hearing set for July 2022 and individual state hearings likely to start in the third quarter of 2022.
As a result of the settlements described above, Liggett and Vector Tobacco reduced cost of sales for three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 by $4,781 and $1,675 respectively. Liggett and Vector Tobacco may be entitled to further adjustments. As of March 31, 2022, Liggett and Vector Tobacco had accrued approximately $11,100 related to the disputed amounts withheld from the non-settling states for 2004 - 2010, which may be subject to payment, with interest, if Liggett and Vector Tobacco lose the disputes for those years. As of March 31, 2022, there remains approximately $49,800 in the disputed payments account relating to Liggett and Vector Tobacco's 2011 - 2020 NPM Adjustment disputes with the non-settling states. If Liggett and Vector Tobacco lose the disputes for all or any of those years, pursuant to the MSA, no interest would be due on the amounts paid into the disputed payment account.
Other State Settlements.The MSA replaced Liggett's prior settlements with all states and territories except for Florida, Mississippi, Texas and Minnesota. Each of these four states, prior to the effective date of the MSA, negotiated and executed settlement agreements with each of the other major tobacco companies, separate from those settlements reached previously with Liggett. Except as described below, Liggett's agreements with these states remain in full force and effect. These states' settlement agreements with Liggett contained most favored nation provisions which could reduce Liggett's payment obligations based on subsequent settlements or resolutions by those states with certain other tobacco companies. Beginning in 1999, Liggett determined that, based on settlements or resolutions with United States Tobacco Company, Liggett's payment obligations to those four states were eliminated. With respect to all non-economic obligations under the previous settlements, Liggett believes it is entitled to the most favorable provisions as between the MSA and each state's respective settlement with the other major tobacco companies. Therefore, Liggett's non-economic obligations to all states and territories are now defined by the MSA.
In 2003, as a result of a dispute with Minnesota regarding its settlement agreement, Liggett agreed to pay $100 a year in any year cigarettes manufactured by Liggett are sold in that state. Further, the Attorneys General for Florida, Mississippi and Texas advised Liggett that they believed Liggett had failed to make payments under the respective settlement agreements with those states. In 2010, Liggett settled with Florida and agreed to pay $1,200 and to make further annual payments of $250 for a period of 21 years, starting in March 2011, with the payments from March 2022 forward being subject to an inflation adjustment.
Mississippi Litigation. In January 2016, the Attorney General for Mississippi filed a motion in Chancery Court in Jackson County, Mississippi to enforce the March 1996 settlement agreement among Liggett, Mississippi and other states (the "1996 Agreement") alleging that Liggett owes Mississippi at least $27,000 in compensatory damages and interest. In April 2017, the Chancery Court ruled, over Liggett's objections, that the 1996 Agreement should be enforced as Mississippi claims and referred the matter first to arbitration and then to a Special Master for further proceedings to determine the amount of damages, if any, to be awarded. In April 2021, following confirmation of the final arbitration award, the parties stipulated that the unpaid principal (exclusive of interest) purportedly due from Liggett to Mississippi pursuant to the 1996 Agreement was approximately $16,700, subject to Liggett's right to litigate and/or appeal the enforceability of the 1996 Agreement (and all issues other than the calculation of the principal amount allegedly due).
In September 2019, the Special Master held a hearing regarding Mississippi's claim for pre- and post-judgment interest. In August 2021, the Special Master issued a final report with proposed findings and recommendations that pre-judgment interest, in the amount of approximately $18,800, is due from Liggett from April 2005 - August 3, 2021. In April 2022, the Mississippi Chancery Court affirmed the Special Master's findings. Additional interest amounts will accrue if the judgment is not overturned on appeal. Liggett continues to assert that the April 2017 Chancery Court order is in error because the most favored nations provision in the 1996 Agreement eliminated all of Liggett's payment obligations to Mississippi, and has reserved all rights to appeal this and other issues at the conclusion of the case. In the event Liggett appeals an adverse judgment, the posting of a bond will likely be required.
Liggett may be required to make additional payments to Mississippi and/or Texas which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Cautionary Statement
Management is not able to reasonably predict the outcome of the litigation pending or threatened against Liggett or the Company. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties. Liggett has been found liable in multiple Engleprogeny cases and Individual Actions, several of which were affirmed on appeal and satisfied by Liggett. It is possible that other cases could be decided unfavorably against Liggett and that Liggett will be unsuccessful on appeal. Liggett may attempt to settle particular cases if it believes it is in its best interest to do so.
27
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Management cannot predict the cash requirements related to any future defense costs, settlements or judgments, including cash required to bond any appeals, and there is a risk that Liggett may not be able to meet those requirements. An unfavorable outcome of a pending smoking-related case could encourage the commencement of additional litigation. Except as discussed in this Note 9, management is unable to estimate the loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of the cases pending against Liggett or the costs of defending such cases and as a result has not provided any amounts in its condensed consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes.
The tobacco industry is subject to a wide range of laws and regulations regarding the marketing, sale, taxation and use of tobacco products imposed by local, state and federal governments. There have been a number of restrictive regulatory actions, adverse legislative and political decisions and other unfavorable developments concerning cigarette smoking and the tobacco industry. These developments may negatively affect the perception of potential triers of fact with respect to the tobacco industry, possibly to the detriment of certain pending litigation, and may prompt the commencement of additional litigation or legislation.
It is possible that the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome in any of the smoking-related litigation.
The activity in the Company's accruals for the MSA and tobacco litigation for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was as follows:
Current Liabilities Non-Current Liabilities
Payments due under Master Settlement Agreement Litigation Accruals Total Payments due under Master Settlement Agreement Litigation Accruals Total
Balance as of January 1, 2022 $ 11,886 $ 3,918 $ 15,804 $ 13,224 $ 17,680 $ 30,904
Expenses
56,199 72 56,271 - - -
NPM Settlement adjustment
(15) - (15) (2,108) - (2,108)
Change in MSA obligations capitalized as inventory
521 - 521 - - -
Payments
- (3,917) (3,917) - - -
Reclassification to/(from) non-current liabilities
- 3,566 3,566 - (3,566) (3,566)
Interest on withholding
- 124 124 - 472 472
Balance as of March 31, 2022 $ 68,591 $ 3,763 $ 72,354 $ 11,116 $ 14,586 $ 25,702
28
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The activity in the Company's accruals for the MSA and tobacco litigation for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was as follows:
Current Liabilities Non-Current Liabilities
Payments due under Master Settlement Agreement Litigation Accruals Total Payments due under Master Settlement Agreement Litigation Accruals Total
Balance as of January 1, 2021 $ 38,767 $ 3,967 $ 42,734 $ 17,933 $ 19,268 $ 37,201
Expenses
34,121 5 34,126 - - -
Change in MSA obligations capitalized as inventory
148 - 148 - - -
Payments
- (4,065) (4,065) - - -
Reclassification to/(from) non-current liabilities
- 3,351 3,351 - (3,351) (3,351)
Interest on withholding
- 197 197 - 418 418
Balance as of March 31, 2021 $ 73,036 $ 3,455 $ 76,491 $ 17,933 $ 16,335 $ 34,268

Other Matters:

Liggett's and Vector Tobacco's management are unaware of any material environmental conditions affecting their existing facilities. Liggett's and Vector Tobacco's management believe that current operations are conducted in material compliance with all environmental laws and regulations and other laws and regulations governing cigarette manufacturers. Compliance with federal, state and local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, has not had a material impact on the capital expenditures, results of operations or competitive position of Liggett or Vector Tobacco.
Liggett and the Company have received three separate demands for indemnification from Altria Client Services, on behalf of Philip Morris, relating to lawsuits alleging smokers' use of L&M cigarettes. The indemnification demands are purportedly issued in connection with Eve Holdings' 1999 sale of certain trademarks to Philip Morris.
Management is of the opinion that the liabilities, if any, resulting from other proceedings, lawsuits and claims pending against the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, unrelated to tobacco product liability, should not materially affect the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

29
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

10. INCOME TAXES

The Company's effective income tax rate is based on expected income, statutory rates, valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, and any tax planning opportunities available to the Company. For interim financial reporting, the Company estimates the annual effective income tax rate based on full year projections and applies the annual effective income tax rate against year-to-date pretax income to record income tax expense, adjusted for discrete items, if any. The Company refines annual estimates as new information becomes available. The Company's tax rate does not bear a relationship to statutory tax rates due to permanent differences, which are primarily related to nondeductible compensation and state taxes.
The Company's income tax expense consisted of the following:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Income before provision for income taxes $ 44,764 $ 30,764
Income tax expense using estimated annual effective income tax rate
12,222 9,214
Income tax expense $ 12,222 $ 9,214

There are no discrete items for the three months ended March 31, 2022 or the three months ended March 31, 2021.

