e424b3
PROSPECTUS
Filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-166197
Vector Group Ltd.
Exchange Offer for
Up to $85,000,000 Principal Amount Outstanding
of 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015
for a Like Principal Amount of
Registered 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015
We hereby offer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal (which together constitute the Exchange
Offer), to exchange up to $85,000,000 principal amount of our registered 11% Senior Secured Notes
due 2015 (the New Notes) and the guarantees thereof for a like principal amount of our
outstanding unregistered 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 and the guarantees thereof, each of
which were issued on September 1, 2009 (the Original Notes and together with the New Notes, the
notes). Subject to specified conditions, the New Notes will be free of the transfer restrictions
that apply to our outstanding unregistered Original Notes that you currently hold, but will
otherwise be identical in all material respects to the Original Notes. The notes will be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by all of our wholly owned domestic
subsidiaries that are engaged in the conduct of our tobacco businesses. The notes will not be
guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries engaged in our real estate businesses conducted through our
subsidiary New Valley LLC.
We will exchange any and all Original Notes that are validly tendered and not validly
withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 4, 2010, unless we extend it.
We have not applied, and do not intend to apply, for listing of the New Notes on any national
securities exchange or automated quotation system.
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to this Exchange Offer
must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.
The letter of transmittal accompanying this prospectus states that by so acknowledging and by
delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). This
prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer
in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for outstanding Original Notes where
such outstanding Original Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. See Plan of Distribution.
See Risk Factors beginning on page 10 to read about important factors you should
consider in connection with this Exchange Offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is
truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Prospectus dated May 6, 2010.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
|
86 |
|
|
|
|
86 |
|
|
|
|
86 |
|
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not
permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as
of any date other than the date of this document, or that any information we have incorporated by
reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document
incorporated by reference regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus. Our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
MARKET DATA
We use market and industry data throughout this prospectus and the documents incorporated by
reference herein that we have obtained from market research, publicly available information and
industry publications. These sources generally state that the information that they provide has
been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such
information is not guaranteed. The market and industry data is often based on industry surveys and
the preparers experience
in the industry. Similarly, although we believe that the surveys and market research that
others have performed are reliable, we have not independently verified this information.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and file reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC. You can read and copy all of this information at the Public Reference Room maintained
by the SEC at its principal office at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain
information on the operation of the Public Reference
1
Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a web site that contains
reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers, like us, that file such material
electronically with the SEC. The address of this web site is: http://www.sec.gov. Our common stock
is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VGR.
In addition, we make available on our web site at http://www.vectorgroupltd.com our annual
reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K (and any
amendments to those reports) filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon
as practicable after they have been electronically filed with the SEC. Unless otherwise specified,
information contained on our web site, available by hyperlink from our web site or on the SECs web
site, is not incorporated into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We are incorporating by reference in this prospectus certain information that we file with the
SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you in those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and the information
that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information in this
prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents listed
below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and any future filings we make with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of the offering
under this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions
thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed filed with
the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K.
|
|
|
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, filed on March 1, 2010. |
|
|
|
|
Proxy Statement for our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed on April 16, 2010. |
|
|
|
|
Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on April 15, 2010
(two) and April 21, 2010. |
Any statement contained in this prospectus, or in a document all or a portion of which is
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be deemed to be modified or superseded for
purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies or
supersedes the statement. Any such statement or document so modified or superseded will not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the
following address and telephone number:
Vector Group Ltd.
100 S.E. Second Street
Miami, Florida 33131
Attn: Investor Relations
Telephone: (305) 579-8000
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In addition to historical information, this prospectus 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, |
2
|
|
|
cost reduction, |
|
|
|
|
new legislation, |
|
|
|
|
cash flows, |
|
|
|
|
operating performance, |
|
|
|
|
litigation, |
|
|
|
|
impairment charges and cost savings associated with restructurings of our tobacco
operations, and |
|
|
|
|
related industry developments (including trends affecting our business, financial
condition and results of operations). |
We identify forward-looking statements in this prospectus by using words or phrases such as
anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, may be, objective, plan, seek,
predict, project, and 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, including due to acts of
war and terrorism or otherwise, |
|
|
|
|
impact of current crises in capital and credit markets, including any
worsening.
|
|
|
|
|
governmental regulations and policies.
|
|
|
|
|
effects of industry
competition, |
|
|
|
|
impact of business combinations, including acquisitions and divestitures, both internally
for us and externally in the tobacco industry, |
|
|
|
|
impact of restructurings on our tobacco business and our ability to achieve any increases
in profitability estimated to occur as a result of these restructurings, |
|
|
|
|
impact of new legislation on our and our competitors payment obligations, results of
operations and product costs, including the impact of recent federal legislation providing for
regulation of tobacco products by the United States Food and Drug Administration, |
|
|
|
|
impact of current crises in capital and credit markets, including any worsening, |
|
|
|
|
impact of substantial increases in federal, state and local excise taxes, |
|
|
|
|
uncertainty related to product liability litigation including the Engle progeny cases
pending in Florida, and potential additional payment obligations for us under the Master
Settlement Agreement and other settlement agreements with the states, and |
|
|
|
|
risks inherent in our new product development initiatives. |
3
Further information on risks and uncertainties specific to our business include the risk
factors discussed below under Risk Factors and elsewhere in this prospectus and in Risk Factors
and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our
2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K (see also Incorporation by Reference above).
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.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. Because it is a
summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider before determining
whether to participate in the exchange offered hereby, and it is qualified in its entirety by the
more detailed information and historical financial statements (including the notes to those
financial statements) that are included elsewhere herein or that are incorporated by reference in
this prospectus. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the Risk Factors
section, the financial statements and the notes to those statements and the documents we have
incorporated by reference. As used in this prospectus, the terms Vector Group, we, our and
us and similar terms refer to Vector Group Ltd. and all of our consolidated subsidiaries,
including VGR Holding LLC (VGR Holding), Liggett Group LLC (Liggett Group or Liggett), Vector
Tobacco Inc. (Vector Tobacco) and New Valley LLC (New Valley), except with respect to the
section entitled Description of Notes and where it is clear that these terms mean only Vector
Group Ltd.
Business
Our Company
We are a holding company and are engaged principally in:
|
|
|
the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States through our Liggett Group
and Vector Tobacco subsidiaries, |
|
|
|
|
research relating to reduced risk cigarette products through our subsidiary Vector
Tobacco, and |
|
|
|
|
the real estate business through our subsidiary, New Valley, which is seeking to
acquire additional operating companies and real estate properties. New Valley owns 50% of
Douglas Elliman Realty,
LLC (Douglas Elliman Realty), which operates the largest residential brokerage
company in the New York metropolitan area. |
Our principal executive offices are located at 100 S.E. Second Street, Miami, Florida 33131.
Our telephone number is (305) 579-8000. Information contained on our web site or that can be
accessed through our web site is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should not
consider information contained on our web site or that can be accessed through our web site to be
part of this prospectus.
Summary of the Terms of the Exchange Offer
|
|
|
Background
|
|
On September 1, 2009, we completed a private placement of $85,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes. In connection with that
private placement, we entered into a registration rights agreement in which
we agreed to, among other things, complete an exchange offer. |
|
|
|
The Exchange Offer
|
|
We are offering to exchange our New Notes which have been registered under the Securities Act for a like principal amount of our outstanding,
unregistered Original Notes. Original Notes may only be tendered
in an
amount equal to $1,000 in principal amount or in
integral multiples of |
4
|
|
|
|
|
$1,000 in excess thereof. See The Exchange Offer Terms of the
Exchange. |
|
|
|
Resale of New Notes
|
|
Based upon the position of the staff of the SEC as described in previous
no-action letters, we believe that New Notes issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Original Notes may be offered for resale,
resold and otherwise transferred by you without compliance with the
registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act,
provided that: |
|
|
|
|
|
you are acquiring the New Notes in the ordinary course of your
business; |
|
|
|
|
|
you have not engaged in, do not intend to engage in, and have no
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a
distribution of the New Notes; and |
|
|
|
|
|
you are not our affiliate as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. |
|
|
|
|
|
We do not intend to apply for listing of the New Notes on any securities
exchange or to seek approval for quotation through an automated
quotation system. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that an active
market will develop upon completion of the Exchange Offer or, if
developed, that such market will be sustained or as to the liquidity of any
market. Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account
in exchange for Original Notes, where such Original Notes were acquired
by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of New Notes during the 180 days after the
expiration of this Exchange Offer. See Plan of Distribution. |
|
|
|
Consequences If You Do Not
Exchange Your Original Notes
|
|
Original Notes that are not tendered in the Exchange Offer or are not
accepted for exchange will continue to bear legends restricting their
transfer. You will not be able to offer or sell such Original Notes unless: |
|
|
|
|
|
you are able to rely on an exemption from the requirements of the
Securities Act; or |
|
|
|
|
|
the Original Notes are registered under the Securities Act. |
|
|
|
|
|
After the Exchange Offer is closed, we will no longer have an obligation
to register the Original Notes, except under some limited circumstances.
See Risk Factors If you fail to exchange your Original Notes, they will
continue to be restricted securities and may become less liquid. |
|
|
|
Expiration Date
|
|
The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
June 4, 2010, unless we extend the Exchange Offer. See The
Exchange Offer Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments. |
|
|
|
Issuance of New Notes
|
|
We will issue New Notes in exchange for Original Notes tendered and
accepted in the Exchange Offer promptly following the Expiration Date.
See The Exchange Offer Terms of the Exchange. |
|
|
|
Certain Conditions to the Exchange
|
|
The Exchange Offer is subject to certain customary conditions, which we |
5
|
|
|
Offer
|
|
may amend or waive. See The Exchange Offer Conditions to the
Exchange Offer. |
|
|
|
Special Procedures for Beneficial
Holders
|
|
If you beneficially own Original Notes which are registered in the name of
a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and
you wish to tender in the Exchange Offer, you should contact such
registered holder promptly and instruct such person to tender on your
behalf. If you wish to tender in the Exchange Offer on your own behalf,
you must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and
delivering your Original Notes, either arrange to have the Original Notes
registered in your name or obtain a properly completed bond power from
the registered holder. The transfer of registered ownership may take a
considerable time. See The Exchange Offer Procedures for
Tendering. |
|
|
|
Withdrawal Rights
|
|
You may withdraw your tender of Original Notes at any time before the
Exchange Offer expires. See The Exchange Offer Withdrawal of
Tenders. |
|
|
|
Accounting Treatment
|
|
We will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes upon the
completion of the Exchange Offer. See The Exchange Offer
Accounting Treatment. |
|
|
|
Federal Income Tax Consequences
|
|
The exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer generally will not be a
taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See Material United
States Federal Income Tax Considerations. |
|
|
|
Use of Proceeds
|
|
We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of New Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer. |
|
|
|
Exchange Agent
|
|
U.S. Bank National Association is serving as exchange agent in
connection with the Exchange Offer. |
Summary of the Terms of the New Notes
Other than the restrictions on transfer and registration rights, the New Notes will have the same financial
terms and covenants as the Original Notes, which are as follows:
|
|
|
Issuer
|
|
Vector Group Ltd. |
|
|
|
Securities Offered
|
|
$85,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11% Senior Secured Notes due
2015. |
|
|
|
Maturity Date
|
|
August 15, 2015. |
|
|
|
Interest Rate
|
|
The New Notes will bear interest at the rate of 11% per annum. |
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and
August 15 of each year. Interest will accrue from the most recent date to
which interest on the Original Notes has been paid. |
|
|
|
Ranking
|
|
The New Notes: |
|
|
|
|
|
will be our general obligations; |
6
|
|
|
|
|
will be pari passu in right
of payment with all of our
existing and
future senior indebtedness;
and |
|
|
|
|
|
will be senior in right of
payment to all of our future
subordinated
indebtedness, if any. |
|
|
|
Guarantees
|
|
The New Notes, along with the Original Notes, the $165,000,000 of
11%
Senior Secured Notes due 2015 that we issued in 2007 and 2008 (the
2007 Notes) and the $75,000,000 of 11% Senior Secured Notes due
2015 that we issued in 2010 (the 2010 Notes), will be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis on the
issue date
by all of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries that are engaged
in the
conduct of our cigarette business (New Valley and its
subsidiaries will not
guarantee the notes). |
|
|
|
|
|
Each guarantee of the New Notes: |
|
|
|
|
|
will be a general obligation
of the guarantor; |
|
|
|
|
|
will be pari passu in right
of payment with all other
senior
indebtedness of the
guarantor, including the
Liggett guarantors
indebtedness under the
Liggett secured revolving
credit facility; |
|
|
|
|
|
will be senior in right of
payment to all future
subordinated
indebtedness of the
guarantor, if any; and |
|
|
|
|
|
will be effectively
subordinated to indebtedness
that is secured by a
higher priority lien than the
lien securing the guarantee,
if any, to the
extent of the value of the
collateral securing such
indebtedness. |
|
|
|
Security Interest
|
|
The New Notes will not be secured by any of our assets. |
|
|
|
|
|
Only Liggett Group, 100 Maple LLC, Vector Tobacco, and VGR Holding
will provide security for their guarantees of the New Notes. |
|
|
|
|
|
Each guarantee by Liggett Group and 100 Maple LLC of the New
Notes,
the Original Notes, the 2007 Notes and the 2010 Notes: |
|
|
|
|
|
will be secured on a second
priority basis, equally and
ratably with all
obligations of a Liggett
guarantor under future parity
lien debt, by
liens on certain assets of a
Liggett guarantor, subject in
priority to the
liens securing first priority
debt under the Liggett
secured revolving
credit facility and permitted
prior liens; and |
|
|
|
|
|
will be effectively junior,
to the extent of the value of
assets securing
a Liggett guarantors first
priority debt obligations
under the Liggett
secured revolving credit
facility, which will be
secured on a first
priority basis by the same
assets of that Liggett
guarantor that secure
the New Notes, Original
Notes, 2007 Notes and 2010
Notes and by
certain other assets of that
Liggett guarantor that do not
secure the
New Notes. |
|
|
|
|
|
The guarantee of the New Notes, the Original Notes, the 2007
Notes and
the 2010 Notes by Vector Tobacco will be secured on a first
priority basis,
equally and ratably with all of its obligations under future
parity lien debt, |
7
.
|
|
|
|
|
by liens on certain assets, subject in priority to permitted prior liens. |
|
|
|
|
|
The guarantee of the New Notes, the Original Notes, the 2007 Notes and
the 2010 Notes by VGR Holding will be secured by a first priority pledge
of the capital stock of each of Liggett Group and Vector Tobacco. |
|
|
|
|
|
See Description of Notes Security for additional information. |
|
|
|
Intercreditor Agreement
|
|
Pursuant to an intercreditor agreement, the liens securing the guarantees of
the Liggett guarantors will be second in priority to the liens that secure
obligations under the Liggett secured revolving credit facility up to a
maximum capped amount as described under Description of Notes
Intercreditor Agreement. |
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to the intercreditor agreement, the second-priority liens securing
the note guarantees may not be enforced for a standstill period of up to
180 days when any obligations secured by the first-priority liens are
outstanding. |
|
|
|
Optional Redemption
|
|
At any time prior to August 15, 2010, we may, on any one or more
occasions, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the
New Notes with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at 111% of the
aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and
liquidated damages, if any, to the redemption date. See Description of
Notes Optional Redemption. |
|
|
|
|
|
Prior to August 15, 2011, we may redeem some or all of the New Notes at
a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages,
if any, to the redemption date. See Description of Notes Optional
Redemption. |
|
|
|
|
|
On or after August 15, 2011, we may redeem all or a part of the New
Notes at the redemption prices set forth under Description of Notes
Optional Redemption. |
|
|
|
Mandatory Offers to Repurchase
|
|
If we sell certain assets and do not apply the proceeds as required or we
experience specific kinds of changes of control, we must offer to
repurchase the New Notes at the prices listed in the section entitled
Description of Notes. |
|
|
|
Certain Covenants
|
|
The indenture governing the New Notes contains certain covenants that,
among other things, limit our guarantors ability to: |
|
|
|
|
|
pay dividends, redeem or repurchase capital stock or subordinated
indebtedness or make other restricted payments; |
|
|
|
|
|
incur additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred stock;
create or incur liens; |
|
|
|
|
|
incur dividend or other payment restrictions; |
|
|
|
|
|
consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all |
8
|
|
|
|
|
of our assets; |
|
|
|
|
|
enter into certain transactions with affiliates; and |
|
|
|
|
|
transfer or sell assets, including the equity
interests of our guarantors,
or use asset sale proceeds. |
|
|
|
|
|
These covenants will be subject to a number of important exceptions and
qualifications. See Description of Notes. |
|
|
|
Part of Existing Series
|
|
The Old Notes and the New Notes form a part of the same series as our
2007 Notes and our 2010 Notes. The amount of outstanding notes of this
series is $325,000,000; however, the New Notes will have different
CUSIP numbers and will not be fungible with the previously issued notes. |
|
|
|
Original Issue Discount
|
|
We expect the New Notes to be treated as issued with original issue
discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in which case U.S. holders
will recognize income in advance of receipt of cash payments. See
Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations. |
|
|
|
No Public Market
|
|
The New Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in
any automated quotation system. Jefferies & Company, Inc., the initial
purchaser in the private offering of the Original Notes, is not obligated to
make a market in the New Notes, and any such market may be
discontinued by the initial purchaser in its discretion at any time without
notice. |
Risk Factors
You should consider carefully the information set forth in the section entitled Risk Factors
and all other information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus before
determining whether to participate in the exchange offered hereby.
9
RISK FACTORS
Before you decide to participate in this Exchange Offer, and in consultation with your own
financial and legal advisors, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the following
risk factors, as well as those incorporated by reference in this prospectus from our most recent
annual report on Form 10-K under the headings Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other filings we may make from time
to time with the SEC.
Risks Related to the Notes and the Exchange Offer
If you fail to exchange your Original Notes, they will continue to be restricted securities
and may become less liquid.
Original Notes which you do not tender or we do not accept will, following the Exchange Offer,
continue to be restricted securities, and you may not offer to sell them except pursuant to an
exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state
securities law. We will issue New Notes in exchange for the Original Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer only following the satisfaction of the procedures and conditions set forth in The
Exchange Offer Procedures for Tendering. These procedures and conditions include timely receipt
by the exchange agent of such Original Notes (or a confirmation of book-entry transfer) and of a
properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal (or an agents message from The
Depository Trust Company).
Because we anticipate that most holders of Original Notes will elect to exchange their
Original Notes, we expect that the liquidity of the market for any Original Notes remaining after
the completion of the Exchange Offer will be substantially limited. Any Original Notes tendered
and exchanged in the Exchange Offer will reduce the aggregate principal amount of the Original
Notes outstanding. Following the Exchange Offer, if you do not tender your Original Notes you
generally will not have any further registration rights, and your Original Notes will continue to
be subject to certain transfer restrictions. Accordingly, the liquidity of the market for the
Original Notes could be adversely affected.