30
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

11. INVESTMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company's financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements were as follows:
Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2022
Total Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
Money market funds (1)
$ 153,948 $ 153,948 $ - $ -
Commercial paper(1)
43,002 - 43,002 -
Certificates of deposit (2)
110 - 110 -
Investment securities at fair value
Equity securities at fair value
Marketable equity securities
18,962 18,962 - -
Mutual funds invested in debt securities
22,538 22,538 - -
Total equity securities at fair value
41,500 41,500 - -
Debt securities available for sale
U.S. government securities
5,585 - 5,585 -
Corporate securities
55,324 - 55,324 -
U.S. government and federal agency
19,173 - 19,173 -
Commercial paper
10,540 - 10,540 -
Foreign fixed-income securities
1,216 - 1,216 -
Total debt securities available for sale
91,838 - 91,838 -
Total investment securities at fair value
133,338 41,500 91,838 -
Long-term investments
Long-term investment securities at fair value (3)
31,057 - - -
Total $ 361,455 $ 195,448 $ 134,950 $ -
Liabilities:
Fair value of contingent liability $ 965 $ - $ - $ 965
Total $ 965 $ - $ - $ 965
(1) Amounts included in Cash and cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Amounts included in current restricted assets and non-current restricted assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(3) In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, investments that are measured at fair value using the NAV practical expedient are not classified in the fair value hierarchy.
31
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2021
Total Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
Money market funds (1)
$ 130,583 $ 130,583 $ - $ -
Commercial paper(1)
24,426 24,426 -
Certificates of deposit (2)
110 110 -
Investment securities at fair value
Equity securities at fair value
Marketable equity securities
19,560 19,560 - -
Mutual funds invested in debt securities
23,221 23,221 - -
Total equity securities at fair value
42,781 42,781 - -
Debt securities available for sale
U.S. government securities
6,481 - 6,481 -
Corporate securities
47,531 - 47,531 -
U.S. government and federal agency
19,572 - 19,572 -
Commercial paper
29,103 - 29,103 -
Foreign fixed-income securities
1,219 - 1,219 -
Total debt securities available for sale
103,906 - 103,906 -
Total investment securities at fair value
146,687 42,781 103,906 -
Long-term investments
Long-term investment securities at fair value (3)
32,089 - - -
Total $ 333,895 $ 173,364 $ 128,442 $ -
Liabilities:
Fair value of contingent liability $ 2,646 $ - $ - $ 2,646
Total $ 2,646 $ - $ - $ 2,646
(1) Amounts included in Cash and cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(2) Amounts included in current restricted assets and non-current restricted assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(3) In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, investments that are measured at fair value using the NAV practical expedient are not classified in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the Level 2 certificates of deposit is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. The discount rate is the rate offered by the financial institution. The fair value of investment securities at fair value included in Level 1 is based on quoted market prices from various stock exchanges. The Level 2 investment securities at fair value are based on quoted market prices of securities that are thinly traded, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active or inputs other than quoted prices such as interest rates and yield curves.
The long-term investments are based on NAV per share provided by the partnerships based on the indicated market value of the underlying assets or investment portfolio. In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, these investments are not classified under the fair value hierarchy disclosed above because they are measured at fair value using the NAV practical expedient.
32
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

The only Level 3 asset or liability is the guarantee of a contingent liability related to Douglas Elliman. The Company calculates the fair value of the liability using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The unobservable inputs related to the valuation are the estimated fair value of the underlying asset, the risk-free rate for the remaining term of the liability and the leverage-adjusted equity volatility of peer firms. These values were $593,203, 1.06%, 29.58% at March 31, 2022 and $776,351, 0.39%, 26.13% at December 31, 2021.
In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company is required to record assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges. The Company had no nonrecurring nonfinancial assets subject to fair value measurements as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, except for investments in real estate ventures that were impaired as of December 31, 2021.

The Company's investments in real estate ventures subject to nonrecurring fair value measurements are as follows:
Fair Value Measurement Using:
Year Ended December 31,
2021 		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Impairment Charge Total
Assets:
Investments in real estate ventures
$ 2,713 $ - $ - $ - $ -

The Company estimated the fair value of its investments in real estate ventures using observable inputs such as market pricing based on recent events, however, significant judgment was required to select certain inputs from observed market data. The decline in the investments in real estate ventures was attributed to the decline in the projected sales prices and the duration of the estimated sell out of the respective real estate ventures. The $2,713 of impairment charges were included in equity in losses from real estate ventures for the year ended December 31, 2021.

33
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Unaudited

12. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company's business segments for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were Tobacco and Real Estate. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.

Financial information for the Company's operations before taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:
Real Corporate
Tobacco Estate and Other Total
Three months ended March 31, 2022
Revenues $ 309,048 $ 2,994 $ - $ 312,042
Operating income (loss) 77,639 (1) 975 (3,488) 75,126
Equity in losses from real estate ventures - (1,877) - (1,877)
Depreciation and amortization 1,477 60 313 1,850
Capital expenditures 1,208 1 13 1,222
Three months ended March 31, 2021
Revenues $ 268,463 $ 2,525 $ - $ 270,988
Operating income (loss) 81,599 (2) 1,032 (6,656) 75,975
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures - 1,589 - 1,589
Depreciation and amortization 1,760 65 231 2,056
Capital expenditures 937 - 397 1,334
(1) Operating income includes $2,123 received from a litigation settlement associated with the MSA (which reduced cost of sales) and $72 of litigation settlement and judgment expense.
(2)Operating income includes $2,722 received from a litigation settlement associated with the MSA (which reduced cost of sales) and $5 of litigation settlement and judgment expense.
34

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)


Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") is designed to provide a reader of Vector Group Ltd.'s financial statements with a narrative from our management's perspective. Our MD&A is divided into the following sections:
•Overview
•Recent Developments
•Results of Operations
•Summary of Real Estate Investments
•Liquidity and Capital Resources

Please read this discussion along with our MD&A and audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 and Notes thereto, included in our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes as of and for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
Basis of Presentation
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q present the financial position of Vector Group Ltd., a Delaware corporation, as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the results of our operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 giving effect to the distribution of Douglas Elliman Inc. (the "Distribution") with the historical financial results of Douglas Elliman reflected as discontinued operations. The cash flows and comprehensive income related to Douglas Elliman have not been segregated and are included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, respectively, for all periods presented. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements refer only to Vector Group's continuing operations and do not include discussion of balances or activity of Douglas Elliman.