Our high level of debt may adversely affect our ability to satisfy our obligations under the
notes.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet our debt service obligations. A default in
our debt obligations, including a breach of any restrictive covenant imposed by the terms of our
indebtedness, could result in the acceleration of the notes offered hereby or other indebtedness.
In such a situation, it is unlikely that we would be able to fulfill our obligations under the
notes or other indebtedness or that we would otherwise be able to repay the accelerated
indebtedness or make other required payments. Even in the absence of an acceleration of our
indebtedness, a default under the terms of our indebtedness could have an adverse impact on our
ability to satisfy our debt service obligations and on the trading price of the notes.
Our high level of indebtedness could have important consequences to you. For example, it
could:
|
|
|
make it more difficult for us to satisfy our other obligations with respect to the
notes, including our repurchase obligation upon the occurrence of specified change of
control events; |
|
|
|
|
increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; |
|
|
|
|
limit our ability to obtain additional financing; |
|
|
|
|
require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to
payments on our indebtedness, reducing the amount of our cash flow available for other
general corporate purposes; |
|
|
|
|
require us to sell other securities or to sell some or all of our assets, possibly
on unfavorable terms, to meet payment obligations; |
10
|
|
|
restrict us from making strategic acquisitions, investing in new capital assets or
taking advantage of business opportunities; |
|
|
|
|
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and
industry; and |
|
|
|
|
place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors that have less debt. |
Vector Group, the issuer of the notes, is a holding company and its ability to make any
required payment on the notes is dependent on the operations of, and the distribution of
funds from, its subsidiaries.
Vector Group, the issuer of the notes, is a holding company and depends on dividends and other
distributions from its subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to meet its obligations,
including its required obligations under the notes. Each of our subsidiaries is a legally distinct
entity, and while certain of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries have guaranteed the notes, such
guarantees are subject to risks. See Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific
circumstances, to void guarantees and require holders of notes to return payments received from
guarantors. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends and make distributions to Vector
Group are subject to, among other things, (i) the terms of Liggetts secured revolving credit
facility with Wachovia Bank, N.A. (Wachovia), certain terms of which, including terms relating to
Liggetts ability to distribute funds to Vector Group, Wachovia has the unilateral discretion to
modify, if acting in good faith, (ii) any other debt instruments of our subsidiaries then in
effect, and (iii) applicable law. If distributions from our subsidiaries to us were eliminated,
delayed, reduced or otherwise impaired, our ability to make payments on the notes would be
substantially impaired.
A significant portion of the collateral securing the note guarantees is subject to
first-priority liens and your right to receive payments on the notes pursuant to such note
guarantees are subordinated to the obligations secured by first priority liens, including
the Liggett Credit Agreement, to the extent of the value of the assets securing that
indebtedness.
The collateral securing the guarantees of Liggett Group and 100 Maple LLC (which we refer to
as the Liggett Guarantors) is subject to a first-priority claim to secure the Liggett Guarantors
indebtedness under the senior secured revolving credit facility with Wachovia (which we refer to as
the Liggett Credit Agreement), which must be paid in full up to a principal amount of loans of
$65.0 million, plus $5.0 million of hedging obligations, $5.0 million of cash management
obligations and interest, costs, fees and indemnity obligations (the Maximum Priority ABL Debt),
before the collateral can be used to fulfill any payment obligations pursuant to their guarantee of
the notes. Indebtedness under the Liggett Credit Agreement is secured by a first-priority lien on
substantially all of the tangible and intangible assets of the Liggett Guarantors, with certain
exceptions, while the note guarantees by the Liggett Guarantors are secured by second priority
liens on some but not all of those same assets. The value of those excluded assets could be
significant, and the notes effectively rank junior to indebtedness secured by liens on, and to the
extent of, those excluded assets. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution,
reorganization or similar proceeding against such guarantors, those assets that are pledged as
collateral securing both the first-priority claims and the guarantee of the notes must first be
used to pay the first-priority claims in full up to the Maximum Priority ABL Debt before making any
payments on the notes pursuant to the note guarantees. See Description of Notes Intercreditor
Agreement for a detailed description of the components of Maximum Priority ABL Debt.
Such guarantors have entered into an intercreditor agreement with Wachovia and the collateral
agent on behalf of the note holders that limits the rights of the collateral agent and the note
holders to exercise remedies under the indenture. Under the intercreditor agreement, for a period
of up to 180 days following notice from the collateral agent for the notes or the note holders to
Wachovia of an event of default under the indenture and that demand for repayment of the notes has
been made, the trustee and collateral agent under the indenture and the note holders may not
exercise certain remedies under the indenture and may not proceed against any collateral securing
the notes until the expiration of such standstill period. The lender under the Liggett Credit
Agreement is permitted to complete foreclosure and enforce judgments if it commences such actions
during the 180-day time period. If the note holders are prohibited from exercising remedies, the
value of the collateral to the note holders could be impaired. Because of the restrictions placed
on the collateral agents enforcement of its security interests by the intercreditor agreement,
there may be significant delays in any enforcement of the collateral agents security interests,
and after Wachovia
11
has enforced its claims, the holders of the notes may be left with undersecured obligations,
given the amount of shared collateral.
None of the guarantees are secured by all of the assets of any guarantor that is providing
security for its guarantee, and the value of the collateral securing such note guarantees
may not be sufficient to pay all amounts owed under the notes if an event of default occurs.
As of the date of their issuance, only the guarantees of the notes of the Liggett Guarantors,
Vector Tobacco and VGR Holding LLC are secured and certain of those guarantees are secured only by
a second priority lien on certain assets of such guarantors. None of the guarantees are secured by
all of the assets of any guarantor providing security for its guarantee, and the collateral
securing such guarantees omits significant categories of collateral typically found in all assets
financings. For more information regarding the collateral for the note guarantees, see
Description of Notes Security. No appraisals of any of the collateral for the note guarantees
have been prepared in connection with this offering. The value of the collateral at any time will
depend on market and other economic conditions, including the availability of suitable buyers for
the collateral. By its nature, some or all of the collateral may be illiquid and may have no
readily ascertainable market value. Some of the collateral may have no significant independent
value apart from the other pledged assets. The value of the assets pledged as collateral for the
note guarantees could be impaired in the future as a result of changing economic conditions,
competition or other future trends or uncertainties.
Additionally, the lender under the Liggett Credit Agreement has rights and remedies with
respect to the collateral that, if exercised, could adversely affect the value of the collateral.
In the event of a foreclosure, liquidation, bankruptcy or similar proceeding, the collateral may
not be sufficient to pay all or any of our obligations under the notes.
Accordingly, there may not be sufficient collateral to pay any or all of the amounts due on
the notes. With respect to any claim for the difference between the amount, if any, realized by
the holders of the notes from the sale of the collateral securing the notes and the obligations
under the notes, holders of the notes will participate ratably with all our other unsecured
unsubordinated indebtedness and other obligations, including trade payables.
To service our indebtedness, including the notes, we will require a significant amount of
cash. The ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.
Our ability to repay or to refinance our obligations with respect to our indebtedness,
including the notes, and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our future financial
and operating performance. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial,
competitive, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.
We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or
that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our
indebtedness, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance
all or a portion of our indebtedness, including the notes, at or before maturity. We cannot assure
you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, including the notes, on commercially
reasonable terms or at all.
Despite our substantial level of indebtedness, we may still incur significantly more debt,
which could exacerbate any or all of the risks described above.
We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. Although the
indenture governing the notes and the Liggett Credit Agreement will limit our ability and the
ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a
number of qualifications and exceptions and, under certain circumstances, debt incurred in
compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. In addition, the indenture governing the
notes and the Liggett Credit Agreement will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not
constitute indebtedness. See the section entitled Description of Notes. To the extent that we
incur additional indebtedness or such other obligations, the risks associated with our substantial
leverage described above, including our possible inability to service our debt, would increase.
12
The notes contain restrictive covenants that limit our operating flexibility. Such
covenants may be less protective than those typically found in covenant packages for
non-investment grade debt securities.
The notes contain covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to take specific
actions, even if we believe them to be in our best interest, including restrictions on our ability
to:
|
|
|
pay dividends, redeem or repurchase capital stock or subordinated indebtedness or
make other restricted payments; |
|
|
|
|
incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue certain preferred stock; |
|
|
|
|
create or incur liens with respect to our assets; |
|
|
|
|
make investments, loans or advances; |
|
|
|
|
incur dividend or other payment restrictions; |
|
|
|
|
consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our
assets; |
|
|
|
|
enter into certain transactions with affiliates; and |
|
|
|
|
transfer or sell assets, including the equity interests of our guarantors, or use
asset sale proceeds. |
In addition, the Liggett Credit Agreement requires us to meet specified financial ratios.
These covenants may restrict our ability to expand or fully pursue our business strategies. Our
ability to comply with these and other provisions of the indenture governing the notes and the
Liggett Credit Agreement may be affected by changes in our operating and financial performance,
changes in general business and economic conditions, adverse regulatory developments or other
events beyond our control. The breach of any of these covenants, including those contain in
Liggetts credit facility and the indenture governing the notes, could result in a default under
our indebtedness, which could cause those and other obligations to become due and payable. If any
of our indebtedness is accelerated, we may not be able to repay it.
Although the notes contain restrictive covenants, these covenants are less protective than is
customary for non-investment grade debt securities and are subject to a number of important
exceptions and qualifications. In particular, there are no restrictions on our ability to pay
certain dividends or make other restricted payments or enter into transactions with affiliates if
our Consolidated EBITDA (as defined under Description of Notes) is $50.0 million or more for the
four quarters prior to such transaction. See Description of Notes for a more detailed
description of these covenants and the exceptions to these covenants.
The notes and note guarantees will be structurally subordinated to creditors, including
trade creditors, of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the notes.
The notes will not be guaranteed by New Valley or its subsidiaries and certain of our existing
and future other subsidiaries. As a result, claims of creditors of non-guarantor subsidiaries,
including trade creditors, secured creditors and creditors holding debt and guarantees issued by
those non-guarantor subsidiaries will have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of
those non-guarantor subsidiaries over the claims of our creditors and the creditors of our
guarantors, including holders of the notes. There are no covenant restrictions in the indenture on
any existing or future non-guarantor subsidiaries and they may incur debt and take other actions
that guarantors will be prohibited from taking.
13
We currently have and are permitted to create unrestricted subsidiaries, which will not be
subject to any of the covenants in the indenture, and we may not be able to rely on the cash
flow or assets of those unrestricted subsidiaries to pay our indebtedness.
Unrestricted subsidiaries, including the New Valley subsidiaries and those we are permitted to
create pursuant to the terms of the indenture, will not be subject to the covenants under the
indenture, and their assets will not be available as security for the notes. Unrestricted
subsidiaries may enter into financing arrangements that limit their ability to pay dividends to us
and make loans or other payments to fund payments in respect of the notes. Accordingly, we may not
be able to rely on the cash flow or assets of unrestricted subsidiaries to pay any of our
indebtedness, including the notes. The indenture contains very limited provisions that would
prohibit the creation of unrestricted subsidiaries and only subsidiaries that are obligors under
the Liggett Credit Agreement or that are engaged in our cigarette business are required to become
guarantors. Only subsidiaries that are guarantors are subject to the restrictive covenants in the
indenture as provided in the indenture.
Holders of notes will not control decisions regarding collateral.
The holders of first priority claims against the collateral will control substantially all
matters related to the collateral. The holders of first priority claims may foreclose on or take
other actions with respect to such shared collateral with which holders of the notes may disagree
or that may be contrary to the interests of holders of the notes. To the extent such shared
collateral is released from securing first priority claims to satisfy such claims, the liens
securing the notes will also automatically be released without any further action by the trustee,
collateral agent or the holders of the notes. There is no requirement that the holders of first
priority claims foreclose or otherwise take any action with respect to excluded collateral before
releasing or otherwise taking action with respect to the collateral shared with the notes. See
Description of Notes Security.
Rights of holders of notes in the collateral may be adversely affected by bankruptcy
proceedings.
The right of the collateral agent for the notes to repossess and dispose of the collateral
securing the notes upon acceleration is likely to be significantly impaired by federal bankruptcy
law if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced by or against us prior to or possibly even after the
collateral agent has repossessed and disposed of the collateral. Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, a
secured creditor, such as the collateral agent for the notes, is prohibited from repossessing its
collateral from a debtor in a bankruptcy case, or from disposing of collateral repossessed from a
debtor, without court approval. Moreover, bankruptcy law permits the debtor to continue to retain
and to use collateral, and the proceeds, products, rents, or profits of the collateral, even though
the debtor is in default under the applicable debt instruments, provided that the secured creditor
is provided adequate protection. The meaning of the term adequate protection may vary according
to circumstances, but it is intended in general to protect the value of the secured creditors
interest in the collateral and may include cash payments or the granting of additional security, if
and at such time as the court in its discretion determines, for any diminution in the value of the
collateral as a result of the automatic stay of repossession or disposition or any use of the
collateral by the debtor during the pendency of the bankruptcy case. In view of the broad
discretionary powers of a bankruptcy court, it is impossible to predict how long payments under the
notes could be delayed following commencement of a bankruptcy case, whether or when the collateral
agent might be permitted to repossess or dispose of the collateral, or whether or to what extent
holders of the notes would be compensated for any delay in payment or loss of value of the
collateral through the requirements of adequate protection. Furthermore, in the event the
bankruptcy court determines that all amounts due on or under the notes exceed the value of the
collateral, the holders of the notes would have undersecured claims for the difference. Federal
bankruptcy laws generally do not permit the payment or accrual of post-petition interest, costs,
and attorneys fees for undersecured claims during a debtors bankruptcy case.
Rights of holders of notes in the collateral may be adversely affected by the failure to
perfect liens on certain collateral acquired in the future.
The liens securing the notes cover certain assets which may be acquired in the future.
Applicable law requires that certain property and rights acquired after the grant of a general
security interest or lien can only be perfected at the time such property and rights are acquired
and identified. There can be no assurance that the trustee or the collateral agent will monitor,
or that we will inform the trustee or the collateral agent of, the future acquisition
14
of property and rights that constitute collateral, and that the necessary action will be taken
to properly perfect the lien on such after acquired collateral. The collateral agent for the notes
has no obligation to monitor the acquisition of additional property or rights that constitute
collateral or the perfection of any security interests therein. Such failure may result in the
loss of the practical benefits of the lien thereon or of the priority of the lien securing the
notes.
Our ability to purchase the notes with cash at your option and our ability to satisfy our
obligations upon a change of control or an event of default may be limited.
Holders of notes may require us to purchase all or a portion of their notes for cash upon the
occurrence of specific circumstances involving the events described under Description of Notes
Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of Control and Description of Notes Events of
Default and Remedies. We cannot assure you that, if required, we would have sufficient cash or
other financial resources at that time or would be able to arrange sufficient financing necessary
to pay the purchase price for all notes tendered by holders thereof. In addition, our ability to
repurchase notes in the event of a change of control or an event of default may be prohibited or
limited by law, by regulatory authorities, by the other agreements related to our indebtedness and
by indebtedness and agreements that we or our subsidiaries may enter into from time to time, which
may replace, supplement or amend our existing or future indebtedness. Our failure to repurchase
tendered notes would constitute an event of default under the indenture.
In addition, the required repurchase of the notes and the events that constitute a change of
control under the indenture may also be events of default under other indebtedness. These events
may permit the lenders under the other indebtedness to accelerate the indebtedness outstanding
thereunder. If we are required to repurchase the notes, we would probably require third party
financing. We cannot be sure that we would be able to obtain third party financing on acceptable
terms, or at all. If other indebtedness is not paid, the lenders thereunder may seek to enforce
security interests in the collateral consisting of first priority collateral that secures such
indebtedness, thereby limiting our ability to raise cash to purchase the notes, and reducing the
practical benefit of the offer to purchase provisions to the holders of the notes.
Some significant corporate transactions may not constitute a change of control, in which
case we would not be obligated to offer to repurchase the notes.
Upon the occurrence of a change of control, which includes specified change of control events,
we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes. See Description of Notes
Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of Control. The change of control provisions,
however, will not require us to offer to repurchase the notes in the event of some significant
corporate transactions. For example, various transactions, such as leveraged recapitalizations,
refinancings, restructurings or acquisitions initiated by us, would not constitute a change of
control because they do not involve a change in voting power or beneficial ownership of the type
described in the definition of change of control in the indenture governing the notes.
Accordingly, note holders may not have the right to require us to repurchase their notes in the
event of a significant transaction that could increase the amount of our indebtedness, adversely
affect our capital structure or any credit ratings or otherwise adversely affect the holders of
notes.
In addition, a change of control includes a sale of all or substantially all of our properties
and assets. Although there is limited law interpreting the phrase substantially all, there is no
precise established definition of the phrase under the laws of New York, which govern the indenture
and the notes. Accordingly, your ability to require us to repurchase notes as a result of a sale
of less than all of our properties and assets may be uncertain.
Federal and state statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void guarantees
and require holders of notes to return payments received from guarantors.
The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by all of
our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries that are engaged in the conduct of our tobacco businesses
(New Valley and its subsidiaries will not guarantee the notes). Under the federal bankruptcy law
and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a guarantee could be voided, or claims
in respect of a guarantee could be subordinated to all
15
other debts of that guarantor if, among other things, the guarantor, at the time it incurred
the indebtedness evidenced by its guarantee:
|
|
|
received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the
incurrence of the guarantee; |
|
|
|
|
was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of the incurrence of the guarantee; |
|
|
|
|
was engaged in a business or transaction for which the guarantors remaining assets
constituted unreasonably small capital; or |
|
|
|
|
intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay
those debts as they mature. |
In addition, any payment by that guarantor pursuant to its guarantee could be voided and
required to be returned to the guarantor, or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the
guarantor.
The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws will vary depending
upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred.
Generally, however, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:
|
|
|
the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair
saleable value of all of its assets; |
|
|
|
|
the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be
required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent
liabilities, as they became absolute and mature; or |
|
|
|
|
it could not pay its debts as they become due. |
The court might also void such guarantee, without regard to the above factors, if it found
that the subsidiary entered into its guarantee with actual or deemed intent to hinder, delay, or
defraud its creditors.
A court would likely find that a subsidiary did not receive reasonably equivalent value or
fair consideration for its guarantee unless it benefited directly or indirectly from the issuance
of the notes. If a court avoided such guarantee, holders of the notes would no longer have a claim
against such subsidiary or the benefit of the assets of such subsidiary constituting collateral
that purportedly secured such guarantee. In addition, the court might direct holders of the notes
to repay any amounts already received from such subsidiary. If the court were to avoid any
guarantee, we cannot assure you that funds would be available to pay the notes from any other
subsidiary or from any other source.
The indenture states that the liability of each subsidiary on its guarantee is limited to the
maximum amount that the subsidiary can incur without risk that the guarantee will be subject to
avoidance as a fraudulent conveyance. This limitation may not protect the guarantees from a
fraudulent conveyance claim or, if it does, the guarantees may not be in amounts sufficient, if
necessary, to pay obligations under the notes when due.
Our notes may not be rated or may receive a lower rating than investors anticipate, which
could cause a decline in the trading volume and market price of the notes.
We do not intend to seek a rating on the notes, and we believe it is unlikely the notes will
be rated. If, however, one or more rating agencies rates the notes and assigns a rating lower than
the rating expected by investors, or reduces any rating in the future, the trading volume and
market price of the notes may be adversely affected.
16
We cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the New Notes.
The New Notes are a new issue of securities for which there is currently no trading market.
We do not intend to apply for listing of the New Notes on any securities exchange or to seek
approval for quotation through any automated quotation system. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance that an active trading market will develop upon completion of the Exchange Offer or, if
it develops, that such market will be sustained. In addition, the liquidity of the trading market
in the New Notes, if it develops, and the market price quoted for the New Notes may be adversely
affected by changes in the overall market for high yield securities and by changes in our financial
performance or prospects or in the financial performance or prospects of companies in the
industries in which we conduct business. If an active market does not develop or is not
maintained, the market price of the New Notes may decline and you may not be able to resell the New
Notes.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Exchange Offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights
agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of the Original Notes. We will not receive
any cash proceeds from the issuance of the New Notes in the Exchange Offer. In consideration for
issuing the New Notes as contemplated by this prospectus, we will receive the Original Notes in
like principal amount. The Original Notes surrendered and exchanged for the New Notes will be
retired and canceled and cannot be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the New Notes will not
result in any increase in our indebtedness.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
2009 |
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1) |
|
|
1.19x |
|
|
|
3.14x |
|
|
|
3.26x |
|
|
|
2.70x |
|
|
|
3.84x |
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings include pre-tax
income (loss) from continuing operations and fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest)
and amortization of capitalized interest. Earnings are also adjusted to exclude equity in
gain or loss of non-consolidated real estate businesses. Fixed charges consist of interest
expense, capitalized interest (including amounts charged to income and capitalized during the
period), a portion of rental expense (deemed by us to be representative of the interest factor
of rental payments), amortization of debt discount costs. |
THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Purpose of the Exchange Offer
In connection with the sale of the Original Notes, we entered into a registration rights
agreement with Jefferies & Company, Inc., the initial purchaser, under which we agreed to file, and
to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be delivered an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Offer.
We are making the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the SEC as set forth in
certain no-action letters. However, we have not sought our own no-action letter. Based upon these
interpretations by the SEC, we believe that a holder of New Notes, but not a holder who is our
affiliate within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act, who exchanges Original Notes for
New Notes in the Exchange Offer generally may offer the New Notes for resale, sell the New Notes
and otherwise transfer the New Notes without further registration under the Securities Act and
without delivery of a prospectus that satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities
Act. This does not apply, however, to a holder who is our affiliate within the meaning of Rule
405 of the Securities Act. We also believe that a holder may offer, sell or transfer the New Notes
only if the holder acquires
17
the New Notes in the ordinary course of its business and is not participating, does not intend
to participate and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a
distribution of the New Notes.
Any holder of the Original Notes using the Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of
New Notes cannot rely on the no-action letters referred to above. Any broker-dealer who holds
Original Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities and who receives New Notes in exchange for such Original Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer may be a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such New Notes.
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for Original Notes,
where such Original Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New
Notes received in exchange for Original Notes where such Original Notes were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The letter of
transmittal states that by acknowledging and delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be
considered to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act. We have
agreed that for a period of not less than 180 days after the expiration date for the Exchange
Offer, we will make this prospectus available to broker-dealers for use in connection with any such
resale. See Plan of Distribution.
Except as described above, this prospectus may not be used for an offer to resell, resale or
other transfer of New Notes.
The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will we accept tenders for exchange from, holders
of Original Notes in any jurisdiction in which the Exchange Offer or the acceptance of it would not
be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.
Terms of the Exchange
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, we will accept any and all
Original Notes validly tendered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the expiration date for the
Exchange Offer. Promptly after the expiration date (unless extended as described in this
prospectus), we will issue an aggregate principal amount of up to $85.0 million of New Notes and
guarantees related thereto for a like principal amount of outstanding Original Notes and guarantees
related thereto tendered and accepted in connection with the Exchange Offer. The New Notes issued
in connection with the Exchange Offer will be delivered on the earliest practicable date following
the expiration date. Holders may tender some or all of their Original Notes in connection with the
Exchange Offer, but only in an amount equal to $1,000 principal amount or in integral multiples of
$1,000 in excess thereof. The terms of the New Notes will be identical in all material respects to
the terms of the Original Notes, except that the New Notes will have been registered under the
Securities Act and will be issued free from any covenant regarding registration, including the
payment of Liquidated Damages upon a failure to file or have declared effective an Exchange Offer
registration statement or to complete the Exchange Offer by certain dates. The New Notes will
evidence the same debt as the Original Notes and will be issued under the same indenture and
entitled to the same benefits under that indenture as the Original Notes being exchanged. As of
the date of this prospectus, $85.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Original Notes is
outstanding.
In connection with the issuance of the Original Notes, we arranged for the Original Notes
purchased by qualified institutional buyers and those sold in reliance on Regulation S under the
Securities Act to be issued and transferable in book-entry form through the facilities of The
Depository Trust Company (DTC), acting as depositary. Except as described under Description of
Notes Exchanges of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes, New Notes will be issued in the
form of a global note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and each beneficial owners
interest in it will be transferable in book-entry form through DTC. See Description of Notes
Exchanges of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes.
Holders of Original Notes do not have any appraisal or dissenters rights in connection with
the Exchange Offer. Original Notes which are not tendered for exchange or are tendered but not
accepted in connection with the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and be entitled to the
benefits of the indenture under which they were
18
issued, but certain registration and other rights under the registration rights agreement will
terminate and holders of the Original Notes will generally not be entitled to any registration
rights under the registration rights agreement. See Consequences of Failures to Properly
Tender Original Notes in the Exchange Offer.
We shall be considered to have accepted validly tendered Original Notes if and when we have
given written notice to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering
holders for the purposes of receiving the New Notes from us.
If any tendered Original Notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender, the
occurrence of certain other events described in this prospectus or otherwise, we will return the
Original Notes, without expense, to the tendering holder promptly after the expiration date for the
Exchange Offer.
Holders who tender Original Notes will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees
or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes on exchange of
Original Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other
than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection with the Exchange Offer. See Fees
and Expenses.
Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments
The
expiration date for the Exchange Offer is 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on June 4,
2010, unless extended by us in our sole discretion, in which case the term expiration date shall
mean the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended.
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion:
|
|
|
to delay accepting any Original Notes, to extend the Exchange Offer or to terminate
the Exchange Offer if, in our reasonable judgment, any of the conditions described
below shall not have been satisfied, by giving written notice of the delay, extension
or termination to the exchange agent, or |
|
|
|
|
to amend the terms of the Exchange Offer in any manner. |
If we amend the Exchange Offer in a manner that we consider material, we will disclose such
amendment by means of a prospectus supplement, and we will extend the Exchange Offer for a period
of five to ten business days.
If we determine to extend, amend or terminate the Exchange Offer, we will publicly announce
this determination by making a timely release through an appropriate news agency.
Interest on the New Notes
The New Notes will bear interest at the rate of 11% per annum from the most recent date to
which interest on the Original Notes has been paid. Interest will be payable semi-annually in
arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year.
Conditions to the Exchange Offer
Notwithstanding any other term of the Exchange Offer, we will not be required to accept for
exchange, or to exchange any New Notes for, any Original Notes and may terminate the Exchange Offer
as provided in this prospectus before the acceptance of the Original Notes, if prior to the
expiration date:
|
|
|
any action or proceeding is instituted or threatened in any court or by or before
any governmental agency relating to the Exchange Offer which, in our reasonable
judgment, might materially impair the contemplated benefits of the Exchange Offer to
us, or any material adverse development has occurred in any existing action or
proceeding relating to us or any of our subsidiaries; |
19
|
|
|
any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in our business or
financial affairs or any of our subsidiaries has occurred which, in our reasonable
judgment, might materially impair our ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer or
materially impair the contemplated benefits of the Exchange Offer to us; |
|
|
|
|
any law, statute, rule or regulation is proposed, adopted or enacted which in our
reasonable judgment might materially impair our ability to proceed with the Exchange
Offer; or |
|
|
|
|
any governmental approval has not been obtained, which approval we, in our
reasonable discretion, consider necessary for the completion of the Exchange Offer as
contemplated by this prospectus. |
The conditions listed above are for our sole benefit and may be asserted by us regardless of
the circumstances giving rise to any of these conditions. We may waive these conditions in our
reasonable discretion in whole or in part at any time and from time to time prior to the expiration
date. The failure by us at any time to exercise any of the above rights shall not be considered a
waiver of such right, and such right shall be considered an ongoing right which may be asserted at
any time and from time to time.
If we determine in our reasonable discretion that any of the conditions are not satisfied, we
may:
|
|
|
refuse to accept any Original Notes and return all tendered Original Notes to the
tendering holders; |
|
|
|
|
extend the Exchange Offer and retain all Original Notes tendered before the
expiration of the Exchange Offer, subject, however, to the rights of holders to
withdraw those Original Notes (See Withdrawal of Tenders below); or |
|
|
|
|
waive unsatisfied conditions relating to the Exchange Offer and accept all properly
tendered Original Notes which have not been withdrawn. |
Procedures for Tendering
Unless the tender is being made in book-entry form, to tender in the Exchange Offer, a holder
must:
|
|
|
complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of it; |
|
|
|
have the signatures guaranteed if required by the letter of transmittal; and |
|
|
|
mail or otherwise deliver the signed letter of transmittal or the signed facsimile,
the Original Notes and any other required documents to the exchange agent prior to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. |
Any financial institution that is a participant in DTCs Book-Entry Transfer Facility system
may make book-entry delivery of the Original Notes by causing DTC to transfer the Original Notes
into the exchange agents account. To validly tender Original Notes through DTC, the financial
institution that is a participant in DTC will electronically transmit its acceptance through the
Automated Tender Offer Program. DTC will then verify the acceptance, execute a book-entry transfer
of the tendered Original Notes into the applicable account of the exchange agent at DTC and then
send to the exchange agent confirmation of such book-entry transfer. The confirmation of such
book-entry transfer will include an agents message stating that DTC has received an express
acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering the Original Notes that the participant has
received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal and that we may enforce
the terms of the letter of transmittal against the participant. A tender of Original Notes through
a book-entry transfer into the exchange agents account will only be effective if an agents
message or the letter of transmittal (or facsimile) with any required signature guarantees and any
other required documents are transmitted to and received or confirmed by the exchange agent at the
address set forth below under the caption Exchange Agent, prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the expiration date unless the guaranteed delivery procedures described below under the
caption Guaranteed Delivery Procedures
20
are complied with. Delivery of documents to DTC in accordance with its procedures does not
constitute delivery to the exchange agent.
The tender by a holder of Original Notes will constitute an agreement between us and the
holder in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and
in the letter of transmittal.
The method of delivery of Original Notes and the letter of transmittal and all other required
documents to the exchange agent is at the election and risk of the holders. Instead of delivery by
mail, we recommend that holders use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, holders
should allow sufficient time to assure delivery to the exchange agent before the expiration date.
No letter of transmittal or Original Notes should be sent to us. Holders may request their
respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or nominees to effect the tenders
for such holders.
Any beneficial owner whose Original Notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer,
commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender should contact the
registered holder promptly and instruct such registered holder to tender on behalf of the
beneficial owner. If the beneficial owner wishes to tender on that owners own behalf, the owner
must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivery of such owners
Original Notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the Original Notes in
the owners name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The
transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time.
Signature on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an
eligible guarantor institution within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act, unless
the Original Notes tendered pursuant thereto are tendered:
|
|
|
by a registered holder who has not completed the box entitled Special Issuance
Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions on the letter of transmittal; or |
|
|
|
|
for the account of an eligible guarantor institution. |
In the event that signatures on a letter or transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case
may be, are required to be guaranteed, such guarantee must be by:
|
|
|
a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority; |
|
|
|
|
a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United
States; or |
|
|
|
|
an eligible guarantor institution within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the
Exchange Act. |
If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of any
Original Notes, the Original Notes must be endorsed by the registered holder or accompanied by a
properly completed bond power, in each case signed or endorsed in blank by the registered holder.
If the letter of transmittal or any Original Notes or bond powers are signed or endorsed by
trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or
others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when
signing and, unless waived by us, submit evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to act in
that capacity with the letter of transmittal.
We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt) and acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Original Notes in our sole discretion. We
reserve the absolute right to reject any and all Original Notes not properly tendered or any
Original Notes whose acceptance by us would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also
reserve the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to any particular
Original Notes either before or after the expiration date. Our interpretation of the terms and
conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions in the letter of transmittal) will be
final and binding
21
on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of
Original Notes must be cured within a time period we will determine. Although we intend to request
the exchange agent to notify holders of defects or irregularities relating to tenders of Original
Notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will have any duty or incur any
liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Original Notes will not be considered
to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any Original
Notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or
irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the exchange agent to the
tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, promptly following the
expiration date.
In addition, we reserve the right, as set forth above under the caption Conditions to the
Exchange Offer, to terminate the Exchange Offer.
By tendering, each holder represents to us, among other things, that:
|
|
|
it has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Original
Notes it is tendering and that we will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto,
free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to
any adverse claim when the same are accepted by us; |
|
|
|
|
the New Notes acquired in connection with the Exchange Offer are being obtained in
the ordinary course of business of the person receiving the New Notes; |
|
|
|
|
at the time of commencement of the Exchange Offer it had no arrangement with any
person to participate in a distribution of such New Notes; |
|
|
|
|
it is not an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of Vector
Group; and |
|
|
|
|
if the holder is a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to
engage in, a distribution of the New Notes, and that it will receive New Notes for its
own account in exchange for Original Notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be
required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale
of such New Notes. See Plan of Distribution. |
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures
A holder who wishes to tender its Original Notes and:
|
|
|
whose Original Notes are not immediately available; |
|
|
|
|
who cannot deliver the holders Original Notes, the letter of transmittal or any
other required documents to the exchange agent prior to the expiration date; or |
|
|
|
|
who cannot complete the procedures for book-entry transfer before the expiration
date; |
may effect a tender if:
|
|
|
the tender is made through an eligible guarantor institution; |
|
|
|
|
before the expiration date, the exchange agent receives from the eligible guarantor
institution: |
|
(i) |
|
a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed
delivery by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery, |
|
|
(ii) |
|
the name and address of the holder, and |
22
|
(iii) |
|
the certificate number(s) of the Original Notes, if any, and
the principal amount of Original Notes tendered, stating that the tender is
being made and guaranteeing that, within three New York Stock Exchange trading
days after the expiration date, (a) the certificate(s) representing the
Original Notes (or a confirmation of book-entry transfer) and (b) a letter of
transmittal (or facsimile thereof) with respect to such Original Notes,
properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees,
and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal or, in lieu
thereof, an agents message from DTC, will be deposited by the eligible
guarantor institution with the exchange agent; and |
|
|
|
the exchange agent receives, within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after
the expiration date, (i) the certificate(s) representing all tendered Original Notes
(or a confirmation of book-entry transfer) and (ii) a letter of transmittal (or
facsimile thereof) with respect to such Original Notes, properly completed and duly
executed, with any required signature guarantees, and all other documents required by
the letter of transmittal or, in lieu thereof, an agents message from DTC. |
Withdrawal of Tenders
Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Original Notes may be withdrawn at any time
prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.
To withdraw a tender of Original Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer, a written or
facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the exchange agent at its address
set forth herein prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Any such notice
of withdrawal must:
|
|
|
specify the name of the person who deposited the Original Notes to be withdrawn; |
|
|
|
|
identify the Original Notes to be withdrawn (including the certificate number(s), if
any, and principal amount of such Original Notes); |
|
|
|
|
be signed by the depositor in the same manner as the original signature on the
letter of transmittal by which such Original Notes were tendered (including any
required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfer sufficient to
have the trustee register the transfer of such Original Notes into the name of the
person withdrawing the tender; and |
|
|
|
|
specify the name in which any such Original Notes are to be registered, if different
from that of the depositor. |
If Original Notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer, any
notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the
withdrawn Original Notes or otherwise comply with DTCs procedures. We will determine all
questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such withdrawal
notices. Any Original Notes so withdrawn will be considered not to have been validly tendered for
purposes of the Exchange Offer, and no New Notes will be issued unless the Original Notes withdrawn
are validly re-tendered. Any Original Notes which have been tendered but which are not accepted
for exchange or which are withdrawn will be returned to the holder without cost to such holder
promptly after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly
withdrawn Original Notes may be re-tendered by following one of the procedures described above
under Procedures for Tendering at any time prior to the expiration date.
Exchange Agent
U.S. Bank National Association has been appointed as exchange agent in connection with the
Exchange Offer. Questions and requests for assistance, as well as requests for additional copies
of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal, should be directed to the exchange agent at its
offices at 60 Livingston Avenue, EP-MN-WS3C,
23
St. Paul, Minnesota 55107-2292. The exchange agents telephone number is (800) 934-6802 and
facsimile number is (651) 495-8158.
Fees and Expenses
We will not make any payment to brokers, dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the
Exchange Offer. We will pay certain other expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange
Offer, including the fees and expenses of the exchange agent and accounting and legal fees
relating to the Exchange Offer.
Holders who tender their Original Notes for exchange generally will not be obligated to pay
transfer taxes. If, however:
|
|
|
New Notes are to be delivered to, or issued in the name of, any person other than
the registered holder of the Original Notes tendered; |
|
|
|
|
tendered Original Notes are registered in the name of any person other than the
person signing the letter of transmittal; or |
|
|
|
|
a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of Original Notes
in connection with the Exchange Offer; |
then the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other
persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such
taxes or exemption from them is not submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of such
transfer taxes will be billed directly to the tendering holder.
Accounting Treatment
The New Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the Original Notes as reflected
in our accounting records on the date of the exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain
or loss for accounting purposes upon the completion of the Exchange Offer.
Consequences of Failures to Properly Tender Original Notes in the Exchange Offer
Issuance of the New Notes in exchange for the Original Notes under the Exchange Offer will be
made only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of a properly completed and duly executed
letter of transmittal (or an agents message from DTC) and the certificate(s) representing such
Original Notes (or confirmation of book-entry transfer), and all other required documents.