Overview
We are a holding company and are engaged principally in two business segments:
•Tobacco: the manufacture and sale of discount cigarettes in the United States through our Liggett Group LLC and Vector Tobacco LLC subsidiaries, and
•Real Estate: the real estate investment business through our subsidiary, New Valley LLC, which (i) has interests in numerous real estate projects across the United States and (ii) is seeking to acquire or invest in additional real estate properties or projects.
Our tobacco subsidiaries' cigarettes are produced in 100 combinations of length, style and packaging. Liggett's current brand portfolio includes:
•Eagle 20's
•Montego
•Pyramid
•Grand Prix, Liggett Select, Eve, USAand various Partner Brands and private label brands.
The discount segment is a challenging marketplace, with consumers having less brand loyalty and placing greater emphasis on price. Liggett's competition is divided into two segments. The first segment consists of the three largest manufacturers of cigarettes in the United States: Philip Morris USA Inc., which is owned by Altria Group, Inc., RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, which is owned by British American Tobacco Plc, and ITG Brands LLC, which is owned by Imperial Brands Plc. These three manufacturers, while primarily premium cigarette-based companies, also produce and sell discount cigarettes. The second segment of competition is comprised of a group of smaller manufacturers and importers, most of which sell deep discount cigarettes.
35

The financial results of Douglas Elliman through the distribution date are presented as income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes on our condensed consolidated statements of operations and are not included in our results from continuing operations discussed below. See Note 4.
Recent Developments
Montego. From August 2020 to February 2022, Liggett has expanded the distribution of its Montegodeep discount brand nationally. Montegowas Liggett's second-largest brand for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Prior to August 2020, Montegowas sold in select targeted markets in four states. Montego's unit volume represented approximately 38% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to approximately 10% of total unit volume sales for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Menthol and Flavorings. On May 4, 2022, FDA published a proposed rule to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2022, approximately 19% of our cigarette unit sales were menthol flavored. We cannot predict how a tobacco product standard or a restriction on the sale and distribution of tobacco products with menthol, if ultimately issued by FDA, will impact product sales, whether it will have a material adverse effect on Liggett or Vector Tobacco, or whether it will impact Liggett and Vector Tobacco to a greater degree than other companies in the industry.

Recent Developments in Tobacco-Related Litigation
The cigarette industry continues to be challenged on numerous fronts. New cases continue to be commenced against Liggett and other cigarette manufacturers. Liggett could be subjected to substantial liabilities and bonding requirements from litigation relating to cigarette products. Adverse litigation outcomes could have a negative impact on our ability to operate due to their impact on cash flows. It is possible that there could be adverse developments in pending cases including the certification of additional class actions. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending tobacco-related litigation could encourage the commencement of additional litigation. In addition, an unfavorable outcome in any tobacco-related litigation could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Liggett could face difficulties in obtaining a bond to stay execution of a judgment pending appeal.
Mississippi Litigation. In January 2016, the Attorney General for Mississippi filed a motion in Chancery Court in Jackson County, Mississippi to enforce the March 1996 settlement agreement among Liggett, Mississippi and other states (the "1996 Agreement") alleging that Liggett owes Mississippi at least $27,000 in compensatory damages and interest. In April 2017, the Chancery Court ruled, over Liggett's objections, that the 1996 Agreement should be enforced as Mississippi claims and referred the matter first to arbitration and then to a Special Master for further proceedings to determine the amount of damages, if any, to be awarded. In April 2021, following confirmation of the final arbitration award, the parties stipulated that the unpaid principal (exclusive of interest) purportedly due from Liggett to Mississippi pursuant to the 1996 Agreement was approximately $16,700, subject to Liggett's right to litigate and/or appeal the enforceability of the 1996 Agreement (and all issues other than the calculation of the principal amount allegedly due).
In September 2019, the Special Master held a hearing regarding Mississippi's claim for pre- and post-judgment interest. In August 2021, the Special Master issued a final report with proposed findings and recommendations that pre-judgment interest, in the amount of approximately $18,800, is due from Liggett from April 2005 - August 3, 2021. In April 2022, the Mississippi Chancery Court affirmed the Special Master's findings. Additional interest amounts will accrue if the judgment is not overturned on appeal. Liggett continues to assert that the April 2017 Chancery Court order is in error because the most favored nations provision in the 1996 Agreement eliminated all of Liggett's payment obligations to Mississippi, and has reserved all rights to appeal this and other issues at the conclusion of the case. In the event Liggett appeals an adverse judgment, the posting of a bond will likely be required.
Liggett may be required to make additional payments to either Mississippi or Texas which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
See "Legislation and Regulation" in Item 2 of the MD&A for further information on litigation.

36

Results of Operations

The following discussion provides an assessment of our results of operations, capital resources and liquidity and should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Liggett, Vector Tobacco, Liggett Vector Brands, New Valley and other less significant subsidiaries.
For purposes of this discussion and other consolidated financial reporting, our business segments for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were Tobacco and Real Estate. The Tobacco segment consisted of the manufacture and sale of cigarettes. The Real Estate segment included our investment in New Valley, which includes Escena and investments in real estate ventures.
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Revenues:
Tobacco $ 309,048 $ 268,463
Real estate 2,994 2,525
Total revenues
$ 312,042 $ 270,988
Operating income (loss):
Tobacco $ 77,639 (1) $ 81,599 (2)
Real estate 975 1,032
Corporate and Other (3,488) (6,656)
Total operating income
$ 75,126 $ 75,975
(1) Operating income includes $2,123 received from a litigation settlement associated with the MSA (which reduced cost of sales) and $72
of litigation settlement and judgment expense.
(2) Operating income includes $2,722 received from a litigation settlement associated with the MSA (which reduced cost of sales) and $5 of
litigation settlement and judgment expense.


Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Revenues. Total revenues were $312,042 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $270,988 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The $41,054 (15.1%) increase in revenues was primarily due to a $40,585 increase in Tobacco revenues related to increased unit volume and a $469 increase in Real Estate revenues.
Cost of sales. Total cost of sales was $212,815 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $164,907 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The $47,908 (29.1%) increase in cost of sales was primarily due to a $47,506 increase in Tobacco cost of sales primarily related to increased sales volume, and a $402 increase in Real Estate cost of sales.
Expenses. Operating expenses were $24,101 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $30,106 for the same period last year. The $6,005 (19.9%) decline was due to a $3,168 decline in Corporate and Other expense and a $2,961 decline in Tobacco expenses. This was offset by a $124 increase in Real Estate expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Operating income. Operating income was $75,126 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to operating income of $75,975 for the same period last year. Tobacco operating income declined by $3,960 due primarily to declines in net pricing and higher per unit MSA expense, while Real Estate operating income declined $57. This was offset by a decline in Corporate and Other operating loss of $3,168.
Other expenses.Other expenses were $30,362 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to other expenses of $45,211 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, other expenses primarily consisted of interest expense of $25,098, equity in losses from investments of $2,242, equity in losses from real estate ventures of $1,877 and other expenses of $1,145. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, other expenses primarily consisted of interest expense of $28,721 and loss on extinguishment of debt of $21,362. This was offset by other income of $2,706, equity in earnings from real estate ventures $1,589 and equity in earnings from investments of $577.
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Income before provision for income taxes.Income before income taxes was $44,764 and $30,764 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Income tax expense.Income tax expense was $12,222 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to income tax expense of $9,214 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Our provision for income taxes in interim periods is based on expected income, statutory rates, nontaxable differences, valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, and any tax planning opportunities available to us. For interim financial reporting, we estimate the annual effective income tax rate based on full year projections and apply the annual effective income tax rate against year-to-date pretax income to record income tax expense, adjusted for discrete items, if any. We refine annual estimates as new information becomes available.
Tobacco.
Tobacco revenues.Liggett increased the list price of Eagle 20's, Pyramid, Liggett Select, Eveand Grand Prixby $0.16 per pack on April 29, 2022, $0.15 per pack in January 2022, $0.15 per pack in September 2021, $0.14 per pack in June 2021, and $0.14 per pack in January 2021. Effective May 1, 2022, Liggett reduced its Montegopromotional spending of $0.10 per pack.
All of our Tobacco sales were in the discount category in 2022 and 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, Tobacco revenues were $309,048 compared to $268,463 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Revenues increased by $40,585 (15.1%) due primarily to an 18.7% (362 million units) increase in unit sales volume, partially offset by a decline in the average selling price of our brands. The average selling price of our brands declined due to a shift in volume from our higher priced Eagle 20'sand Pyramidbrands to Montego.
Eagle 20'sremains Liggett's primary discount cigarette brand and its percentage of Liggett's total unit sales declined from 61% in the three months ended March 31, 2021 to 41% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Montego is now Liggett's second largest brand and its unit volume increased from 10% of total unit sales in the three months ended March 31, 2021 to 38% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Pyramid, Liggett's third largest brand, declined from 21% of total unit volume sales in the three months ended March 31, 2021 to 16% for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Tobacco cost of sales. The major components of our Tobacco cost of sales were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Manufacturing overhead, raw materials and labor $ 32,765 $ 27,261
Customer shipping and handling 1,993 1,416
Federal excise taxes, net 116,079 97,714
FDA expense 6,624 6,072
MSA expense, net of market share exemption 54,076 (1) 31,568 (2)
Total cost of sales $ 211,537 $ 164,031
(1) Includes $2,123 received from a litigation settlement associated with the MSA expense (which reduced cost of sales).
(2) Includes $2,722 received from a litigation settlement associated with the MSA expense (which reduced cost of sales).
The Tobacco segment's MSA expense is the most volume-sensitive component (on a per-unit basis) of our cost of sales because, under the terms of the MSA, we have no payment obligations except to the extent that our tobacco subsidiaries' market share of the U.S. cigarette market exceeds 1.92%. We estimate MSA expense based on total domestic taxable cigarette shipments in the United States, our taxable shipments and inflation. Based on assumptions discussed below, we estimated our MSA expense increased to $0.47 per pack for the three months ended March 31, 2022 from our estimate of $0.33 per pack from the three months ended March 31, 2021. (We estimated our MSA expense was $0.40 per pack for the year ended December 31, 2021.)