Therefore, holders of the Original Notes desiring to tender such Original Notes in exchange for New
Notes should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. We are under no duty to give
notification of defects or irregularities of tenders of Original Notes for exchange. Original
Notes that are not tendered or that are tendered but not accepted by us will, following completion
of the Exchange Offer, continue to be subject to the existing restrictions upon transfer thereof
under the Securities Act, and, upon completion of the Exchange Offer, certain registration rights
under the registration rights agreement will terminate.
In the event the Exchange Offer is completed, we generally will not be required to register
the remaining Original Notes, subject to limited exceptions. Remaining Original Notes will
continue to be subject to the following restrictions on transfer:
|
|
|
the remaining Original Notes may be resold only if registered pursuant to the
Securities Act, if any exemption from registration is available, or if neither such
registration nor such exemption is required by law; and |
|
|
|
|
the remaining Original Notes will bear a legend restricting transfer in the absence
of registration or an exemption. |
24
We do not currently anticipate that we will register the remaining Original Notes under the
Securities Act. To the extent that Original Notes are tendered and accepted in connection with the
Exchange Offer, any trading market for remaining Original Notes could be adversely affected. See
Risk Factors Risks Related to the Notes and the Exchange Offer If you fail to exchange your
Original Notes, they will continue to be restricted securities and may become less liquid.
25
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the subheading
Certain Definitions. In this description, the Company, we, us and our refer only to
Vector Group Ltd. and not to any of its subsidiaries.
The Company issued the Original Notes under an indenture dated as of August 16, 2007 among
itself, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and Collateral Agent, as
amended, in a private transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities
Act. The New Notes will be issued under the indenture and will be identical in all material
respects to the Original Notes, except that the New Notes will have been registered under the
Securities Act and will be free of any obligation regarding registration, including the payment of
Liquidated Damages upon failure to file or have declared effective an exchange offer registration
statement or to consummate an exchange offer by certain dates. Unless specifically stated to the
contrary, the following description by reference to the term notes applies equally to the New
Notes and the Original Notes. The terms of the notes will include those stated in the indenture
and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
The Collateral Documents referred to below under the caption Security define the terms of the
documents that secure the notes.
The Original Notes and the New Notes are additional notes issued under the indenture covering
the 2007 Notes and the 2010 Notes. The notes will be treated as a single series with the previously
issued notes for all purposes under the indenture, including, without limitation, waivers,
amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. However, the Original Notes and the New Notes have
different CUSIP numbers and will not be fungible with the previously issued notes. The aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding notes of the series is $325 million. As used in this section,
the term notes means the Original Notes and the New Notes offered hereby and the previously
issued notes, unless otherwise indicated or the context suggests otherwise.
The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture, the
Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. It does not restate those agreements in
their entirety. We urge you to read the indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor
Agreement because they, and not this description, define your rights as holders of the notes. The
indenture, the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement are available as set forth
below under Additional Information. Certain defined terms used in this description but not
defined below under Certain Definitions have the meanings assigned to them in the indenture.
The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only
registered holders will have rights under the indenture.
Brief Description of the Notes and the Note Guarantees
The Notes
The notes:
|
|
|
are general obligations of the Company; |
|
|
|
|
are pari passu in right of payment with all of the Companys existing and future
senior Indebtedness; |
|
|
|
|
are senior in right of payment to all of the Companys future subordinated
Indebtedness, if any; |
|
|
|
|
are not secured by any of the Companys assets; and |
|
|
|
|
are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors and certain of such
guarantees will be secured by certain assets of some of the Guarantors as provided
below. |
26
The Note Guarantees
The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the
Guarantors. None of the Companys subsidiaries engaged in the real estate business conducted by
New Valley and its subsidiaries will guarantee the notes.
Each guarantee of the notes:
|
|
|
is a general obligation of the Guarantor; |
|
|
|
|
is pari passu in right of payment with all other senior Indebtedness of that
Guarantor, including a Liggett Guarantors guarantee of Indebtedness under the Liggett
Credit Agreement; |
|
|
|
|
is senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of that
Guarantor. |
Each guarantee of the notes by a Liggett Guarantor:
|
|
|
is secured on a second priority basis, equally and ratably with all existing and
future obligations of a Liggett Guarantor under any Parity Lien Debt, by Liens on
certain assets of a Liggett Guarantor, subject in priority to Liens securing the First
Priority Debt under the Liggett Credit Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens; and |
|
|
|
|
is effectively junior, to the extent of the value of assets securing a Liggett
Guarantors First Priority Debt obligations under the Liggett Credit Agreement, which
are secured on a first priority basis by the same assets of that Liggett Guarantor that
secure the notes and by certain other assets of that Liggett Guarantor that do not
secure the notes. |
The guarantee of the Notes by Vector Tobacco is secured on a first priority basis, equally and
ratably with all of its existing and future obligations under any Parity Lien Debt, by Liens on
certain of its assets, subject in priority to Permitted Prior Liens. Each guarantee of the notes
by Liggett Group and 100 Maple LLC will be secured on a second priority basis, equally and ratably
with the obligations of the Liggett Guarantors under existing and future Parity Lien Debt, by Liens
on certain assets of the Liggett Guarantors, subject in priority to the Liens securing the first
priority debt under the Liggett Credit Agreement and Permitted Prior Liens.
The guarantee of VGR Holding is secured by a first priority pledge of the Capital Stock of
each of Liggett Group and Vector Tobacco.
Pursuant to the indenture, the Company is permitted to incur additional notes under the
indenture and the Guarantors are permitted to guarantee such additional notes as Parity Lien Debt
subject to the covenants described below under Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock and Covenants Liens.
As a result of the first priority liens securing the obligations of the Liggett Guarantors
under the Liggett Credit Agreement, the Note Guarantees by the Liggett Guarantors are effectively
subordinated to the Liggett Guarantors obligations under the Liggett Credit Agreement to the
extent of the value of the collateral securing their first priority lien obligations under the
Liggett Credit Agreement as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement.
As of the date hereof, all of the Companys Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors are
Unrestricted Subsidiaries, including the New Valley Subsidiaries. Unrestricted Subsidiaries are
not subject to the restrictive covenants in the indenture described below.
In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of the Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, the Unrestricted Subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debt and their trade
creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to the Company. At December
31, 2009, the Companys investment in non-consolidated real estate businesses of the Unrestricted
Subsidiaries (which reflects the real estate business of the New Valley Subsidiaries) was $49.6
million. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized
27
equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of
$15.2 million. In addition, the Companys Unrestricted Subsidiaries owned real estate and related
property, which were carried at approximately $13.2 million at December 31, 2009.
Principal, Maturity and Interest
The Company issued $85.0 million in aggregate principal amount of Original Notes on September
1, 2009. The Company may issue additional notes under the indenture from time to time. Any
issuance of additional notes is subject to all of the covenants in the indenture, including the
covenant described below under the caption Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock. The notes and any additional notes subsequently issued under the
indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the indenture, including,
without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. The Company will
issue notes in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The notes will mature on
August 15, 2015.
Interest on the New Notes will accrue at the rate of 11% per annum from the most recent date
to which interest on the Original Notes has been paid. Interest on overdue principal and interest
and Liquidated Damages, if any, will accrue at a rate that is 1% higher than the then applicable
interest rate on the notes. The Company will make each interest payment to the holders of record
on the immediately preceding February 1 and August 1. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If a holder of notes has given wire transfer instructions to the Company, the Company will pay
all principal, interest, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on that holders notes in
accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the notes will be made at the office or
agency of the paying agent and registrar within the City and State of New York unless the Company
elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the noteholders at their address set forth in
the register of holders.
Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The Company has appointed U.S. Bank National Associates, the trustee and Collateral Agent
under the indenture, as paying agent and registrar for the notes. The Company may change the
paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the notes, and the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.
Transfer and Exchange
A holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the provisions of the indenture.
The registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of notes. Holders will be
required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Company will not be required to transfer or
exchange any note selected for redemption. Also, the Company will not be required to transfer or
exchange any note (1) for a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be redeemed or (2)
between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.
Note Guarantees
The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each of the Guarantors. These Note
Guarantees are joint and several obligations of the Guarantors. As a result of the first priority
liens securing the obligations of the Liggett Guarantors under the Liggett Credit Agreement as
provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, the Note Guarantees by the Liggett Guarantors are
effectively subordinated to the Liggett Guarantors obligations under the Liggett Credit Agreement
to the extent of the value of the assets securing the first priority lien obligations under the
Liggett Credit Agreement.
The obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee are limited as necessary to prevent
that Note Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. See Risk
Factors Federal and state
28
statutes allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void guarantees and require holders of
notes to return payments received from guarantors.
A Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, or
consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person)
another Person other than the Company or any Guarantor, unless:
(1) immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no Default or Event of Default
exists; and
(2) either:
(a) the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or disposition or the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger assumes all the
obligations of that Guarantor under the indenture, its Note Guarantee, the
Collateral Documents and the registration rights agreement pursuant to a
supplemental indenture and appropriate Collateral Documents satisfactory to the
trustee; or
(b) the Net Proceeds of such sale or other disposition are applied in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the indenture.
The Note Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:
(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is
not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Guarantor,
if the sale or other disposition does not violate the Asset Sale provisions of the
indenture;
(2) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of
that Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such
transaction) the Company or a Guarantor, if the sale or other disposition does not violate
the Asset Sale provisions of the indenture; or
(3) upon legal defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the indenture as provided
below under the captions Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance and Satisfaction
and Discharge.
See Repurchase at the Option of Holders Asset Sales.
None of the New Valley Subsidiaries guarantee the notes. As a result, the notes are
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the New Valley Subsidiaries. At
December 31, 2009, the Companys investment in non-consolidated real estate businesses of the
Unrestricted Subsidiaries (which reflects the real estate businesses of the Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) was $49.6 million. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized
equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses of the New Valley Subsidiaries of $15.2
million. In addition, the Companys Unrestricted Subsidiaries owned real estate and related
property, which were carried at approximately $13.2 million at December 31, 2009.
Security
The notes are not secured by any assets of the Company.
Only the Liggett Guarantors, Vector Tobacco and VGR Holding provide certain security for their
Note Guarantees. The obligations of the Liggett Guarantors under their Note Guarantees and the
performance of all other obligations of the Liggett Guarantors under the indenture are secured
equally and ratably by second priority Liens on the Collateral of the Liggett Guarantors granted to
the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations. These Liens
are junior in priority to the Liens securing the first priority lien obligations of the Liggett
Guarantors under the Liggett Credit Agreement to the extent of the Liens on the assets securing
First Priority
29
Debt. The obligations of Vector Tobacco under its Note Guarantee are secured equally and
ratably by first priority Liens on the Collateral of Vector Tobacco granted to the Collateral Agent
for the benefit of the holders of the Parity Lien Obligations. The obligations of VGR Holding
under its Note Guarantee are secured equally and ratably by first priority liens on the Pledged
Securities. Security Interests securing the Note Guarantees are subject in priority to Permitted
Prior Liens.
The Collateral securing the applicable Note Guarantees does not include the following:
|
|
|
real property, other than the Mebane Facility and any real property that has a fair
market value in excess of $5.0 million; |
|
|
|
|
equipment subject to purchase money or other financing; |
|
|
|
|
investment property or securities, including securities of affiliates, other than
the Pledged Securities; |
|
|
|
|
cash and deposit accounts; |
|
|
|
|
foreign intellectual property and all intent-to-use trademark applications; |
|
|
|
|
aircraft, aircraft engines and motor vehicles; |
|
|
|
|
leasehold interests in real property; |
|
|
|
|
chattel paper; |
|
|
|
|
instruments; and |
|
|
|
|
documents, |
as such terms are defined under the UCC, collectively referred to as the Excluded Assets.
The Liens on collateral of the Liggett Guarantors securing the obligations of the Liggett
Guarantors under the Liggett Credit Agreement include assets that are not included in the
Collateral securing the Note Guarantees, including deposit accounts, chattel paper, instruments,
documents and investment property. The value of this excluded collateral could be significant, and
the notes effectively rank junior to indebtedness secured by liens on, and to the extent of, this
collateral. Cash deposited in bank accounts of the Liggett Guarantors is automatically applied to
the repayment of outstanding revolving borrowings under the Liggett Credit Agreement.
Intercreditor Agreement
On the date of the indenture, the Liggett Guarantors entered into the Intercreditor Agreement
with the lender under the Liggett Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent and the trustee. The
Intercreditor Agreement sets forth the terms of the relationship between the holders of First
Priority Liens and the holders of Parity Liens.
Certain terms used under this caption Intercreditor Agreement have the meanings set forth
below under Certain Definitions used in the Intercreditor Agreement. Capitalized terms used
under this caption but not defined below have the meanings set forth in the Intercreditor
Agreement.
First Priority Liens; Note Guarantees Effectively Subordinated to First Priority Liens
The obligations under the Liggett Credit Agreement are secured by a Lien on the ABL
Collateral. Under the Intercreditor Agreement, this Lien, to the extent it secures Maximum
Priority ABL Debt, is senior in right, priority, operation, effect and in all other respects to any
Lien thereon that secures the Note Guarantees of the Liggett Guarantors. Such Lien is referred to
herein as the First Priority Lien. By their acceptance of the notes, the
30
holders of the notes will be deemed to have reaffirmed the existing authorization of the
Collateral Agent to be party to the Intercreditor Agreement with the ABL Lender. As a result,
obligations under the indenture that are secured by a Lien on the ABL Collateral, and that are
evidenced by certain of the Note Guarantees, are effectively subordinated to the obligations
secured by the First Priority Lien to the extent of the value of the ABL Collateral.
Relative Priorities
The Intercreditor Agreement provides that notwithstanding the date, manner or order of grant,
attachment or perfection of any Liens granted to the ABL Lender or the ABL Secured Parties or the
Collateral Agent or the Noteholder Secured Parties and notwithstanding any provision of the UCC, or
any applicable law or any provisions of the ABL Documents or the Noteholder Documents or any other
circumstance whatsoever:
The Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Noteholder Secured Parties, agreed
that: (1) any Lien on the ABL Collateral securing the First Priority Debt now or hereafter held by
or for the benefit or on behalf of any ABL Secured Party or any agent or trustee therefor shall be
senior in right, priority, operation, effect and in all other respects to any Lien on the ABL
Collateral securing the Noteholder Debt now or hereafter held by or for the benefit or on behalf of
any Noteholder Secured Party or any agent or trustee therefor; and (2) any Lien on the ABL
Collateral securing any of the Noteholder Debt now or hereafter held by or for the benefit or on
behalf of any Noteholder Secured Party or any agent or trustee therefor regardless of how acquired,
whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be junior and
subordinate in all respects to all Liens on the ABL Collateral securing any First Priority Debt.
The ABL Lender, for itself and on behalf of the other ABL Secured Parties, has agreed that:
(1) any Lien on the ABL Collateral securing the Noteholder Debt now or hereafter held by or for the
benefit or on behalf of any Noteholder Secured Party or any agent or trustee therefor shall be
senior in right, priority, operation, effect and in all other respects to any Lien on the ABL
Collateral securing the principal amount of Excess ABL Debt now or hereafter held by or for the
benefit or on behalf of any ABL Secured Party or any agent or trustee therefor; and (2) any Lien on
the ABL Collateral securing any Excess ABL Debt now or hereafter held by or for the benefit or on
behalf of any ABL Secured Party or any agent or trustee therefor regardless of how acquired,
whether by grant, statute, operation of law, subrogation or otherwise, shall be junior and
subordinate in all respects to all Liens on the ABL Collateral securing any Noteholder Debt.
Prohibition on Contesting Liens
The Intercreditor Agreement also provides that each of the ABL Lender, for itself and on
behalf of the other ABL Secured Parties, and the Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the
noteholders, has agreed that they will not, and has waived any right to, contest or support any
other Person in contesting, in any proceeding (including any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding),
the priority, perfection, validity or enforceability of a Lien held by or for the benefit or on
behalf of any ABL Secured Party in any ABL Collateral or by or on behalf of any Noteholder Secured
Party in any ABL Collateral; provided that nothing in the Intercreditor Agreement will be construed
to prevent or impair the rights of any ABL Secured Party or Noteholder Secured Party to enforce the
Intercreditor Agreement, including, without limitation the priority of Liens described above under
Relative Priorities.
Additional Liens
None of the ABL Loan Parties may grant any additional Liens on any assets to secure the
Noteholder Debt unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith shall grant, a lien
on such asset to secure the ABL Debt or grant any additional Liens on any assets to secure the ABL
Debt unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith shall grant, a Lien on such
asset to secure the Noteholder Debt, all of which Liens shall be subject to the terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement. Further, the parties to the Intercreditor Agreement agree that, after the
Discharge of Priority Debt and so long as the Discharge of Priority Noteholder Debt has not
occurred, none of the ABL Loan Parties shall grant any additional Liens on any asset to secure any
Excess ABL Debt unless it has granted, or substantially concurrently therewith shall grant, a Lien
on such asset to secure the Noteholder Debt.
31
Exercise of Rights and Remedies; Standstill
In addition, the Intercreditor Agreement provides that, until the Discharge of Priority Debt,
the Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Noteholder Secured Parties, agrees that
it (i) will not enforce rights or exercise remedies (including any right of setoff) with respect to
the ABL Collateral (including the enforcement of any right under any lockbox agreement, account
control agreement, landlord waiver or bailees letter or any similar agreement or arrangement to
which the Collateral Agent or any other Noteholder Secured Party is a party), or to commence or
seek to commence any action or proceeding with respect to such rights or remedies (including any
foreclosure action or proceeding or any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding); provided, however,
that (A) the Collateral Agent and the Noteholder Secured Parties may take Permitted Actions, and
(B) the Collateral Agent may exercise any or all of such rights or remedies after a period of 180
days has elapsed since the date on which any ABL Secured Party has commenced a Lien Enforcement
Action and prior to or at the time of such exercise, the Collateral Agent shall have (1) declared
the existence of an Event of Default, (2) demanded the repayment of all the principal amount of the
Noteholder Debt and (3) notified the ABL Lender of such declaration of an Event of Default and
demand (the Standstill Period); provided, further, that, notwithstanding the expiration of the
Standstill Period or anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or any
other Noteholder Secured Party enforce or exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any ABL
Collateral, or commence or petition for any such action or proceeding (including any foreclosure
action or proceeding or any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), at any time during which the ABL
Lender or any other ABL Secured Party shall have commenced and shall be pursuing diligently a Lien
Enforcement Action.
Release of Liens
The Intercreditor Agreement also provides that:
(a) prior to Discharge of Priority Debt, if (i) in connection with any disposition of
any ABL Collateral (A) permitted under the terms of the ABL Documents (whether or not an
event of default or equivalent event thereunder, and as defined therein, has occurred and is
continuing) or (B) consented to or approved by ABL Lender, but in the case of (A) or (B)
only if permitted under the terms of the Noteholder Documents or (ii) in connection with the
exercise of the ABL Lenders remedies in respect of the ABL Collateral (provided that after
giving effect to the release and application of proceeds, ABL Debt (other than Excess ABL
Debt) secured by the first priority Liens on the remaining ABL Collateral remains
outstanding), the ABL Lender, for itself or on behalf of any of the other ABL Secured
Parties, releases any of its Liens on any part of the ABL Collateral, then effective upon
the consummation of such sale, lease, license, exchange, transfer or other disposition:
(1) the Liens, if any, of the Collateral Agent, for itself or for the benefit
of the Noteholder Secured Parties, on such ABL Collateral shall be automatically,
unconditionally and simultaneously released to the same extent as the release of ABL
Lenders Liens,
(2) the Collateral Agent, for itself or on behalf of the Noteholder Secured
Parties, shall promptly upon the request of ABL Lender execute and deliver such
release documents and confirmations of the authorization to file UCC amendments and
terminations provided for herein, in each case as ABL Lender may require in
connection with such sale or other disposition by ABL Lender, ABL Lenders agents or
any Liggett Guarantor with the consent of ABL Lender to evidence and effectuate such
termination and release; provided, that, any such release or UCC amendment or
termination by Collateral Agent shall not extend to or otherwise affect any of the
rights, if any, of Collateral Agent and Noteholder Secured Parties to the proceeds
from any such sale or other disposition of ABL Collateral, and
(3) the Collateral Agent, for itself or on behalf of the other Noteholder
Secured Parties, shall be deemed to have authorized ABL Lender to file UCC
amendments and terminations covering the ABL Collateral so sold or otherwise
disposed of as to UCC financing statements between any Liggett Guarantor and
Collateral Agent or any other Noteholder Secured Party to evidence such release and
termination.
32
(b) after Discharge of Priority Debt but prior to Discharge of Priority Noteholder
Debt, if (i) in connection with any sale, lease, license, exchange, transfer or other
disposition of any ABL Collateral (A) permitted under the terms of the Noteholder Documents
(whether or not an event of default or equivalent event thereunder, and as defined therein,
has occurred and is continuing) or (B) consented to or approved by Noteholder Secured
Parties, but in the case of (A) and (B), only if permitted under the terms of the ABL
Documents, or (ii) in connection with the exercise of the Collateral Agents or any
Noteholder Secured Partys remedies in respect of the ABL Collateral (provided that after
giving effect to the release and application of proceeds, Noteholder Debt secured by the
Liens on the remaining ABL Collateral remain outstanding), the Collateral Agent, for itself
or on behalf of any of the other Noteholder Secured Parties, releases any of its Liens on
any part of the ABL Collateral, then effective upon the consummation of such sale, lease,
license, exchange, transfer or other disposition:
(1) the Liens, if any, of the ABL Lender, for itself or for the benefit of the
ABL Secured Parties, on such ABL Collateral shall be automatically, unconditionally
and simultaneously released to the same extent as the release of the Collateral
Agents Liens,
(2) the ABL Lender, for itself or on behalf of the ABL Secured Parties, shall
promptly upon the request of the Collateral Agent execute and deliver such release
documents and confirmations of the authorization to file UCC amendments and
terminations provided for herein, in each case as the Collateral Agent may require
in connection with such sale or other disposition by the Collateral Agent or any
Noteholder Secured Party, or any of their agents or any Liggett Guarantor with the
consent of Noteholder Secured Parties to evidence and effectuate such termination
and release; provided, that, any such release or UCC amendment or termination by ABL
Lender shall not extend to or otherwise affect any of the rights, if any, of ABL
Lender and ABL Secured Parties to the proceeds from any such sale or other
disposition of ABL Collateral, and
(3) the ABL Lender, for itself or on behalf of the other ABL Secured Parties,
shall be deemed to have authorized the Collateral Agent to file UCC amendments and
terminations covering the ABL Collateral so sold or otherwise disposed of as to UCC
financing statements between any Liggett Guarantor and ABL Lender or any other ABL
Secured Party to evidence such release and termination.
(c) the Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Noteholder Secured
Parties, has irrevocably constituted and appointed the ABL Lender and any officer or agent
of the ABL Lender, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact
with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of the Collateral Agent or
such holder, from time to time in the ABL Lenders discretion for the purpose of releasing
Liens in accordance with provision (a) of Release of Liens above, to take any and all
appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be
necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of provision (a) of Release of Liens
above, including any termination statements, endorsements or other instruments of transfer
or release. The ABL Lender, for itself and on behalf of the other ABL Secured Parties, has
irrevocably constituted and appointed the Collateral Agent and any officer or agent of any
holder of notes, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact
with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of the ABL Lender or any
ABL Secured Party, from time to time in the Collateral Agents discretion, for the purpose
of carrying out the terms of provision (b) of Release of Liens above, to take any and
all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be
necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of provision (b) of Release of Liens
above, including any termination statements, endorsements or other instruments of transfer
or release.
Application of Proceeds
The Intercreditor Agreement also provides that so long as the Discharge of ABL Debt has not
occurred, the ABL Collateral or proceeds thereof received in connection with the sale or other
disposition of, or collection on, such ABL Collateral upon the exercise of remedies, shall be
applied in the following order of priority:
33
first, to the First Priority Debt (including for cash collateral as required under the ABL
Documents), and in such order as specified in the relevant ABL Documents until the Discharge of
Priority Debt has occurred;
second, to the Noteholder Debt in such order as specified in the relevant Noteholder Documents
until the Discharge of Priority Noteholder Debt has occurred; and third, to the Excess ABL Debt
until the Discharge of ABL Debt has occurred.
Turnover
The Intercreditor Agreement provides that so long as the Discharge of Priority Debt has not
occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding has been commenced by or against
any Liggett Guarantor, the Collateral Agent has agreed, for itself and on behalf of the other
Noteholder Secured Parties, that any ABL Collateral or proceeds from the enforcement of remedies
with respect to the ABL Collateral (including any right of set-off) with respect to the ABL
Collateral, and including in connection with any insurance policy claim or any condemnation award
(or deed in lieu of condemnation) with respect to ABL Collateral, shall be segregated and held in
trust and promptly transferred or paid over to the ABL Lender for the benefit of the ABL Secured
Parties in the same form as received, with any necessary endorsements or assignments or as a court
of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. After the Discharge of Priority Debt has occurred
but before the Discharge of Priority Noteholder Debt has occurred, whether or not any Insolvency or
liquidation proceeding has been commenced by or against any Liggett Guarantor, the ABL Lender has
agreed, for itself and on behalf of the other ABL Secured Parties, that any ABL Collateral or
proceeds from the enforcement of remedies with respect to the ABL Collateral or payment with
respect thereto received by the ABL Lender or any other ABL Secured Party (including any right of
set-off) with respect to the ABL Collateral, and including in connection with any insurance policy
claim or any condemnation award (or deed in lieu of condemnation) with respect to ABL Collateral,
shall be segregated and held in trust and promptly transferred or paid over to the Collateral Agent
for the benefit of the Noteholder Secured Parties in the same form as received, with any necessary
endorsements or assignments or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct. The ABL
Lender or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, is authorized to make any such endorsements or
assignments as agent for the other. This authorization is coupled with an interest and is
irrevocable.
Insolvency or Liquidation proceedings
The Intercreditor Agreement is applicable both before and after the institution of any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding involving any Liggett Guarantor, including, without
limitation, the filing of any petition by or against any Liggett Guarantor under the Bankruptcy
Code or under any other Bankruptcy Law and all converted or subsequent cases in respect thereof,
and all references in Insolvency or Liquidation Proceedings to any Liggett Guarantor shall be
deemed to apply to the trustee for any such Liggett Guarantor or such Liggett Guarantor as
debtor-in-possession. The relative rights of the ABL Secured Parties and the Noteholder Secured
Parties in or to any distributions from or in respect of any ABL Collateral or proceeds of ABL
Collateral shall continue after the institution of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding
involving any Liggett Guarantor, including, without limitation, the filing of any petition by or
against any Liggett Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other Bankruptcy Law and all
converted cases and subsequent cases, on the same basis as prior to the date of such institution,
subject to (i) any court order approving the financing of, or use of cash collateral by, any
Liggett Guarantor as debtor-in-possession, or (ii) any other court order affecting the rights and
interests of the parties to the Intercreditor Agreement, in either case so long as such court order
is not in conflict with the Intercreditor Agreement. The Intercreditor Agreement constitutes a
Subordination Agreement for the purposes of Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code and will be
enforceable in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in accordance with its terms.
Bankruptcy Financing
The Intercreditor Agreement also provides that if any Liggett Guarantor becomes subject to any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, until the Discharge of Priority Debt has occurred, the
Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other Noteholder Secured Parties, agrees that:
34
(i) each Noteholder Secured Party will raise no objection to, nor support any other Person
objecting to, and will be deemed to have consented to, the use of any ABL Collateral constituting
cash collateral under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision of any other
Bankruptcy Law or any post-petition financing, provided by any ABL Secured Party or any Qualified
Financier under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision of any other
Bankruptcy Law (a DIP Financing), will not request or accept adequate protection or any other
relief in connection with the use of such cash collateral or such DIP Financing except as set forth
below and will subordinate (and will be deemed hereunder to have subordinated) the Liens granted to
Noteholder Secured Parties to such DIP Financing on the same terms as such Liens are subordinated
to the Liens granted to ABL Lender in the Intercreditor Agreement (and such subordination will not
alter in any manner the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement), to any adequate protection provided
to the ABL Secured Parties and to any carve out agreed to by the ABL Lender; provided that:
(a) the ABL Lender does not oppose or object to such use of cash collateral or DIP
Financing,
(b) the aggregate principal amount of such DIP Financing, together with the ABL Debt as
of such date, does not exceed the principal component of Maximum Priority ABL Debt, and the
DIP Financing is treated as ABL Debt under the Intercreditor Agreement,
(c) the Liens granted to the ABL Secured Parties or Qualified Financier in connection
with such DIP Financing are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and considered to be
Liens of ABL Lender for purposes of the Intercreditor Agreement,
(d) the Collateral Agent retains a Lien on the ABL Collateral (including proceeds
thereof) with the same priority as existed prior to such Insolvency or liquidation
proceeding (except to the extent of any carve out agreed to by the ABL Lender),
(e) the Collateral Agent receives replacement Liens on all assets, including
post-petition assets, of any Liggett Guarantor in which any of the ABL Lender obtains a
replacement Lien, or which secure the DIP Financing, with the same priority relative to the
Liens of ABL Lender as existed prior to such Insolvency or liquidation proceeding, and
(f) the Noteholder Secured Parties may oppose or object to such use of cash collateral
or DIP Financing on the same bases as an unsecured creditor, so long as such opposition or
objection is not based on the Noteholder Secured Parties status as secured creditors.
(ii) no Noteholder Secured Party shall, directly or indirectly, provide, or seek to provide,
DIP Financing secured by Liens equal or senior in priority to the Liens on the ABL Collateral of
ABL Lender, without the prior written consent of ABL Lender.
Relief from the Automatic Stay. The Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the other
Noteholder Secured Parties, agreed that, so long as the Discharge of Priority Debt has not
occurred, no Noteholder Secured Party shall, without the prior written consent of the ABL Lender,
seek or request relief from or modification of the automatic stay or any other stay in any
Insolvency or liquidation proceeding in respect of any part of the ABL Collateral, any proceeds
thereof or any Lien securing any of the Noteholder Debt. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, no Liggett Guarantor will waive or shall be deemed to
have waived any rights under Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Adequate Protection. The Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Noteholder
Secured Parties, agreed that none of them shall object, contest, or support any other Person
objecting to or contesting, (i) any request by the ABL Lender or any of the other ABL Secured
Parties for adequate protection of the First Priority Debt or any adequate protection provided to
the ABL Lender or other ABL Secured Parties with respect to the First Priority Debt or (ii) any
objection by the ABL Lender or any of the other ABL Secured Parties to any motion, relief, action
or proceeding based on a claim of a lack of adequate protection for the First Priority Debt or
(iii) the payment of
35
interest, fees, expenses or other amounts to the ABL Lender or any other ABL Secured Party
with respect to the First Priority Debt under Section 506(b) or 506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code or
otherwise.
The Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Noteholder Secured Parties, agreed
that none of them shall seek or accept adequate protection with respect to the Noteholder Debt
secured by Liens on the ABL Collateral without the prior written consent of the ABL Lender; except,
that, the Collateral Agent, for itself or on behalf of the other Noteholder Secured Parties, or the
Noteholder Secured Parties shall be permitted (i) to obtain adequate protection in the form of the
benefit of additional or replacement Liens on the ABL Collateral (including proceeds thereof
arising after the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding), or additional or
replacement ABL Collateral to secure the Noteholder Debt, in connection with any DIP Financing or
use of cash collateral as provided for in Bankruptcy Financing above, or in connection with
any such adequate protection obtained by ABL Lender and the other ABL Secured Parties, as long as
in each case, the ABL Lender is also granted such additional or replacement Liens or additional or
replacement ABL Collateral and such Liens of Collateral Agent or any other Noteholder Secured Party
are subordinated to the Liens securing the ABL Debt to the same extent as the Liens of Collateral
Agent and the other Noteholder Secured Parties on the ABL Collateral are subordinated to the Liens
of ABL Lender and the other ABL Secured Parties under the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) to
obtain adequate protection in the form of reports, notices, inspection rights and similar forms of
adequate protection to the extent granted to the ABL Lender.
Reorganization Securities. If, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, debt obligations
of any reorganized Liggett Guarantor secured by Liens upon any property of such reorganized Liggett
Guarantor are distributed, pursuant to a plan of reorganization, on account of both the ABL Debt
and the Noteholder Debt, then, to the extent the debt obligations distributed on account of the ABL
Debt and on account of the Noteholder Debt are secured by Liens upon the same assets or property,
the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement will survive the distribution of such debt
obligations pursuant to such plan and will apply with like effect to the Liens securing such debt
obligations.
Separate Classes. The ABL Lender, the ABL Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent irrevocably
acknowledged and agreed that (i) the claims and interests of the ABL Secured Parties and the
Noteholder Secured Parties will not be substantially similar within the meaning of Section 1122
of the Bankruptcy Code, or any comparable provision of any other Bankruptcy Law, (ii) the grants of
the Liens to secure the ABL Debt and the grants of the Liens to secure the Noteholder Debt will
constitute two separate and distinct grants of Liens, (iii) the ABL Secured Parties rights in the
ABL Collateral will be fundamentally different from the Noteholder Secured Parties rights in the
ABL Collateral and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, among other things, the ABL Debt and the
Noteholder Debt shall be separately classified in any plan of reorganization proposed or adopted in
any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding.
Asset Dispositions. Until the Discharge of Priority Debt has occurred, the Collateral Agent,
for itself and on behalf of the other Noteholder Secured Parties, agreed that, in the event of any
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, the Noteholder Secured Parties will not object or oppose (or
support any Person in objecting or opposing) a motion to any sale, lease, license, exchange,
transfer or other disposition of any ABL Collateral free and clear of the Liens of Collateral Agent
and the other Noteholder Secured Parties or other claims under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code,
or any comparable provision of any Bankruptcy Law and shall be deemed to have consented to any such
any sale, lease, license, exchange, transfer or other disposition of any ABL Collateral under
Section 363(f) of the Bankruptcy Code that has been consented to by the ABL Lender; provided that
the proceeds of such sale, lease, license, exchange, transfer or other disposition of any ABL
Collateral to be applied to the ABL Debt or the Noteholder Debt are applied in accordance with
Application of Proceeds. Nothing in the Intercreditor Agreement shall prevent the Collateral Agent
or the Noteholder Secured Parties from taking Permitted Actions or action permitted under the
Intercreditor Agreement to unsecured creditors.
Preference Issues. If, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, all or part
of any payment with respect to the First Priority Debt previously made shall be rescinded for any
reason whatsoever, then the First Priority Debt shall be reinstated to the extent of the amount so
rescinded and, if theretofore terminated, the Intercreditor Agreement shall be reinstated in full
force and effect and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or
otherwise affect the Lien priorities and the relative rights and obligations of the ABL Secured
Parties and the Noteholder Secured Parties provided for therein.
36
If, in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding or otherwise, all or part of any payment with
respect to the Noteholder Debt previously made shall be rescinded for any reason whatsoever and the
Discharge of Priority Debt shall, subject to (for the avoidance of doubt) the immediately preceding
paragraph above, have occurred, then the Noteholder Debt shall be reinstated to the extent of the
amount so rescinded and, if theretofore terminated, the Intercreditor Agreement shall be reinstated
in full force and effect and such prior termination shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair
or otherwise affect the Lien priorities and the relative rights and obligations of the Noteholder
Secured Parties and any Person that holds ABL Excess Debt provided for in the Intercreditor
Agreement solely with respect to any ABL Excess Claims and for the avoidance of doubt, not with
respect to any First Priority Debt.
Certain Waivers as to Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code. The Collateral Agent, for
itself and on behalf of the other Noteholder Secured Parties, waived any claim any Noteholder
Secured Party may hereafter have against any ABL Secured Party arising out of the election by any
ABL Secured Party of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code, or any
comparable provision of any other Bankruptcy Law. The ABL Lender, for itself and on behalf of the
other ABL Secured Parties, will waive any claim any ABL Secured Party may hereafter have against
any Noteholder Secured Party arising out of the election by any Noteholder Secured Party of the
application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provision of any other
Bankruptcy Law.
Postponement of Subrogation. The Collateral Agent agreed that no payment or distribution to
any ABL Secured Party pursuant to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall entitle any
Noteholder Secured Party to exercise any rights of subrogation in respect thereof until the
Discharge of Priority Debt shall have occurred. Following the Discharge of Priority Debt, the
Intercreditor Agreement provides that each the ABL Lender agreed to execute such documents,
agreements, and instruments as the Collateral Agent or any Noteholder Secured Party may reasonably
request to evidence the transfer by subrogation to any the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the
Noteholder Secured Parties, of an interest in the First Priority Debt resulting from payments or
distributions to such ABL Secured Party by such Person, so long as all reasonable costs and
expenses (including all reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred in connection therewith
by such ABL Secured Party are paid by such Person upon request for payment thereof. Noteholder
Secured Parties waived any and all rights to have any ABL Collateral or any part thereof granted to
or held by ABL Lender marshaled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of such ABL Collateral by
ABL Lender or any Liggett Guarantor with the consent of ABL Lender and ABL Secured Parties waived
any and all rights to have any ABL Collateral or any part thereof granted to or held by Collateral
Agent or any other Noteholder Secured Party marshaled upon any foreclosure or other disposition of
such ABL Collateral by Collateral Agent or any Noteholder Secured Party or any Liggett Guarantor
with the consent of Noteholder Secured Parties, in each case subject to the other terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement.