Our MSA expense is impacted by total domestic taxable cigarette shipments in the United States. As of March 31, 2022, we estimate taxable shipments in the U.S. will decline by 7.0% in 2022 compared to our estimate as of March 31, 2021 of a decline of 6.0% in 2021. (The actual change in 2021 taxable shipments was a decline of 6.2%.) We estimate our 2022 projected annual MSA expense changes by approximately $1,800 for each 1% change from 2021 shipment volumes in the U.S. market.

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Inflationary pressures also impact Liggett's MSA expense, which is subject to an annual inflation adjustment. The inflation adjustment is the greater of the U.S. CPI rate or 3%. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, Liggett's management assumed an inflation adjustment to MSA expense of 7% compared to an assumption of 4% for the three months ended March 31, 2021. (The actual inflation adjustment to the MSA in 2021 was 7%.) Our annual MSA expense increases by approximately $2,300 for each 1% increase in inflation over 3%.
In addition to the MSA expense, we could experience inflationary impacts from manufacturing costs. The largest component of Liggett's manufacturing costs is leaf tobacco and other raw materials. In recent years, due to declining prices of leaf tobacco as well as efficiencies gained from technological innovation in Liggett's factory, Liggett's raw material costs have been relatively flat and, therefore, prior to 2021, Liggett had not been impacted by inflation. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, Liggett experienced a 4.1% increase in leaf tobacco and raw materials (on a per unit basis) compared to no change in prices during the three months ended March 31, 2021. Further, when including labor costs, manufacturing overhead and shipping costs with leaf tobacco and raw materials, Liggett experienced a 2.1% increase in production costs (on a per unit basis) during the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to a decline in total production costs of 2.8% during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Tobacco gross profit was $97,511 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $104,432 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, a decline of $6,921 (6.6%). This decline in gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was primarily attributable to lower net pricing caused by a shift in volume to Liggett's lower priced Montegobrand. As a percentage of revenue (excluding Federal Excise Taxes), Tobacco gross profit margin declined from 61.2% in the 2021 period to 50.5% in the 2022 period.
Tobacco expenses. Tobacco operating, selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding settlements and judgments, were $19,800 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $22,828 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decline of $3,028 was mainly due to lower professional fees and expenses. Tobacco product liability legal expenses, including settlements and judgments, were $1,645 and $1,525 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Tobacco operating income. Tobacco operating income was $77,639 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $81,599 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decline of $3,960 (4.9%) was attributable to lower gross profit partially offset by lower operating, selling, general and administrative expenses.
Real Estate.
Real Estate revenues. Real Estate revenues were $2,994 and $2,525 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Real Estate revenues increased by $469, which was primarily related to sales on facilities from Escena. In April 2022, New Valley sold Escena and received approximately $15,300 in net cash proceeds. We will account for the transaction in our condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2022.
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Real Estate revenues, cost of sales, expenses and operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, were as follows:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Real Estate Revenues:
Sales on facilities from Escena $ 2,969 $ 1,625
Revenues from investments in real estate 25 900
Total real estate revenues $ 2,994 $ 2,525
Real Estate Cost of Sales:
Cost of sales on facilities from Escena $ 1,278 $ 2,361
Total real estate cost of sales $ 1,278 $ 2,361
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses $ 741 $ 617
Operating income $ 975 1032000 $ 1,032