Purchase Option
Exercise of Option. The Intercreditor Agreement also provides that on or after the occurrence
and during the continuance of an ABL Event of Default and either the acceleration of all of the ABL
Debt or the receipt by Collateral Agent of written notice from ABL Lender of its intention to
commence a Lien Enforcement Action as provided in Purchase Option Notice from ABL Lender
Prior to Lien Enforcement Action below, the Noteholder Secured Parties shall have the option at
any time within ninety (90) days of such acceleration or written notice, upon five (5) business
days prior written notice by Collateral Agent to ABL Lender, to purchase all (but not less than
all) of the ABL Debt from the ABL Secured Parties. Such notice from Collateral Agent to ABL Lender
shall be irrevocable.
Purchase and Sale. On the date specified by Collateral Agent in the notice referred to in
Purchase Option Exercise of Option above (which shall not be less than five (5) business days,
nor more than twenty (20) days, after the receipt by ABL Lender of the notice from Collateral Agent
of its election to exercise such option), ABL Secured Parties shall, subject to any required
approval of any court or other regulatory or governmental authority then in effect (the time to
obtain any such approval shall extend the proposed date of sale and purchase), if any, sell to
Noteholder Secured Parties, and Noteholder Secured Parties shall purchase from ABL Secured Parties,
all of the ABL Debt. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Intercreditor
Agreement, in connection with any such purchase and sale, ABL Secured Parties shall retain all
rights under the ABL Documents to be indemnified or held harmless by the ABL Loan Parties in
accordance with the terms thereof.
37
Payment of Purchase Price. Upon the date of such purchase and sale, Noteholder Secured
Parties shall (i) pay to ABL Lender for the account of the ABL Secured Parties as the purchase
price therefor the full amount of all of the ABL Debt then outstanding and unpaid (including
principal, interest, fees and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees and legal expenses),
(ii) furnish cash collateral to ABL Lender in such amounts as ABL Lender determines is reasonably
necessary to secure ABL Secured Parties in connection with any issued and outstanding letters of
credit issued under the ABL Documents (but not in any event in an amount greater than one hundred
five (105%) percent of the aggregate undrawn face amount of such letters of credit) (ABL Lender
agreed to refund this cash collateral to the Noteholder Secured Parties to the extent any letter of
credit expires or is terminated or any amount is reimbursed from other sources), and (iii) agree to
reimburse ABL Secured Parties for any loss, cost, damage or expense (including reasonable
attorneys fees and legal expenses) in connection with any commissions, fees, costs or expenses
related to any issued and outstanding letters of credit as described above and any checks or other
payments provisionally credited to the ABL Debt, and/or as to which ABL Secured Parties have not
yet received final payment.
Such purchase price and cash collateral shall be remitted by wire transfer in federal funds to
such bank account of ABL Lender as ABL Lender may designate in writing to Collateral Agent for such
purpose. Interest shall be calculated to but excluding the business day on which such purchase and
sale shall occur if the amounts so paid by Noteholder Secured Parties to the bank account
designated by ABL Lender are received in such bank account prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time
and interest shall be calculated to and including such business day if the amounts so paid by
Noteholder Secured Parties to the bank account designated by ABL Lender are received in such bank
account later than 12:00 noon, New York City time.
Representations Upon Purchase and Sale. Such purchase shall be expressly made without
representation or warranty of any kind by ABL Secured Parties as to the ABL Debt, the ABL
Collateral or otherwise and without recourse to ABL Secured Parties, except that each ABL Secured
Party shall represent and warrant, severally, as to it: (i) the amount of the ABL Debt being
purchased from it are as reflected in the books and records of such ABL Secured Party (but without
representation or warranty as to the collectibility, validity or enforceability thereof), (ii) that
such ABL Secured Party owns the ABL Debt being sold by it free and clear of any liens or
encumbrances and (iii) such ABL Secured Party has the right to assign the ABL Debt being sold by it
and the assignment is duly authorized. Upon the purchase by Noteholder Secured Parties of the ABL
Debt, Noteholder Secured Parties agree to indemnify and hold ABL Secured Parties harmless from and
against all loss, cost, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys fees and legal expenses)
suffered or incurred by ABL Secured Parties arising from or in any way relating to acts or
omissions of Collateral Agent or any of the other Noteholder Secured Parties after the purchase.
Subject to the foregoing, ABL Secured Parties shall execute and deliver such instruments of
transfer and other documents as shall be necessary or desirable to fully vest title to the ABL Debt
in the Noteholder Secured Parties (or their designee) and to effectively transfer all Liens
securing the ABL Debt to the Noteholder Secured Parties (or their designee).
Notice from ABL Lender Prior to Lien Enforcement Action. ABL Lender agreed that it will give
Collateral Agent ten (10) business days prior written notice of its intention to commence a Lien
Enforcement Action. In the event that during such ten (10) business day period, Collateral Agent
shall send to ABL Lender the irrevocable notice of the intention of the Noteholder Secured Parties
to exercise the purchase option given by ABL Secured Parties to Noteholder Secured Parties under
Purchase Option, ABL Secured Parties shall not commence any foreclosure or other action to
sell or otherwise realize upon the ABL Collateral, provided, that, the purchase and sale with
respect to the ABL Debt provided for herein shall have closed within thirty (30) business days
thereafter and ABL Secured Parties shall have received final payment in full of the ABL Debt as
provided for herein within such thirty (30) business day period.
Certain Definitions used in the Intercreditor Agreement
ABL Documents shall mean, collectively, the Liggett Credit Agreement and all agreements,
documents and instruments at any time executed and/or delivered by any Liggett Guarantor to, with
or in favor of any ABL Secured Party in connection therewith, as all of the foregoing now exist or
may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated, refinanced, replaced
or restructured (in whole or in part and including any agreements with, to or in favor of any other
lender or group of lenders that at any time refinances, replaces or succeeds to all or any portion
of the ABL Debt) in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
38
ABL Debt shall mean all Obligations as such term is defined in the Liggett Credit
Agreement, including, without limitation, obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every kind,
nature and description owing by any Liggett Guarantor to any ABL Secured Party, including
principal, interest, charges, fees, premiums, indemnities and expenses, however evidenced, whether
as principal, surety, endorser, guarantor or otherwise, arising under any of the ABL Documents,
whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether arising before, during or after the initial or
any renewal term of the ABL Documents or after the commencement of any case with respect to any
Liggett Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any other Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding (and
including, without limitation, any principal, interest, fees, costs, expenses and other amounts,
which would accrue and become due but for the commencement of such case, whether or not such
amounts are allowed or allowable in whole or in part in such case or similar proceeding), whether
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or not due, primary or secondary,
liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured.
ABL Event of Default shall mean any Event of Default as defined in the Liggett Credit
Agreement.
ABL Lender shall mean, collectively, Wachovia Bank, National Association and any other
lender or group of lenders that at any time refinances, replaces or succeeds to all or any portion
of the ABL Debt or is otherwise party to the ABL Documents as a lender in accordance with the terms
of the Intercreditor Agreement.
ABL Loan Parties shall mean, collectively, (i) Liggett Group LLC, (ii) 100 Maple LLC and
(iii) their respective successors and permitted assigns.
ABL Secured Parties shall mean, collectively, (i) the ABL Lender, (ii) the issuing bank or
banks of letters of credit or similar instruments under the Liggett Credit Agreement, (iii) each
other person to whom any of the ABL Debt (including ABL Debt constituting Bank Product Obligations)
is owed and (iv) the successors, replacements and assigns of each of the foregoing; sometimes being
referred to herein individually as a ABL Secured Party.
Bank Product Obligations shall mean Cash Management Obligations and Hedging Obligations.
Cash Management Obligations shall mean, with respect to any Liggett Guarantor, the
obligations of such Liggett Guarantor in connection with (i) credit cards or (ii) cash management
or related services, including (1) the automated clearinghouse transfer of funds or overdrafts or
(2) controlled disbursement services.
DIP Financing shall have the meaning set forth in Bankruptcy Financing.
Discharge of ABL Debt shall mean (i) the termination or expiration of the commitments of ABL
Lender and the financing arrangements provided by ABL Lender to the ABL Loan Parties under the ABL
Documents, (ii) except to the extent otherwise provided in Application of Proceeds and
Turnover, the payment in full in cash of the ABL Debt (other than (1) the ABL Debt described in
clause (c) of this definition, (2) contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claim has
been made and (3) obligations under agreements with ABL Secured Parties which continue
notwithstanding the termination of the commitments and repayment of the ABL Debt described herein),
and (ii) payment in full in cash of cash collateral, or at ABL Lenders option, the delivery to ABL
Lender of a letter of credit payable to ABL Lender, in either case as required under the terms of
the Liggett Credit Agreement, in respect of letters of credit issued under the ABL Documents and
Bank Product Obligations.
Discharge of Priority Noteholder Debt shall mean, except to the extent otherwise provided in
Application of Proceeds and Turnover, the final payment in full in cash of the Noteholder
Debt.
Discharge of Priority Debt shall mean, except to the extent otherwise provided in
Application of Proceeds and Turnover, the final payment in full in cash of the First Priority
Debt (other than as described in the definition of Discharge of ABL Debt).
Excess ABL Debt means ABL Debt which does not constitute First Priority Debt.
First Priority Debt means ABL Debt to the extent it constitutes Maximum Priority ABL Debt.
39
Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding shall mean (i) any voluntary or involuntary case or
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law with respect to any Liggett Guarantor, (ii) any other voluntary
or involuntary insolvency, reorganization or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership,
liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding with respect to any Liggett
Guarantor or with respect to any of their respective assets, (iii) any proceeding seeking the
appointment of any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other insolvency official with
similar powers with respect to such Person or any or all of its assets or properties, (iv) any
liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or winding up of any Liggett Guarantor whether voluntary
or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy or (v) any assignment for the
benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of any Liggett Guarantor.
Lien Enforcement Action shall mean (i) any action by any ABL Secured Party or Noteholder
Secured Party to foreclose on the Lien of such Person in all or a material portion of the ABL
Collateral or exercise any right of repossession, levy, attachment, setoff or liquidation against
all or a material portion of the ABL Collateral, (ii) any action by any ABL Secured Party or
Noteholder Secured Party to take possession of, sell or otherwise realize (judicially or non
judicially) upon all or a material portion of the ABL Collateral (including, without limitation, by
setoff), (iii) any action by any ABL Secured Party or Noteholder Secured Party to facilitate the
possession of, sale of or realization upon all or a material portion of the ABL Collateral
including the solicitation of bids from third parties to conduct the liquidation of all or any
material portion of the ABL Collateral, the engagement or retention of sales brokers, marketing
agents, investment bankers, accountants, auctioneers or other third parties for the purpose of
valuing, marketing, promoting or selling all or any material portion of the ABL Collateral, (iv)
the commencement by any ABL Secured Party or Noteholder Secured Party of any legal proceedings
against or with respect to all or a material portion of the ABL Collateral to facilitate the
actions described in (i) through (iii) above, or (v) any action to seek or request relief from or
modification of the automatic stay or any other stay in any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding in
respect of all or a material portion of the ABL Collateral, or any proceeds thereof. For the
purposes of this definition, (1) the notification of account debtors to make payments to ABL Lender
shall constitute a Lien Enforcement Action if and only if such action is coupled with an action to
take possession of all or a material portion of the ABL Collateral or the commencement of any legal
proceedings or actions against or with respect to the ABL Loan Parties of all or a material portion
of the ABL Collateral, and (2) a material portion of the ABL Collateral shall mean ABL Collateral
having a value in excess of $10,000,000.
Maximum Priority ABL Debt shall mean, as of any date of determination, (i) principal of the
ABL Debt (including undrawn amounts under any letters of credit issued under the ABL Documents) up
to $65,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding, plus (ii) any interest on such amount
(and including, without limitation, any interest which would accrue and become due but for the
commencement of Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not such amounts are allowed or
allowable in whole or in part in such case or similar proceeding), plus (iii) the Maximum Priority
Cash Management Obligations, plus (iv) the Maximum Priority Hedging Obligations, plus (v) any fees,
costs, expenses and indemnities payable under any of the ABL Documents (and including, without
limitation, any fees, costs, expenses and indemnities which would accrue and become due but for the
commencement of Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding, whether or not such amounts are allowed or
allowable in whole or in part in such case or similar proceeding) minus (vi) the amount of all
permanent reductions in the commitments under the ABL Documents and minus (vii) the amount of all
permanent repayments of ABL Debt to the extent such repayments result in a reduction of the
commitments under the ABL Documents.
Maximum Priority Cash Management Obligations shall mean, as of any date of determination,
the amount of the ABL Debt constituting Cash Management Obligations outstanding on such date, up to
$5,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding.
Maximum Priority Hedging Obligations shall mean, as of any date of determination, the amount
of the ABL Debt constituting Hedging Obligations outstanding on such date, up to $5,000,000 in the
aggregate at any one time outstanding.
Noteholder Debt shall mean all Obligations, including, without limitation, obligations,
liabilities and indebtedness of every kind, nature and description owing by the Company or any of
the Guarantors to any Noteholder Secured Party, including principal, interest, charges, fees,
premiums, indemnities and expenses, however evidenced, whether as principal, surety, endorser,
guarantor or otherwise, arising under any of the Noteholder Documents, whether now existing or
hereafter arising, whether arising before, during or after the initial or any
40
renewal term of the Noteholder Documents or after the commencement of any case with respect to
the Company or any Guarantors under the Bankruptcy Code or any other Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding (and including, without limitation, any principal, interest, fees, costs, expenses and
other amounts, which would accrue and become due but for the commencement of such case, whether or
not such amounts are allowed or allowable in whole or in part in such case or similar proceeding),
whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or not due, primary or
secondary, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured.
Noteholder Secured Parties shall mean, collectively, (i) the trustee, solely in its capacity
as trustee under the indenture and the other Noteholder Documents, (ii) each holder of any note or
notes, solely in its capacity as such holder, and each other person to whom any of the Noteholder
Debt is transferred or owed, solely in its capacity as such, (iii) the Collateral Agent, and (iv)
the successors, replacements and assigns of each of the foregoing; sometimes being referred to in
Intercreditor Agreement individually, as a Noteholder Secured Party.
Permitted Actions shall mean any of the following: (i) in any Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceeding, filing a proof of claim or statement of interest with respect to the Noteholder Debt or
Excess ABL Debt, as the case may be; (ii) taking any action to preserve or protect the validity,
enforceability, perfection or priority of the Liens securing the Noteholder Debt or the Excess ABL
Debt, as the case may be, provided that no such action is, or could reasonably be expected to be,
(1) as to any action by any Noteholder Secured Party, adverse to the Liens securing the First
Priority Debt or the rights of the ABL Lender or any other ABL Secured Party to exercise remedies
in respect thereof to the extent not expressly prohibited by this Agreement, (2) as to any action
by any ABL Secured Party, adverse to the Liens securing the Noteholder Debt or the rights of the
Collateral Agent or any other Noteholder Secured Party to exercise remedies in respect thereof to
the extent not expressly prohibited by the Intercreditor Agreement, or (3) otherwise inconsistent
with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, including the automatic release of Liens provided in
Release of Liens; (iii) filing any responsive or defensive pleadings in opposition to any
motion, claim, adversary proceeding or other pleading made by any Person objecting to or otherwise
seeking the disallowance of the claims of the Noteholder Secured Parties or the claims of the ABL
Secured Parties with respect to Excess ABL Debt, including any claims secured by the ABL Collateral
or otherwise making any agreements or filing any motions pertaining to the Noteholder Debt or
Excess ABL Debt, in each case, to the extent not inconsistent with the terms of the Intercreditor
Agreement; (iv) exercising rights and remedies as unsecured creditors, as further provided in the
Intercreditor Agreement; and (v) the enforcement by the Collateral Agent and the Noteholder Secured
Parties of any of their rights and exercise any of their remedies with respect to the ABL
Collateral after the termination of the Standstill Period (as defined in Exercise of Rights and
Remedies; Standstill) or the enforcement by the ABL Lender or the ABL Secured Parties of any of
their rights and exercise of any of their remedies with respect to the ABL Collateral after
Discharge of Priority Noteholder Debt.
Qualified Financier shall mean (i) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United
States, or any state thereof, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000, (ii) a commercial
bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development or a political subdivision of any such country and which has
total assets in excess of $500,000,000; provided that such bank is acting through a branch or
agency located in the United States, and (iii) a commercial finance company, insurance company or
other financial institution that is engaged in making, purchasing or otherwise investing in
commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and having total assets in excess of
$500,000,000
Uniform Commercial Code or UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in
effect in the State of New York.
Collateral Documents
The Guarantors and the Collateral Agent entered into Collateral Documents granting in favor of
the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the notes Liens on the Collateral securing
the Note Guarantees.
Whether prior to or after the First Priority Debt has been paid in full, assets included in
the Collateral may be released from the Liens securing the Note Guarantees under any one or more of
the following circumstances:
(1) the sale, lease, sublease, license, sublicense, conveyance or other disposition of
products, services, inventory, or accounts receivable and related assets (including
participations therein) in the
41
ordinary course of business, including leases with respect to facilities that are
temporarily not in use or pending their disposition, and any sale or other disposition of
damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business or any other
property that is uneconomic or no longer useful to the conduct of the business of the
Company or the Guarantors, which such transactions are expressly permitted under the
indenture;
(2) as to any Collateral that is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by such
Guarantor to a Person that is not (either before or after such sale, transfer or
disposition) the Company or a Guarantor in a transaction or other circumstance that complies
with the provisions of the indenture described below under Certain Covenants Asset
Sales and is permitted by the Noteholder Documents and the ABL Documents (as defined above
under Intercreditor Agreement); provided that such Liens will not be released if such
sale or disposition is subject to the covenant described below under the caption Certain
Covenants Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets;
(3) if any Guarantor is released from its Note Guarantee, that Guarantors assets will
also be released from the Liens securing the Note Guarantee;
(4) with the consent of the holders of the requisite percentage of notes in accordance
with the provisions of the indenture described below under Amendment, Supplement and
Waiver; or
(5) if required in connection with certain foreclosure actions by the ABL Lender in
respect of First Priority Debt in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
The Liens on all Collateral that secure the Note Guarantees also may be released:
(1) upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the notes as described below
under Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance;
(2) upon satisfaction and discharge of the indenture described below under
Satisfaction and Discharge; or
(3) upon payment in full and discharge of all notes outstanding under the indenture and
all Obligations that are outstanding, due and payable under the indenture at the time the
notes are paid in full and discharged.
Optional Redemption
At any time prior to August 15, 2010, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up
to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of notes issued under the indenture at a redemption price
of 111% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of a sale of common Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the Company; provided that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of notes originally issued under the
indenture (excluding notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries) remains outstanding
immediately after the occurrence of such redemption; and
(2) the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such sale of
Equity Interests.