Corporate and Other.
Corporate and Other loss. The operating loss at the Corporate and Other segment was $3,488 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $6,656 for the same period in 2021.
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Summary of Real Estate Investments
We own and seek to acquire investment interests in various domestic and international real estate projects through debt and equity investments. Our real estate investments primarily include the following projects as of March 31, 2022:
(Dollars in Thousands. Area and Unit Information in Ones)
Location Date of Initial Investment Percentage Owned (1) Net Cash Invested (Returned) Cumulative Earnings (Losses) Carrying Value as of March 31, 2022 Future Capital Commit-
ments from New Valley (2) 		Projected Residential and/or Hotel Area Projected Commercial Space Projected Number of Residential Lots, Units and/or Hotel Rooms Actual/Projected Construction Start Date Projected Construction End Date
Escena, net (liquidated April 2022) Master planned community, golf course, and club house in Palm Springs, CA March 2008 100 % $ (1,894) $ 10,933 $ 9,039 $ - 450 Acres 667
450 		R Lots
H 		N/A N/A
Investments in real estate, net $ (1,894) $ 10,933 $ 9,039 $ -
Investments in real estate ventures:
111 Murray Street TriBeCa, Manhattan, NY May 2013 9.5 % $ 7,166 $ (4,414) $ 2,752 $ - 330,000 SF 1,700 SF 157 R September 2014 Completed
87 Park (8701 Collins Avenue) Miami Beach, FL December 2013 23.1 % (6,485) 6,485 - - 160,000 SF TBD 70 R October 2015 Completed
125 Greenwich Street Financial District, Manhattan, NY August 2014 13.4 % 7,992 (7,992) - - 306,000 SF 16,000 SF 273 R March 2015 TBD
West Hollywood Edition (9040 Sunset Boulevard) West Hollywood, CA October 2014 48.5 % 17,188 (17,188) - - 210,000 SF - 20
190 		R
H 		May 2015 Completed
Monad Terrace (1300 West Ave) Miami Beach, FL May 2015 19.6 % 7,635 (7,635) - - 160,000 SF - 59 R May 2016 Completed
Takanasee (805 Ocean Ave) Long Branch, NJ December 2015 22.8 % 5,588 (5,588) - - 63,000 SF - 13 R June 2017 TBD
Brookland (15 East 19th St) Brooklyn, NY April 2017 9.8 % 57 (57) - - 24,000 SF - 33 R August 2017 Completed
Dime (209 Havemeyer St) Brooklyn, NY November 2017 16.5 % 9,145 (4,817) 4,328 - 100,000 SF 150,000 SF 177 R May 2017 Completed
352 6th Avenue Brooklyn, NY February 2019 37.0 % (394) 394 - - 5,200 SF - 4 R September 2019 Completed
Meatpacking Plaza (44 Ninth Ave) Meatpacking District, Manhattan, NY April 2019 16.9 % 10,692 (2,906) 7,786 - 8,741 SF 76,919 SF 15 R July 2021 August 2023
Five Park (500 Alton Road) Miami Beach, FL September 2019 38.9 % 18,098 2,177 20,275 - 472,000 SF 15,000 SF 291 R April 2020 September 2024
9 DeKalb Avenue Brooklyn, NY April 2019 4.2 % 5,000 1,400 6,400 - 450,000 SF 120,000 SF 540 R March 2019 February 2023
Natura Miami, FL December 2019 77.8 % 7,354 5,450 12,804 - 460,000 SF - 460 R December 2019 November 2022
Ritz-Carlton Villas (4701 Meridian Avenue) Miami Beach, FL December 2020 50.0 % 4,109 (149) 3,960 - 58,000 SF - 15 R October 2020 December 2022
2000 N. Atlantic Ave. Daytona Beach, FL November 2021 50.0 % 1,882 156 2,038 - TBD TBD TBD
Society Nashville (915 Division St) Nashville, TN November 2021 89.1 % 19,500 1,782 21,282 - 320,000 SF 8,000 SF 472 R July 2022 September 2024
3621 Collins Ave (3)
Miami Beach, FL March 2022 2.5 % 1,000 - 1,000 TBD TBD TBD
Condominium and Mixed Use Development
$ 115,527 $ (32,902) $ 82,625 $ -
Riverchase Landing Hoover, AL October 2021 50.0 % $ 11,700 $ (309) $ 11,391 $ - 746,000 SF N/A 468 R N/A N/A
Apartment Buildings
$ 11,700 $ (309) $ 11,391 $ -
Park Lane Hotel (36 Central Park South) Central Park South, Manhattan, NY November 2013 1.0 % $ 8,682 $ (7,855) $ 827 $ - 446,000 SF - 628 H N/A N/A
215 Chrystie Street (4)
Lower East Side, Manhattan, NY December 2012 12.3 % (1,484) 1,327 (157) - 246,000 SF - 367 H June 2014 Completed
Coral Beach and Tennis Club Coral Beach, Bermuda December 2013 49.0 % 6,048 (4,789) 1,259 - 52 Acres - 101 H N/A N/A
Parker New York (119 W 56th St) Midtown, Manhattan, NY July 2019 0.4 % 1,000 (480) 520 - 470,000 SF - 587
99 		H
R 		May 2020 December 2022
Hotels
$ 14,246 $ (11,797) $ 2,449 $ -
The Plaza at Harmon Meadow Secaucus, NJ March 2015 49.0 % $ 12,270 $ (4,200) $ 8,070 $ - - - 219,000 SF - - N/A N /A
Wynn Las Vegas Retail Las Vegas, NV December 2016 1.6 % 3,945 3,499 7,444 - - - 160,000 SF - - N/A N/A
Commercial
$ 16,215 $ (701) $ 15,514 $ -
Witkoff GP Partners (5)
Multiple March 2017 15.0 % $ 9,986 $ (9,619) $ 367 $ - N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
1 QPS Tower (23-10 Queens Plaza South) Long Island City, NY December 2012 45.4 % (14,406) 14,406 - - N/A N/A N/A March 2014 Completed
Witkoff EB-5 Capital Partners Multiple September 2018 49.0 % (1,041) 1,041 - - N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Diverse Real Estate Portfolio
$ (5,461) $ 5,828 $ 367 $ -
Investments in real estate ventures $ 152,227 $ (39,881) $ 112,346 $ -
Total Carrying Value $ 150,333 $ (28,948) $ 121,385 $ -
(1) The Percentage Owned reflects our estimated current ownership percentage. Our actual ownership percentage as well as the percentage of earnings and cash distributions may ultimately differ as a result of a number of factors including potential dilution, financing or admission of additional partners.
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(2) This column only represents capital commitments required under the various joint venture agreements. However, many of the operating agreements provide for the operating partner to call capital. If a joint venture partner, such as New Valley, declines to fund the capital call, then the partner's ownership percentage could either be diluted or, in some situations, the character of a funding member's contribution would be converted from a capital contribution to a member loan.
(3) The 3621 Collins Ave venture is measured at cost, less impairment, following the guidance under ASC 821. The investment is included in Other Assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(4) Equity in losses in excess of the joint ventures' carrying value were $157 as of March 31, 2022, and are classified in Other current liabilities.
(5) The Witkoff GP Partners venture includes a $367 investment in 500 Broadway, a Condominium and Mixed Use Development in Santa Monica, CA.
N/A - Not applicable SF - Square feet H - Hotel rooms TBD -To be determined R - Residential Units R Lots - Residential lots
New Valley capitalizes net interest expense into the carrying value of its ventures whose projects were under development. Net capitalized interest costs included in Carrying Value as of March 31, 2022 were $12,353. This amount is included in the "Cumulative Earnings (Losses)" column in the table above. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, New Valley capitalized $3,716 of interest costs and utilized (reversed) $20 of previously capitalized interest in connection with the recognition of equity in (losses) earnings, gains and liquidations from various ventures.


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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash increased by $44,894 and $29,407 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Cash provided by operations was $74,796 and $78,364 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decline in cash provided from operations related primarily to the absence of cash from operations from Douglas Elliman for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as a result of the Distribution and changes in working capital (other than our MSA liability) as a result of additional payments of liabilities and a higher increase in accounts receivable (due to increased revenues) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021. The amounts were offset by increased obligations due under the MSA (due to increased unit volumes) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as well as the absence, in 2022, of premiums paid during the three months ended March 31, 2021 to retire our 6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2025.
Cash provided by investing activities was $2,705 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and cash used in investing activities was $18,505 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. In the first three months of 2022, cash provided by investing activities was from the sale of investment securities of $16,933, maturities of investment securities of $21,105, distributions from investments in real estate ventures of $3,310, and paydowns of investment securities of $63. This was offset by the purchase of investment securities of $27,231, investments in real estate ventures of $8,488, capital expenditures of $1,222, an increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies of $765, and purchase of long-term investments of $1,000. In the first three months of 2021, cash used in investing activities was for the purchase of investment securities of $38,441, investments in real estate ventures of $8,087, capital expenditures of $1,931, an increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies of $564, purchase of long-term investments of $5,813, and an increase in restricted assets of $3. This was offset by the sale of investment securities of $10,228, paydowns of investment securities of $172, maturities of investment securities of $13,968, distributions from investments in real estate ventures of $7,577, and proceeds from the sale or liquidation of long-term investments of $4,389.
Cash used in financing activities was $32,607 and $30,452 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. In the first three months of 2022, cash was used for the dividends on common stock of $31,658, repayments of debt of $11, and other of $938. In the first three months of 2021, cash used in financing activities consisted primarily of dividends and distributions on common stock of $32,273 and was offset by net impact of the refinancing of our Senior Secured Notes. The refinancing consisted of proceeds of $875,000 from the issuance of our 5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 offset by deferred financing costs of $20,000 and the retirement of our 6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 of $850,000. In addition, cash used in financing activities in the 2021 period consisted of additional debt retirements of $3,158.
We use dividends from our tobacco and real estate subsidiaries, as well as cash and cash equivalents maintained at the corporate level, to fund our significant liquidity commitments at the corporate level (not including our tobacco and real estate operations). These liquidity commitments include cash interest expense of approximately $108,600, dividends on our outstanding common shares of approximately $128,800, which is based on an assumed quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, and other corporate expenses and income taxes.
As of March 31, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $238,305 (including $45,572 of cash at Liggett), investment securities and long-term investments, which were carried at $183,137 (see Note 6 to condensed consolidated financial statements). As of March 31, 2022, our investments in real estate ventures were carried at $111,503 and our investment in real estate, net of accumulated depreciation, was carried at $9,039.

Limitation of interest expense deductible for income taxes. Since 2018, the amount of interest expense that is deductible in the computation of income tax liability has been limited to a percentage of adjusted taxable income, as defined by applicable law. In 2019 and 2020, the amount of deductible interest expense was limited to 50% of taxable income before interest, depreciation and amortization and, in 2021, the amount was limited to 30% of taxable income before interest, depreciation and amortization. In 2022, the amount is limited to 30% of taxable income before interest. However, interest expense allocable to a designated excepted trade or business is not subject to limitation. One such excepted trade or business is any electing real property trade or business, for which portions of our real estate businesses may qualify. If any interest expense is disallowed, we are permitted to carry forward the disallowed interest expense indefinitely. As a result of interest expense that is allocated to our real estate businesses (from the holding company) not being subject to the limitation, all of our interest expense to date has been tax deductible; however, after the Distribution, the allocation of interest expense to our real estate business is expected to decline. Without the benefit of such an excepted trade or business, a portion of our interest expense in future years may not be deductible, which may increase the after-tax cost of any new debt financings as well as the refinancing of our existing debt.
Tobacco Litigation. As of March 31, 2022, 16 verdicts were entered in Engleprogeny cases against Liggett. Several of these verdicts have been affirmed on appeal and have been satisfied by Liggett. Liggett has paid $40,111, including interest and attorney's fees, to satisfy the final judgments entered against it. It is possible that additional cases could be decided unfavorably.
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Notwithstanding the comprehensive nature of the EngleProgeny Settlements of more than 5,200 cases, approximately 25 plaintiffs' claims remain outstanding. Therefore, we and Liggett may still be subject to periodic adverse judgments that could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
In addition, Liggett may be required to make additional payments, including posting a bond to appeal any adverse judgment, related to the Mississippi litigation which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. See Recent Developments in Litigation.
Management cannot predict the cash requirements related to any future settlements or judgments, including cash required to bond any appeals, and there is a risk that those requirements will not be able to be met. Management is unable to make a reasonable estimate of the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of the cases pending against Liggett or the costs of defending such cases. It is possible that our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely affected by an unfavorable outcome in any such tobacco-related litigation.
Vector Indebtedness.
6.125% Senior Secured Notes. On February 1, 2021, the 6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 were redeemed in full and we recorded a loss on the extinguishment of debt of $21,362 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, including $13,013 of premium and $8,349 of other costs and non-cash interest expense related to the recognition of previously unamortized deferred finance costs.
5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2029. On January 28, 2021, we completed the sale of $875,000 in aggregate principal amount of our 5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 ("5.75% Senior Secured Notes") to qualified institutional buyers and non-U.S. persons in a private offering pursuant to the exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act") contained in Rule 144A and Regulation S thereunder. The aggregate net cash proceeds from the sale of the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes were approximately $855,500 after deducting the initial purchaser's discount and estimated expenses and fees in connection with the offering. We used the net cash proceeds from the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes offering, together with cash on hand, to redeem all of our outstanding 6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2025, including accrued interest and premium thereon, on January 28, 2021.
The 5.75% Senior Secured Notes pay interest on a semi-annual basis at a rate of 5.75% per year and mature on the earlier of February 1, 2029 and the date that is 91 days before the final stated maturity date of our 10.5% Senior Notes due 2026 ("10.5% Senior Notes") if such 10.5% Senior Notes have not been repurchased and cancelled or refinanced by such date. Prior to February 1, 2024, we may redeem some or all of the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes at any time at a make-whole redemption price. On or after February 1, 2024, we may redeem some or all of the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes at a premium that will decline over time, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. In addition, any time prior to February 1, 2024, we may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate outstanding amount of the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at 105.75% of the aggregate principal amount of the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, if at least 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes originally issued remains outstanding after such redemption, and the redemption occurs within 90 days of the closing of such equity offering. In the event of a change of control, as defined in the indenture governing the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes (the "2029 Indenture"), each holder of the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of our 5.75% Senior Secured Notes at a repurchase price equal to 101% of their aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase. If we sell certain assets and do not apply the proceeds as required pursuant to the 2029 Indenture, we must offer to repurchase the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes at the prices listed in the 2029 Indenture.
The 5.75% Senior Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to certain customary automatic release provisions, on a joint and several basis by all of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries that are engaged in the conduct of our cigarette businesses, which subsidiaries, as of the issuance date of the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes, were also guarantors under our outstanding 10.5% Senior Notes. The 5.75% Senior Secured Notes are not guaranteed by New Valley LLC, or any of our subsidiaries engaged in our real estate business conducted through our subsidiary, New Valley LLC. The guarantees provided by certain of the guarantors are secured by first priority or second priority security interests in certain collateral of such guarantors pursuant to security and pledge agreements, subject to certain permitted liens and exceptions as further described in the 2029 Indenture and the security documents relating thereto. Vector Group Ltd. does not provide any security for the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes.
The 2029 Indenture contains covenants that restrict the payment of dividends if our consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Consolidated EBITDA"), as defined in the 2029 Indenture, for the most recently ended four full quarters is less than $75,000. The 2029 Indenture also restricts the incurrence of debt if our Leverage Ratio and our Secured Leverage Ratio, each as defined in the 2029 Indenture, exceed 3.0 to 1.0 and 1.5 to 1.0, respectively. Our Leverage Ratio is defined in the 2029 Indenture as the ratio of our and our guaranteeing subsidiaries' total debt less the fair market value of our cash, investment securities and long-term investments to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the 2029 Indenture. Our Secured Leverage Ratio is defined in the 2029 Indenture in the same manner as the Leverage Ratio, except that secured
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indebtedness is substituted for indebtedness. The following table summarizes the requirements of these financial test and the extent to which we would have satisfied these requirements had the 2029 Indenture been in effect as of March 31, 2022.
Indenture March 31,
2022
Covenant Requirement
Consolidated EBITDA, as defined $75,000 $408,772
Leverage ratio, as defined <3.0 to 1 2.42 to 1
Secured leverage ratio, as defined <1.5 to 1 1.1 to 1

As of March 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all debt covenants related to the 2029 Indenture.
10.5% Senior Notes due 2026. In 2018 and 2019, we sold $325,000 and $230,000, respectively, in aggregate principal amount of our 10.5% Senior Notes to qualified institutional buyers and non-U.S. persons pursuant to the exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act contained in Rule 144A and Regulation S thereunder. The 10.5% Senior Notes were fully and unconditionally guaranteed subject to certain customary automatic release provisions on a joint and several basis by all of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries that are engaged in the conduct of our cigarette businesses.
The 10.5% Senior Notes pay interest on a semi-annual basis at a rate of 10.5% per year and mature on November 1, 2026. We may presently redeem such bonds at price of 105.25% and the redemption price declines to 102.625% on November 1, 2022 and 100% on November 1, 2023. In addition, in the event of a change of control, as defined in the indenture governing the 10.5% Senior Notes (the "2026 Indenture"), each holder of the 10.5% Senior Notes may require us to make an offer to repurchase some or all of our 10.5% Senior Notes at a repurchase price equal to 101% of their aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase. If we sell certain assets and do not apply the proceeds as required pursuant to the 2026 Indenture, we must offer to repurchase the 10.5% Senior Notes at the prices listed in the 2026 Indenture.
The indenture governing our 10.5% Senior Notes contains covenants that restrict the payment of dividends and certain other distributions subject to certain exceptions, including exceptions for (1) dividends and other distributions in an amount up to 50% of our consolidated net income, plus certain specified proceeds received by us, if no event of default has occurred, and we are in compliance with a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes) of at least 2.0 to 1.0, and (2) dividends and other distributions in an unlimited amount, if no event of default has occurred and we are in compliance with a Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes) no greater than 4.0 to 1.0. As a result, absent an event of default, we can pay dividends if the Net Leverage ratio is below 4.0 to 1.0, regardless of the value of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio at the time. The indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes also restricts our ability to incur debt if our Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is less than 2.0 to 1.0, and restricts our ability to secure debt to the extent doing so would cause our Secured Leverage Ratio (as defined in the indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes) to exceed 3.75 to 1.0, unless our 10.5% Senior Notes are secured on an equal and ratable basis. Our Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is defined in the indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes as the ratio of our Consolidated EBITDA to our Fixed Charges (each as defined in the indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes). Our Net Leverage Ratio is defined in the indenture as the ratio of our and our guaranteeing subsidiaries' total debt less our cash, cash equivalents, and the fair market value of our investment securities, long-term investments, investments in real estate, net, and investments in real estate ventures, to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes. Our Secured Leverage Ratio is defined in the indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes as the ratio of our and our guaranteeing subsidiaries' total secured debt, to Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the indenture to our 10.5% Senior Notes.
The following table summarizes the requirements of these financial test and the extent to which we satisfied these requirements as of March 31, 2022.