At any time prior to August 15, 2011, the Company may redeem all or a part of the notes upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
principal amount of notes to be redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to, the applicable redemption date, subject to the rights
of holders of notes on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest
payment date.
42
Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the notes will not be redeemable at the Companys
option prior to August 15, 2011.
On or after August 15, 2011, the Company may redeem all or a part of the notes upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
on the notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month
period beginning on August 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of holders of
notes on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date:
|
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
Percentage |
2011 |
|
|
105.500 |
% |
2012 |
|
|
103.667 |
% |
2013 |
|
|
101.833 |
% |
2014 and thereafter |
|
|
100.000 |
% |
Unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to
accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption on the applicable redemption date.
Mandatory Redemption; Open Market Purchases
The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect
to the notes. The Company may at any time and from time to time purchase notes in the open market
or otherwise provided any such purchase does not otherwise violate the provisions of the indenture.
Repurchase at the Option of Holders
Change of Control
If a Change of Control occurs, each holder of notes will have the right to require the Company
to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of that holders
notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer on the terms set forth in the indenture. In the Change
of Control Offer, the Company will offer a Change of Control Payment in cash equal to 101% of the
aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated
Damages, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of holders
of notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each holder
describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to
repurchase notes on the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice, which date will be
no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to
the procedures required by the indenture and described in such notice. The Company will comply
with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and
regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with
the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions
of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the
indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not
be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the indenture
by virtue of such compliance.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the
Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in
respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and
43
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted
together with an officers certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or
portions of notes being purchased by the Company.
The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes properly tendered the Change of
Control Payment for such notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be
transferred by book entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased
portion of the notes surrendered, if any. The Company will publicly announce the results of the
Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
The provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of Control Offer
following a Change of Control will be applicable whether or not any other provisions of the
indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the
indenture does not contain provisions that permit the holders of the notes to require that the
Company repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar
transaction.
The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if
(1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in
compliance with the requirements set forth in the indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer
made by the Company and purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of
Control Offer, or (2) notice of redemption has been given pursuant to the indenture as described
above under the caption Optional Redemption, unless and until there is a default in payment of
the applicable redemption price. A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of
Control, conditional upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the
Change of Control at the time of the Change of Control Offer. Notes repurchased pursuant to a
Change of Control Offer will be retired and cancelled.
The definition of Change of Control as used in the indenture includes a phrase relating to the
direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although
there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase substantially all, there is no
precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a
holder of notes to require the Company to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.
The Change of Control provisions described above may deter certain mergers, tender offers and
other takeover attempts involving the Company by increasing the capital required to effectuate such
transactions.
Asset Sales
Other than as set forth below, neither the Company nor any Guarantor will consummate an Asset
Sale unless:
(1) The Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, receives consideration at the
time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity
Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and (2) at least 75% of the
consideration received in the Asset Sale by the Company or such Guarantor is in the form of
cash. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:
(a)
any liabilities, as
shown on the Companys most recent consolidated balance
sheet, of the Company or any Guarantor (other than contingent liabilities and
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or any Note Guarantee)
that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a customary
novation agreement that releases the Company or such Guarantor from further
liability;
44
(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or
any such Guarantor from such transferee that are, subject to ordinary settlement
periods, converted by the Company or such Guarantor into cash within 90 days of such
Asset Sale, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion; and
(c) any stock or assets of the kind referred to in clauses (2) or (4) of the
next paragraph of this covenant.
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale, other than a Sale of
Collateral, the Company (or the applicable Guarantor, as the case may be) may apply such Net
Proceeds at its option:
(1) to repay Indebtedness and other Obligations under the Liggett Credit Agreement and
correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto;
(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, or any Capital Stock of,
another business, if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, the
business is or becomes a Guarantor;
(3) to make a capital expenditure; or
(4) to acquire other assets that are not classified as current assets under GAAP and
that are used or useful in the conduct of the Companys or any Guarantors business.
Notwithstanding the above, the Company may consummate any Asset Sale with respect to assets
other than Equity Interests in, or assets of, any Guarantor without complying with the provisions
of this covenant.
With respect to an Asset Sale that constitutes a Sale of Collateral, within 365 days after the
receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale that constitutes a Sale of Collateral, the Guarantor
that owned those assets, as the case may be, may apply those Net Proceeds to purchase other
long-term assets that would constitute Collateral or to repay First Priority Debt and, if such
First Priority Debt is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with
respect thereto.
Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce
revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not
prohibited by the indenture.
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the second
paragraph of this covenant will constitute Excess Proceeds. When the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $10.0 million, within five days thereof, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer
to all holders of Parity Lien Debt and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with
the notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the indenture with respect to offers
to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets to purchase the maximum principal amount
of Parity Lien Debt and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess
Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to percentages corresponding to
the applicable optional redemption price in effect on the repurchase date, and for periods prior to
August 15, 2011, the first optional redemption price of the principal amount plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of purchase, and will be payable in
cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company may use
those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the indenture. If the aggregate
principal amount of Parity Lien Debt and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset
Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the trustee will select the Parity Lien Debt and
other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of each Asset
Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any
other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are
applicable in connection with each repurchase of notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the
extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sale
provisions of the indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable
45
securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under
the Asset Sale provisions of the indenture by virtue of such compliance.
The Liggett Credit Agreement and the agreements governing the Companys other Indebtedness
contain, and future agreements may contain, prohibitions of certain events, including events that
would constitute a Change of Control or an Asset Sale. The exercise by the holders of notes of
their right to require the Company to repurchase the notes upon a Change of Control or an Asset
Sale could cause a default under these other agreements, even if the Change of Control or Asset
Sale itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchases on the Company. In the event
a Change of Control or Asset Sale occurs at a time when the Company is unable to the purchase notes
due to such conditions or financial effects, the Company could attempt to refinance the borrowings
that contain such conditions or cause or contribute to such financial effects or obtain a waiver or
consent with respect to such conditions. If the Company does not obtain such a waiver or consent
or repay those borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In that case,
the Companys failure to purchase tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default under the
indenture which could, in turn, constitute a default under the other Indebtedness. Finally, the
Companys ability to pay cash to the holders of notes upon a repurchase may be limited by the
Companys then existing financial resources. See Risk Factors Risks Relating to the Notes Our
ability to purchase the notes with cash at your option and our ability to satisfy our obligations
upon a change of control or an event of default may be limited.
Selection and Notice
If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select notes
for redemption on a pro rata basis unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange
requirements.
No notes of $1,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption will be mailed by
first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of
notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more
than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of
the notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the indenture. Notices of redemption may not be
conditional.
If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that note
will state the portion of the principal amount of that note that is to be redeemed. A new note in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note will be issued in the name of
the holder of notes upon cancellation of the original note. Notes called for redemption become due
on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on
notes or portions of notes called for redemption.
Certain Covenants
Restricted Payments
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, directly or indirectly:
(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of
the Companys or such Guarantors Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any
payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any
Guarantor) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Companys or any such Guarantors
Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in
Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company and other than dividends or
any other payments or distributions payable to the Company or a Guarantor);
(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without
limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity
Interests of the Company;
(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise
acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is
contractually
46
subordinated to the notes or to any Note Guarantee (excluding any intercompany
Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of the Guarantors), except a payment of
interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or
(4) make any Restricted Investment
(all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being
collectively referred to as Restricted Payments),
unless at the time of such Restricted Payment, the Companys Consolidated EBITDA for the most
recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available is
no less than $50.0 million, provided that the Company shall not be permitted to make any
distribution or dividend of any Equity Interests in, or non-cash assets of, any Guarantor.
The preceding provisions will not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend or other distribution or the consummation of any
irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or other
distribution or giving of the redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of
declaration or notice, the dividend or other distribution or redemption payment would have
complied with the provisions of the indenture;
(2) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby,
the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the
substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity
Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially
concurrent contribution of common equity capital to the Company;
(3) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby,
the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of
Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is contractually subordinated to the notes
or to any Note Guarantee with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent
incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(4) the payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited
liability company, any similar distribution) by a Guarantor to the holders of its Equity
Interests on a pro rata basis;
(5) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock
options, warrants or other convertible or exchangeable securities to the extent such Equity
Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options, warrants or
other convertible or exchangeable securities;
(6) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby,
the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any
class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Guarantor issued on or after the
date of the indenture in accordance with the Leverage Ratio and Secured Leverage Ratio tests
described below under the caption Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock; and
(7) the distribution of the Equity Interests of Eve to the Company in order to
contribute such Equity Interests to Vector Tobacco, provided that Eve shall remain a
Guarantor.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market Value on the
date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued
by the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair
Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this covenant will be
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company whose resolution with respect thereto will be
delivered to the trustee. The Board of Directors
47
determination must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or
investment banking firm of national standing if the Fair Market Value exceeds $10.0 million.
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue,
assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise,
with respect to (collectively, incur) any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), and the Company
will not issue any Disqualified Stock and none of the Guarantors will issue any shares of preferred
stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or
issue Disqualified Stock, and the Guarantors may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or
issue preferred stock, if the Leverage Ratio and the Secured Leverage Ratio for the Companys most
recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available
immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such
Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, would have been no greater
than 3.0 to 1.0 in respect of the Leverage Ratio and 1.5 to 1.0 in respect of the Secured Leverage
Ratio, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds
therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the Disqualified Stock or
preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four quarter period.
The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following
items of Indebtedness (collectively, Permitted Debt):
(1) the incurrence by the Company and any of the Guarantors of additional Indebtedness
and letters of credit under Credit Facilities in an aggregate principal amount at any one
time outstanding under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a
principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and the Guarantors
thereunder) not to exceed $60.0 million less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of
Asset Sales applied by the Company or any of the Guarantors since the date of the indenture
to repay any term Indebtedness under a Credit Facility or to repay any revolving credit
Indebtedness under a Credit Facility and effect a corresponding commitment reduction
thereunder pursuant to the covenant described above under the caption Repurchase at the
Option of Holders Asset Sales;
(2) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of the Existing Indebtedness;
(3) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the
notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the date of the indenture and the
exchange notes and the related Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the registration
rights agreement;
(4) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund,
refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness (other than intercompany
Indebtedness) that was permitted by the indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph
of this covenant or clauses (2), (3) and (4) of this paragraph;
(5) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of intercompany Indebtedness
between or among the Company and any of the Guarantors; provided, however, that:
(i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any
such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Guarantor and
(ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not
either the Company or a Guarantor,
will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or
such Guarantor, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (5);
(6) the issuance by any of the Guarantors to the Company or to any of the Guarantors of
shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that:
48
(a) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
preferred stock being held by a Person other than the Company or a Guarantor; and
(b) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a Person that is not
either the Company or a Guarantor, will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance
of such preferred stock by such Guarantor that was not permitted by this clause (6);
(7) the guarantee by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of the
Company or a Guarantor that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this
covenant; provided that if the Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari
passu with the notes, then the Guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable,
to the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;
(8) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness in respect
of workers compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers acceptances,
performance and surety bonds, appeal or other similar bonds in the ordinary course of
business, and in any such case any reimbursement obligations in connection therewith;
(9) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness arising from
the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar
instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is
covered within five business days;
(10) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented
by Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other obligations, in each case
incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price, cost or value
of any equipment used in the business of the Company or any of the Guarantors, in an
aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to
renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant
to this clause (10), not to exceed $10.0 million at any time outstanding;
(11) the incurrence by the Company or any of the Guarantors of Hedging Obligations;
(12) indebtedness of the Company or any of the Guarantors to the extent the net
proceeds thereof are promptly deposited to defease or satisfy and discharge all outstanding
notes in full as described below under Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance and
Satisfaction and Discharge;
(13) obligations of the Company and any of the Guarantors arising from agreements of
the Company or a Guarantor providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or
similar obligations, in each case incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of
any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture, other than Guarantees by the Company or any Guarantor of Indebtedness incurred by
any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary of the
Company for the purpose of financing such acquisition; provided, however, that the maximum
aggregate liability in respect of all such obligations shall not exceed the gross proceeds,
including the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company of non-cash proceeds (the fair market value of such non-cash proceeds being measured
at the time received and without giving effect to any subsequent changes in value), actually
received by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with such disposition; or
(14) obligations of the Company and any of the Guarantors arising from the entering
into, maintaining or disposing of, Core Investments, including, without limitation,
purchasing of any Core Investment on margin, any capital call obligations, make-well
arrangements, hedging obligations of any nature or any obligations regarding a short
position in any of such Core Investments.
The Company will not incur, and will not permit any Guarantor to incur, any Indebtedness
(including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other
Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor unless such Indebtedness is also contractually
subordinated in right of payment to the notes and the applicable Note Guarantee on substantially
identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness will be deemed
49
to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company
solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of being secured on a first or junior Lien basis.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more
than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (14) above, or is
entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company will be
permitted to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later reclassify
all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this covenant.
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities outstanding on the date on which notes are first issued and
authenticated under the indenture will initially be deemed to have been incurred on such date in
reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt. Indebtedness
permitted by this covenant need not be permitted by reference to one provision permitting such
Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision and in part by one or more other
provisions of this covenant permitting such Indebtedness. The accrual of interest, the accretion
or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form
of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the reclassification of preferred stock as
Indebtedness due to a change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified
Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified Stock will not be deemed
to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock for purposes of this
covenant. Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the maximum amount of Indebtedness
that the Company or any Guarantor may incur pursuant to this covenant shall not be deemed to be
exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in exchange rates or currency values.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:
(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with
original issue discount;
(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness;
and
(3) in respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the
specified Person, the lesser of:
(a) the Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and
(b) the amount of the Indebtedness of the other Person.
Liens
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien of any kind on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted
Liens.
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist
or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Guarantor to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company
or any Guarantor, or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by,
its profits, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Guarantor;
(2) make loans or advances to the Company or any of the Guarantors; or
(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any
Guarantor.
50
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing
under or by reason of:
(1) agreements governing Existing Indebtedness and Credit Facilities as in effect on
the date of the indenture and any amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals,
supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements; provided that the
amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or
refinancings are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such
dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the date
of the indenture;
(2) the indenture, the notes, the Note Guarantees and the Collateral Documents;
(3) applicable law, rule, regulation or order;
(4) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the
Company or any of the Guarantors as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the
extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in
contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to
any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the
property or assets of the Person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of Indebtedness,
such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of the indenture to be incurred;
(5) customary non-assignment provisions in contracts, leases and licenses entered into
in the ordinary course of business or that restrict the subletting, assignment or transfer
of any property or asset that is subject to a lease, license or similar contract;
(6) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business
and Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or leased
of the nature described in clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;
(7) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Guarantor that restricts
distributions by that Guarantor pending the sale or other disposition;
(8) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the encumbrances and restrictions
contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not
materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements
governing the Indebtedness being refinanced as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company;
(9) Liens permitted to be incurred under the provisions of the covenant described above
under the caption Liens that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets
subject to such Liens;
(10) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint
venture agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale agreements
and other similar agreements entered into with the approval of the Companys Board of
Directors, which limitation is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such
agreements;
(11) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under
contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(12) provisions limiting the disposition or distribution of assets in joint venture
agreements entered into (i) in the ordinary course of business or (ii) with the approval of
the Companys or the Guarantors Board of Directors or chief financial officer, which
limitation or prohibition is applicable only to the assets that are the subject of such
agreements;
(13) net worth provisions in leases and other agreements entered into by the Company or
any Guarantor in the ordinary course of business; or
51
(14) agreements governing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to the
covenant described under Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock;
provided, that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith (such
determination to be evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors) that such
encumbrances and restrictions are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than
those in agreements in the Liggett Credit Agreement (as in effect on the date of the
indenture) and would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Company to make
payments of interest and scheduled payments of principal on the notes, in each case as and
when due, or to impair any Guarantors ability to honor its Note Guarantee.
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
The Company will not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another
Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation); or (2) sell, assign, transfer,
convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company
and the Guarantors taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person,
unless:
(1) either: (a) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (b) the Person formed by
or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such
sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is (i) a
corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the
United States or the District of Columbia or (ii) a limited partnership or limited liability
company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia that has a wholly-owned Subsidiary that is a corporation organized or
existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia,
which corporation becomes a co-issuer of the notes pursuant to a supplemental indenture duly
and validly executed by the trustee;
(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the notes, the
indenture, the registration rights agreement and the Collateral Documents pursuant to
agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee;
(3) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(4) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger
(if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or
other disposition has been made would, on the date of such transaction after giving pro
forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at
the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Leverage Ratio and Secured Leverage Ratio tests set
forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock.
In addition, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of
the properties and assets of it and the Guarantors taken as a whole, in one or more related
transactions, to any other Person.
This Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets covenant will not apply to:
(1) a merger of the Company with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating
the Company in another jurisdiction; or
(2) any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease
or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and any of the Guarantors that
are not any of the Liggett Guarantors.
52
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into any of
the Liggett Guarantors, nor sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and the Guarantors taken as a whole,
in one or more transactions, to any of the Liggett Guarantors.
Transactions with Affiliates
Except as set forth in the last paragraph of this covenant below, neither the Company nor any
Guarantor will make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its
properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend
any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the
benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an Affiliate Transaction), unless:
(1) the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or
the relevant Guarantor than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction
by the Company or such Guarantor with an unrelated Person; and
(2) the Company delivers to the trustee:
(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate
Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $3.0 million, a
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an officers
certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this covenant
and that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the
disinterested members, if any, of the Board of Directors of the Company; and
(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate
Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, an
opinion as to the fairness to the Company or such Guarantor of such Affiliate
Transaction from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or
investment banking firm of national standing.
The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not
be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:
(1) any consulting or employment agreement or arrangement, employee benefit plan,
officer indemnification agreement or any similar arrangement entered into by the Company or
any of the Guarantors and payments pursuant thereto;
(2) transactions between or among the Company and/or the Guarantors;
(3) transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company)
that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns, directly or through a
Guarantor, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such Person;
(4) payment of reasonable directors fees (including the issuance of restricted stock)
to directors of the Company and other reasonable compensation, benefits and indemnities paid
or provided by the Company to the directors of the Company in their capacities as directors;
(5) any sale, grant, award or issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Company, including the exercise of options and warrants, to Affiliates,
officers, directors or employees of the Company;
(6) Restricted Payments that do not violate the provisions of the indenture described
above under the caption Restricted Payments;
(7) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business not to exceed
$1.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
53
(8) Permitted Investments; and
(9) Accelerated Note Conversions.
If on the date of any Affiliate Transaction (other than an Affiliate Transaction between any
of the Liggett Guarantors and any Affiliate of the Company other than the Company or another
Guarantor) the Companys Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters
for which internal financial statements are available is no less than $50.0 million, the provisions
of this covenant shall not apply to the consummation of such Affiliate Transaction.