Covenant Indenture Requirement March 31,
2022
Consolidated EBITDA, as defined N/A $347,184
Fixed charge coverage ratio, as defined >2.0 to 1 3.16 to 1
Net leverage ratio, as defined <4.0 to 1 2.5 to 1
Secured leverage ratio, as defined <3.75 to 1 2.47 to 1
As of March 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all of the debt covenants related to the 2026 Indenture.
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Guarantor Summarized Financial Information. Vector Group Ltd. (the "Issuer") and its wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries that are engaged in the conduct of its cigarette business (the "Subsidiary Guarantors") have filed a shelf registration statement for the offering of debt and equity securities on a delayed or continuous basis and we are including this condensed consolidating financial information in connection therewith. Any such debt securities may be issued by us and guaranteed by our Subsidiary Guarantors. New Valley and any of its subsidiaries (the "Nonguarantor Subsidiaries") will not guarantee any such debt securities. Both the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Nonguarantor Subsidiaries are wholly-owned by the Issuer. The Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2022 and the related Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 of the Issuer, Subsidiary Guarantors and Nonguarantor Subsidiaries are set forth in Exhibit 99.2.
Presented herein are the Summarized Combined Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the related Summarized Combined Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 for the Issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors (collectively, the "Obligor Group"). The summarized combined financial information is presented after the elimination of: (i) intercompany transactions and balances among the Obligor Group, and (ii) equity in earnings from and investments in the Nonguarantor Subsidiaries.

Summarized Combined Balance Sheets:

March 31,
2022 		December 31,
2021
Assets:
Current assets $ 505,607 $ 487,797
Noncurrent assets 270,874 274,292
Intercompany receivables from Nonguarantor Subsidiaries 2,302 1,832
Liabilities:
Current liabilities 224,200 194,097
Noncurrent liabilities 1,525,770 1,536,792

Summarized Combined Statements of Operations:

Three Months Ended
March 31,
2022 2021
Revenues $ 309,048 $ 268,486
Cost of sales 211,537 164,031
Operating income 74,241 75,018
Net income 31,634 19,891

Liggett Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2022, there was $24 outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement. Availability as determined under the Credit Agreement was approximately $83,500 based on eligible collateral at March 31, 2022. At March 31, 2022, Liggett was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement; Liggett's EBITDA, as defined, were $364,319 for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2022.
Anticipated Liquidity Obligations.We and our subsidiaries have significant indebtedness and debt service obligations. As of March 31, 2022, we and our subsidiaries had total outstanding indebtedness of approximately $1,430,100. Of this amount, $875,000 comprised of the outstanding amount under our 5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2029, and $555,000 comprised of the outstanding amount under our 10.5% Senior Notes due 2026. There is a risk that we will not be able to generate sufficient funds to repay our debt. If we cannot service our fixed charges, it would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We currently believe that our cigarette operations will generate positive cash flow and will continue to be able to sustain its operations in 2022 without any significant liquidity concerns.
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In order to meet the above liquidity requirements as well as other anticipated liquidity needs in the normal course of business, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $238,300, investment securities at fair value of approximately $133,338, long-term investments with an estimated value of approximately $49,800, and availability under Liggett's credit facility of approximately $83,500 at March 31, 2022. Management currently anticipates that these amounts, as well as expected cash flows from our operations, proceeds from public and/or private debt and equity financing to the extent available, management fees and other payments from subsidiaries should be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs over the next 12 months.
We continue to evaluate our capital structure and current market conditions related to our capital structure. Depending on market conditions, we may utilize our cash, investment securities and long-term investments to repurchase our 10.5% Senior Notes due 2026 in open-market purchases or privately negotiated transactions.
There can be no assurance that we would be able to continue to issue debt at a lower interest rate than our historical borrowing levels in the future and, in the event we pursue any capital markets activities, our ability to complete any debt or equity offering would be subject to market conditions.
Furthermore, we may access the capital markets to refinance our 10.5% Senior Notes due 2026. We can presently redeem such bonds at price of 105.25% and the redemption price declines to 102.625% on November 1, 2022 and 100% on November 1, 2023. There can be no assurance that we would be able to continue to issue debt at a lower interest rate than our historical borrowing levels in the future and, in the event we pursue any capital markets activities, our ability to complete any debt or equity offering would be subject to market conditions.

We may acquire or seek to acquire additional operating businesses through merger, purchase of assets, stock acquisition or other means, or to make other investments, which may limit our liquidity otherwise available.


Market Risk
We are exposed to market risks principally from fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and equity prices. We seek to minimize these risks through our regular operating and financing activities and our long-term investment strategy. Our market risk management procedures cover all market risk sensitive financial instruments.
As of March 31, 2022, there was an outstanding balance of $24 on the Liggett Credit Facility which also has variable interest rates. As of March 31, 2022, we had no interest rate caps or swaps. Based on a hypothetical 100 basis point increase or decline in interest rates (1%), our annual interest expense could increase or decline by approximately $0.
We held debt securities available for sale totaling $91,838 as of March 31, 2022. See Note 6 to our condensed consolidated financial statements. Adverse market conditions could have a significant impact on the value of these investments.
On a quarterly basis, we evaluate our debt securities available for sale and equity securities without readily determinable fair values that do not qualify for the NAV practical expedient to determine whether an impairment has occurred. If so, we also make a determination if such impairment is considered temporary or other-than-temporary. We believe that the assessment of temporary or other-than-temporary impairment is facts-and-circumstances driven. The impairment indicators that are taken into consideration as part of our analysis include (a) a significant deterioration in the earnings performance, credit rating, asset quality, or business prospects of the investee, (b) a significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic, or technological environment of the investee, (c) a significant adverse change in the general market condition of either the geographical area or the industry in which the investee operates, and (d) factors that raise significant concerns about the investee's ability to continue as a going concern, such as negative cash flows from operations, working capital deficiencies, or noncompliance with statutory capital requirements or debt covenants.

Equity Security Price Risk

As of March 31, 2022, we held various investments in equity securities with a total fair value of $72,557, of which $41,500 represents equity securities at fair value and $31,057 represents long-term investment securities at fair value. The latter securities represent long-term investments in various investment partnerships. These investments are illiquid and their ultimate realization is subject to the performance of the underlying entities. See Note 6 to our condensed consolidated financial statements, respectively, for more details on equity securities at fair value and long-term investment securities at fair value. The impact to our condensed consolidated statements of operations related to equity securities fluctuates based on changes in their fair value.
We record changes in the fair value of equity securities in net income. To the extent that we continue to hold equity securities, our operating results may fluctuate significantly. Based on our equity securities held as of March 31, 2022, a
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hypothetical decrease of 10% in the price of these equity securities would reduce the fair value of the investments and, accordingly, our net income by approximately $7,256.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our financial statements for further information on New Accounting Pronouncements.


Legislation and Regulation
There are no material changes from the Legislation and Regulation section set forth inItem 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, except as set forth below:
Menthol and Flavorings
On May 4, 2022, FDA published a proposed rule to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2022, approximately 19% of our cigarette unit sales were menthol flavored. We cannot predict how a tobacco product standard or a restriction on the sale and distribution of tobacco products with menthol, if ultimately issued by FDA, will impact product sales, whether it will have a material adverse effect on Liggett or Vector Tobacco, or whether it will impact Liggett and Vector Tobacco to a greater degree than other companies in the industry.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In addition to historical information, this report contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities law. Forward-looking statements include information relating to our intent, belief or current expectations, primarily with respect to, but not limited to:
•economic outlook,
•capital expenditures,
•cost reduction,
•competition,
•legislation and regulations,
•cash flows,
•operating performance,
•litigation, and
•related industry developments (including trends affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations).
We identify forward-looking statements in this report by using words or phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect," "intend", "may be," "objective", "opportunistically", "plan", "potential", "predict", "project", "prospects", "seek" or "will be" and similar words or phrases or their negatives.
The forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from our anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the following:
•general economic and market conditions and any changes therein, due to acts of war and terrorism or otherwise,
•governmental regulations and policies,
•adverse changes in global, national, regional and local economic and market conditions, including those related to pandemics and health crises,
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•impact of legislation on our results of operations and product costs, i.e. the impact of federal legislation providing for regulation of tobacco products by FDA,
•impact of substantial increases in federal, state and local excise taxes,
•uncertainty related to product liability and other tobacco-related litigations including the Engleprogeny cases pending in Florida and other individual and class action cases where certain plaintiffs have alleged compensatory and punitive damage amounts ranging into the hundreds of million and even billions of dollars,
•potential additional payment obligations for us under the MSA and other settlement agreements with the states;
•significant changes or disruptions to our supply or distribution chains or in the price, availability or quality of tobacco, other raw materials or component parts,
•potential dilution to our holders of or common stock as a result of issuances of additional shares of common stock to fund our financial obligations and other financing activities,
•effects of industry competition,
•impact of business combinations, including acquisitions and divestitures, both internally for us and externally in the tobacco industry,
•the impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, including the deductibility of interest expense and the impact of the markets on our Real Estate segment,
•the impacts of future income tax legislation in the U.S., including the impact of the markets on our Real Estate segment,
•failure to properly use and protect client and employee information and data, and
•the effect of a material breach of security or other performance issues of any of the Company's or its vendors' systems.
Further information on the risks and uncertainties to our business include the risk factors discussed above in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Although we believe the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is a risk that these expectations will not be attained and that any deviations will be material. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.


ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The information under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Market Risk"is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, and, based on their evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that these controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first quarter of 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Reference is made to Note 9, incorporated herein by reference, to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report which contains a general description of certain legal proceedings to which our company, or its subsidiaries are a party and certain related matters. Reference is also made to Exhibit 99.1 for additional information regarding the pending smoking-related legal proceedings to which Liggett or us is a party. A copy of Exhibit 99.1 will be furnished without charge upon written request to us at our principal executive offices, 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 10th Floor, Miami, Florida 33137, Attn. Investor Relations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There are no material changes from the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, except as set forth below:

FDA Regulation under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act may adversely affect our sales and operating profit.

In June 2009, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act ("TCA") became law. The TCA grants FDA broad authority over the manufacture, sale, marketing and packaging of tobacco products, although FDA is prohibited from banning all cigarettes or all smokeless tobacco products. For a more complete discussion of the TCA, see Item 1. Business. Legislation and Regulation.

In July 2017, FDA announced a comprehensive plan for tobacco and nicotine regulation, proposing an increased focus on the impact of flavors (including menthol) and on reducing the level of nicotine in tobacco. On April 29, 2021, FDA announced that it intends to issue a proposed rule to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes within the next year. FDA indicated that the proposed rule will be one of the agency's highest priorities. The rule making process could take many months or years and once a final rule is published it ordinarily would not be expected to take effect until at least one year after the date of publication. For the last twelve months ended March 31, 2022, approximately 19% of our cigarette unit sales were menthol flavored. Regulations under the TCA that restrict or prohibit the sale of menthol flavored cigarettes would reduce the demand for our cigarettes and may have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. We cannot predict how a tobacco product standard or a restriction on the sale and distribution of tobacco products with menthol, if ultimately issued by FDA, will impact product sales, whether it will have a material adverse effect on Liggett or Vector Tobacco, or whether it will impact Liggett and Vector Tobacco to a greater degree than other companies in the industry

As part of the comprehensive plan announced in July 2017, FDA said it would focus on nicotine addiction, with the goal of lowering nicotine levels in combustible cigarettes through a product standard developed through notice and comment rule making, which FDA announced in March 2018. See Item 1. Business. Legislation and Regulation.At this time, we cannot predict the specific regulations FDA will enact, the timeframe for such regulations, or the effect of such regulations. The rule making process could take years and once a final rule is issued it typically does not take effect for at least one year. We cannot predict how a nicotine tobacco product standard, if ultimately issued by FDA, would impact product sales, whether it would have a material adverse effect on Liggett or Vector Tobacco, or whether it would impact Liggett and Vector Tobacco to a greater degree than other companies in the industry.

In April 2018, FDA announced a change in its process for reviewing "provisional" substantial equivalence applications. See Item 1. Business. Legislation and Regulationfor additional information on the substantial equivalence process. Vector Tobacco received a letter from FDA in April 2018 advising that FDA does not intend to conduct further review of Vector Tobacco's remaining applications, with certain "conditions" (as described under Item 1. Business. Legislation and Regulation). Liggett received a letter from FDA in May 2018 advising that FDA does not intend to conduct further review for certain applications, also with certain "conditions" (as described under Item 1. Business. Legislation and Regulation). FDA has not indicated whether the applications relating to Liggett's other products, not covered by that May 2018 letter, would proceed through FDA review. We cannot predict whether FDA will deem Liggett's outstanding applications to be sufficient to support determinations of substantial equivalence for the products covered by these substantial equivalence reports. It is possible that FDA could determine that some, or all, of these products are "not substantially equivalent" to a preexisting tobacco product, as
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the agency has already done for 20 of Liggett's applications. NSE orders for other cigarette styles may require us to stop the sale of the applicable cigarettes and other cigarette styles and could have a material adverse effect on us.

On March 18, 2020, FDA issued a final rule to require new health warnings on cigarette packages and in cigarette advertisements. This rule requires each cigarette package and advertisement to bear one of eleven textual warning statements accompanied by a corresponding graphic image covering 50% of the area of the front and rear panels of cigarette packages and at least 20% of the area at the top of cigarette advertisements. The rule establishes marketing requirements that include the random and equal display and distribution of the required warnings for cigarette packages and quarterly rotation of the required warnings for cigarette advertisements. The final rule provided for an effective date of June 18, 2021, 15 months after issuance of the final rule. On April 3, 2020, Liggett, along with other tobacco companies, commenced an action against the FDA in the United States District Court, District of Texas (Tyler Division) challenging the legality of the graphic warning final rule. On February 10, 2022, the court granted a motion to postpone the effective date of the final rule to April 9, 2023. The inclusion of new warnings and rotation requirements pursuant to the final rule would likely increase Liggett's production costs.

We cannot predict whether the court will further delay the effective date and/or determine that some or all of the proposed textual and/or graphic warnings, or proposed prominence of the warnings, violate the First Amendment, Administrative Procedure Act, or other legal requirements, or what the impact of such a court ruling would have on the compliance timeline or requirements imposed on industry.

It is likely that the TCA and further regulatory efforts by FDA could result in a decline in cigarette sales in the United States, including sales of Liggett's and Vector Tobacco's brands. Compliance and related costs are not possible to predict and depend substantially on the future requirements imposed by FDA under the law. Costs, however, could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on the companies' financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. In addition, FDA has a number of investigatory and enforcement tools available to it. Failure to comply with the law and with FDA regulatory requirements could result in significant financial penalties and could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operation of both Liggett and Vector Tobacco. At present, we are not able to predict whether the law will impact Liggett and Vector Tobacco to a greater degree than other companies in the industry, thus affecting our competitive position.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

No equity securities of ours which were not registered under the Securities Act have been issued or sold by us during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities

Our purchases of our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2022 were as follows:
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price Paid per Share Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
January 1 to January 31, 2022 - $ - (1) - -
February 1 to February 28, 2022 91,250 10.76 - -
March 1 to March 31, 2022 - - - -
Total 91,250 $ 10.76 - -

(1) Delivery of shares to us in payment of tax withholding in connection with several employees' vesting in restricted stock. The shares were immediately canceled.
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Item 6. Exhibits:

3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Vector Group Ltd., effective April 29, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Vector's Form 8-K dated April 29, 2022).
10.1
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of April 29, 2022, between Vector and Howard M. Lorber.
*22.1
List of Subsidiary Guarantors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 22.1 of Vector's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20221).
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer, Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer, Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.1
Certain Legal Proceedings.
99.2
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements of Vector Group Ltd.
101.INS XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page tabs are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
* Incorporated by reference
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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

VECTOR GROUP LTD.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ J. Bryant Kirkland III
J. Bryant Kirkland III
Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 10, 2022
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