Additional Note Guarantees
If the Company or any of the Guarantors acquires or creates another Domestic Subsidiary after
the date of the indenture (i) engaged directly or indirectly in the cigarette businesses or (ii)
that is or becomes a borrower, obligor or guarantor under the Liggett Credit Agreement, then that
newly acquired or created Domestic Subsidiary will become a Guarantor and execute a supplemental
indenture and, in the case of (ii), Collateral Documents consistent with those entered into by the
Liggett Guarantors and deliver an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the trustee within 10 business
days of the date on which it was acquired or created.
Unrestricted Subsidiaries
In no event may the business operated by Liggett Group LLC on the date of the indenture be
transferred to or held by an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will enter into any sale and leaseback transaction;
provided that the Company or a Guarantor may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if:
(1) the Company or that Guarantor, as applicable, could have (a) incurred Indebtedness
in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such sale and leaseback transaction
under the Leverage Ratio and Secured Leverage Ratio tests in the first paragraph of the
covenant described above under the caption Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock and (b) incurred a Lien to secure such Indebtedness pursuant to the
covenant described above under the caption Liens;
(2) the gross cash proceeds of that sale and leaseback transaction are at least equal
to the Fair Market Value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company and set forth in an officers certificate delivered to the trustee, of the property
that is the subject of that sale and leaseback transaction; and
(3) the transfer of assets in that sale and leaseback transaction is permitted by, and
the Company applies the proceeds of such transaction in compliance with, the covenant
described above under the caption Repurchase at the Option of Holders Asset Sales.
Payments for Consent
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid
any consideration to or for the benefit of any holder of notes for or as an inducement to any
consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the indenture, the Collateral
Documents or the notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all holders
of the notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation
documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
54
Reports
Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any notes are
outstanding, the Company will furnish to the holders of notes or cause the trustee to furnish to
the holders of notes, within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and regulations:
(1) all quarterly and annual reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on
Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such reports; and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if
the Company were required to file such reports.
All such reports will be prepared in all material respects in accordance with all of the rules
and regulations applicable to such reports. Each annual report on Form 10-K will include a report
on the Companys consolidated financial statements by the Companys certified independent
accountants. In addition, the Company will file a copy of each of the reports referred to in
clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in
the rules and regulations applicable to such reports (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing)
and will post the reports on its website within those time periods.
If, at any time, the Company is no longer subject to the periodic reporting requirements of
the Exchange Act for any reason, the Company will nevertheless continue filing the reports
specified in the preceding paragraphs of this covenant with the SEC within the time periods
specified above unless the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company will not take any action
for the purpose of causing the SEC not to accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the
foregoing, the SEC will not accept the Companys filings for any reason, the Company will post the
reports referred to in the preceding paragraphs on its website within the time periods that would
apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC.
To the extent required by the SEC, the quarterly and annual financial information required by
the preceding paragraphs will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the
financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations
of the Company and the Guarantors separate from the financial condition and results of operations
of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.
In addition, the Company and the Guarantors agree that, for so long as any notes remain
outstanding, if at any time they are not required to file with the SEC the reports required by the
preceding paragraphs, they will furnish to the holders of notes and to securities analysts and
prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Events of Default and Remedies
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or Liquidated Damages,
if any, with respect to, the notes;
(2) default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the
principal of, or premium, if any, on, the notes, or default in the payment when due of a
Change of Control Payment;
(3) failure by the Company or any of the Guarantors for 30 days after notice to the
Company by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with the provisions described
under the captions Repurchase at the Option of Holders Asset Sales, Certain
Covenants Restricted Payments and Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness
and Issuance of Preferred Stock;
55
(4) failure by the Company or any of the Guarantors for 60 days after notice to the
Company by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
notes then outstanding voting as a single class to comply with any of the other agreements
in the indenture or the Collateral Documents;
(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued
or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the
Company or any of the Guarantors (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or
any of the Guarantors), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists, or is created
after the date of the indenture, if that default:
(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any,
on, such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such
Indebtedness on the date of such default (a Payment Default); or
(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity,
and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal
amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity
of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $10 million or more and such acceleration is not
annulled within 30 days thereof or such payment default continues for 30 days;
(6) failure by the Company or any of the Guarantors to pay final non-appealable
judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of
$10 million (net of any amounts as to which a reputable and solvent third party insurer has
accepted full coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged, bonded or stayed for a
period of 60 days;
(7) breach by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any material representation or
warranty or agreement in the Collateral Documents, and such failure shall continue for a
period of 60 days after written notice to the Company by the trustee, the Collateral Agent
or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding
voting as a single class;
(8) the repudiation by the Company or any of the Guarantors of any of its obligations
under the Collateral Documents or the unenforceability of the Collateral Documents against
the Company or any of the Guarantors for any reason;
(9) except as permitted by the indenture, any Note Guarantee is held in any judicial
proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and
effect, or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, denies or
disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee; and
(10) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency described in the indenture with respect
to the Company or any of the Guarantors that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of
Guarantors that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary.
In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency,
with respect to the Company, any Guarantor of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any
group of Guarantors that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, all
outstanding notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any
other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes may declare all the notes to be due and
payable immediately.
Subject to certain limitations, holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
then outstanding notes may direct the trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The trustee
may withhold from holders of the notes notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default if it
determines that withholding notice is in their interest,
56
except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal, interest or premium
or Liquidated Damages, if any.
Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, in case an
Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any holders of notes
unless such holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss,
liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if
any, or interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, when due, no holder of a note may pursue any remedy
with respect to the indenture or the notes unless:
(1) such holder has previously given the trustee notice that an Event of Default is
continuing;
(2) holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes
have requested the trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such holders have offered the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any
loss, liability or expense;
(4) the trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of
the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5) holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes
have not given the trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day
period.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes by
notice to the trustee may, on behalf of the holders of all of the notes, rescind an acceleration or
waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the indenture except a
continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium or Liquidated Damages,
if any, on, or the principal of, the notes.
In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action (or inaction)
taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding payment of the
premium that the Company would have had to pay if the Company then had elected to redeem the notes
pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of the indenture, an equivalent premium will also
become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of
the notes. If an Event of Default occurs prior to August 15, 2011, by reason of any willful action
(or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding
the prohibition on redemption of the notes prior to August 15, 2011, then an additional premium
specified in the indenture will also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent
permitted by law upon the acceleration of the notes.
The Company is required to deliver to the trustee annually a statement regarding compliance
with the indenture. Upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Company is
required to deliver to the trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor,
as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the
notes, the indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or for any claim based on, in
respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of notes by accepting
a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for issuance of the notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities
under the federal securities laws.
57
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution
set forth in an officers certificate, elect to have all of its obligations discharged with respect
to the outstanding notes and all obligations of the Guarantors discharged with respect to their
Note Guarantees (Legal Defeasance) except for:
(1) the rights of holders of outstanding notes to receive payments in respect of the
principal of, or interest or premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, such notes when
such payments are due from the trust referred to below;
(2) the Companys obligations with respect to the notes concerning issuing temporary
notes, registration of notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance
of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and the Companys
and the Guarantors obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) the Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance provisions of the indenture.
In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of
the Company and the Guarantors released with respect to certain covenants (including its obligation
to make Change of Control Offers and Asset Sale Offers) that are described in the indenture
(Covenant Defeasance) and thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants will not
constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes. In the event Covenant
Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership,
rehabilitation and insolvency events) described under Events of Default and Remedies will no
longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the notes.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for the benefit of
the holders of the notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a
combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as
will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal
firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and
premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the outstanding notes on the stated date for
payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company
must specify whether the notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a
particular redemption date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company must deliver to the trustee an opinion
of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that (a) the Company has received
from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the
date of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in
either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel will confirm that,
the holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S.
federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S.
federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would
have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company must deliver to the trustee an
opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that the holders of the
outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income
tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such
deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to
be applied to such
58
deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by
which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other
than the indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(6) the Company must deliver to the trustee an officers certificate stating that the
deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the holders of notes over
the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or
defrauding any creditors of the Company or others; and
(7) the Company must deliver to the trustee an officers certificate and an opinion of
counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the
Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
Collateral Release Mechanisms
The Collateral will be released from the Liens securing the Note Guarantees, as provided under
the caption Security, upon a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with the
provisions described above.
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act
The indenture provides that the Company will comply with the provisions of TIA §314.
To the extent applicable, the Company will cause TIA §313(b), relating to reports, and TIA
§314(d), relating to the release of property or securities subject to the Lien of the Collateral
Documents, to be complied with. Any certificate or opinion required by TIA §314(d) may be made by
an officer of the Company except in cases where TIA §314(d) requires that such certificate or
opinion be made by an independent Person, which Person will be an independent engineer, appraiser
or other expert selected by or reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this paragraph, the Company will not be required to comply with all or any portion
of TIA §314(d) if it determines, in good faith based on advice of counsel, that under the terms of
TIA §314(d) and/or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the SEC and its
staff, including no action letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of TIA §314(d) is
inapplicable to one or a series of released Collateral.
Further Assurances; Insurance
The indenture and the Collateral Documents provide that the Company and each of the Guarantors
providing security for their Note Guarantees will do or cause to be done all acts and things that
may be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Agent from time to time may reasonably request,
to assure and confirm that the Collateral Agent holds, for the benefit of the holders of Parity
Lien Obligations, duly created and enforceable and perfected Parity Liens upon the Collateral
(including any categories of property or assets that are included as Collateral under the
Collateral Documents or otherwise become Collateral after the notes are issued), in each case, as
contemplated by, and with the Lien priority required under, the Intercreditor Agreement and the
Collateral Documents.
Upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent or the trustee at any time and from time
to time, the Company and each of the applicable Guarantors will promptly execute, acknowledge and
deliver such security documents, instruments, certificates, notices and other documents, and take
such other actions as shall be reasonably required, or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably
request, to create, perfect, protect, assure or enforce the Liens and benefits intended to be
conferred, in each case as contemplated by the Collateral Documents for the benefit of the holders
of Parity Lien Obligations, including any real property acquired by Pledgors in the future that has
a Fair Market Value in excess of $5.0 million.
59
The Company and the applicable Guarantors will:
(1) keep their properties adequately insured at all times by financially sound and
reputable insurers;
(2) maintain such other insurance, to such extent and against such risks (and with such
deductibles, retentions and exclusions), including fire and other risks insured against by
extended coverage and coverage for acts of terrorism, as is customary with companies in the
same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, including public
liability insurance against claims for personal injury or death or property damage occurring
upon, in, about or in connection with the use of any properties owned, occupied or
controlled by them;
(3) maintain such other insurance as may be required by law;
(4) maintain title insurance on all real property Collateral insuring the Collateral
Agents Parity Lien on that property, subject only to Permitted Prior Liens and other
exceptions to title approved by the Collateral Agent; and
(5) maintain such other insurance as may be required by the security documents.
Upon the request of the Collateral Agent, the Company and the Guarantors will furnish to the
Collateral Agent full information as to their property and liability insurance carriers. Holders
of Parity Lien Obligations, as a class, will be named as additional insureds, with a waiver of
subrogation, on all insurance policies of the applicable Guarantors and the Collateral Agent will
be named as loss payee, with 30 days notice of cancellation or material change, on all property
and casualty insurance policies of the applicable Guarantors.
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, and subject to the Intercreditor
Agreement, the indenture, the Collateral Documents, the notes or the Note Guarantees may be amended
or supplemented with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in
connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes), and any existing
Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the indenture, the Collateral
Documents or the notes or the Note Guarantees, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, may be
waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase
of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes). None of the indenture, the notes or the
Collateral Documents may be amended, modified or supplemented in any way that would contravene the
provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.
Without the consent of each holder of notes affected, or, in the case of clauses (8) and (9)
below only, with the consent of at least 95% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then
outstanding, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any notes held by a
non-consenting holder):
(1) reduce the principal amount of notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,
supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any note or alter the
provisions with respect to the redemption of the notes (other than provisions relating to
the covenants described above under the caption Repurchase at the Option of Holders);
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default
interest, on any note;
(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or
premium, or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the notes (except a rescission of acceleration
of the notes by
60
the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(5) make any note payable in money other than that stated in the notes;
(6) make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to waivers of past
Defaults or the rights of holders of notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest
or premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, on, the notes;
(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any note (other than a payment required
by one of the covenants described above under the caption Repurchase at the Option of
Holders);
(8) release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens securing the Note
Guarantees;
(9) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or the
indenture if the assets or properties of that Guarantor constitute all or substantially all
of the Collateral, except in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the
Intercreditor Agreement; or
(10) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any holder of notes, the Company, the
Guarantors and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture, the Collateral Documents, the
notes or the Note Guarantees:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated
notes;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Companys or a Guarantors obligations to
holders of notes and Note Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all
or substantially all of the Companys or such Guarantors assets, as applicable;
(4) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the
holders of notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the indenture of
any such holder;
(5) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(6) to conform the text of the indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents
or the notes to any provision of this Description of Notes to the extent that such provision
in this Description of Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the
indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Collateral Documents or the notes;
(7) to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with the limitations
set forth in the indenture as of the date of the indenture;
(8) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and/or a Note Guarantee
with respect to the notes; or
(9) to make, complete or confirm any grant of Collateral permitted or required by the
indenture or any of the Collateral Documents or any release of Collateral that becomes
effective as set forth in the indenture or any of the Collateral Documents.
61
Satisfaction and Discharge
The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all notes issued
thereunder, when:
(1) either:
(a) all notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed
notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has been
deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the
trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have
become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or
otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company or any
Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as
trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the holders, cash in U.S. dollars,
non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and
non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, without
consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire
Indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the trustee for cancellation for
principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and accrued interest to the date
of maturity or redemption;
(2) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the
deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to
be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a
party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it
under the indenture; and
(4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the trustee under the
indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the notes at maturity or on the
redemption date, as the case may be.
In addition, the Company must deliver an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel to
the trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been
satisfied.
The Collateral will be released from the Liens securing Note Guarantees in accordance with the
provisions set forth above under the caption Collateral Documents.
Concerning the Trustee
If the trustee becomes a creditor of the Company or any Guarantor, the indenture limits the
right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain
property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee will be
permitted to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must
eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if
the indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes will
have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any
remedy available to the trustee, subject to certain exceptions. The indenture provides that in
case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of
its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject
to such provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers
under the indenture at the request of any holder of notes, unless such holder has offered to the
trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
62
Additional Information
Anyone who receives this prospectus may obtain a copy of the indenture, the Intercreditor
Agreement and the Collateral Documents without charge by writing to Vector Group Ltd., 100 S.E.
Second Street, 32nd Floor, Miami, Florida 33131, Attention: Investor Relations.
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
The New Notes will be represented by one or more notes in registered, global form without
interest coupons (collectively, the Global Notes and each individually, a Global Note). The
Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the trustee as custodian for DTC, in New York,
New York, and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account
of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below.
Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only
to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the
Global Notes may not be exchanged for notes in certificated form except in the limited
circumstances described below. See Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes.
Depository Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC is provided solely as a
matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of DTC and
are subject to change by DTC from time to time. The Company does not take any responsibility for
these operations and procedures and urges investors to contact DTC or its participants directly to
discuss these matters.
Upon the issuance of the Global Notes, DTC will credit, on its internal system, the respective
principal amount of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Notes to the
accounts with DTC (participants) or persons who hold interests through participants. Ownership
or beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership
will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests
of participants) and the records of participants (with respect to interest of persons other than
participants).
As long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered holder of a Global Note, DTC or such
nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the notes represented
by such Global Note for all purposes under the indenture and the notes. Except in the limited
circumstances described below under Exchanges of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes,
owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will not be entitled to have portions of such
Global Note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery
of notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the Global Note (or
any notes presented thereby) under the indenture or the notes. In addition, no beneficial owner of
an interest in a Global Note will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTCs
applicable procedures (in addition to those under the indenture referred to herein). In the event
that owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note become entitled to receive notes in definitive
form, such notes will be issued only in registered form in denominations of U.S. $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form
of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a
Global Note to such persons may be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of
participants, which in turn act on behalf of indirect participants and certain banks, the ability
of a person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons or
entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take action in respect of such
interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.
Payments of the principal of and interest on Global Notes will be made to DTC or its nominee
as the registered owner thereof. None of the Company, the guarantors, the trustee or any of their
respective agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating
to or payments made on account of
63
beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Beneficial interests in the Global Notes will trade in DTCs Same-Day Funds Settlement System,
and secondary market trading activity in such interests will therefore settle in immediately
available funds. The Company expects that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal or interest in respect of a Global Note representing any Notes held by it or its nominee,
will immediately credit participants accounts with payment in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Notes as shown on the records of
DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests
in such Global Notes held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers
registered in street name. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.
Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTCs procedures,
and will be settled in same-day funds.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes
(including the presentation of Notes for exchange as described below) only at the direction of one
or more participants to whose account with DTC interests in the Global Notes are credited and only
in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such
participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of
Default (as defined below) under the notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for
legended notes in certificated form, and to distribute such notes to its participants.
DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitate the clearance and
settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes in
accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical transfer and delivery of
certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and
clearing corporations and may include certain other organizations. DTC is partially owned by some
of these participants or their representatives. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to
other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly (indirect participants).
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of
beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes among participants of DTC, it is under no
obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be
discontinued at any time. None of the Company, the trustee or any of their respective agents will
have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, its participants or indirect participants of
their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing its operations, including
maintaining, supervising or reviewing the records relating to, or payments made on account of,
beneficial ownership interests in Global Notes.
Exchanges of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Note in certificated form
unless the transferor of such beneficial interest delivers to the registrar either (i) a written
order from a participant or an indirect participant, given to DTC in accordance with its customary
procedures, directing DTC to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global
Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and instructions
regarding the participant account to be credited with such increase or (ii) a written order from a
participant or an indirect participant, given to DTC in accordance with its customary procedures,
directing DTC to cause to be issued a certificated note in an amount equal to the beneficial
interest to be transferred or exchanged and instructions given by DTC to the registrar regarding
the person in whose name such certificated note shall be registered to effect such transfer or
exchange. In all cases, certificated notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial
interests therein will be registered in the names and issued in denominations as the holder of such
beneficial interest shall instruct the registrar through instructions from the DTC and the
participant or indirect participant.
The Company will make payments in respect of the notes represented by the Global Notes
(including principal, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any) by wire transfer of
immediately available funds
64
to the accounts specified by the holder of Global Notes. The Company will make all payments
of principal, interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to Certificated
Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders of
the Certificated Notes or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such
holders registered address. The notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to trade in
DTCs Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such
notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. The
Company expects that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in
immediately available funds.
Certain Definitions
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the indenture. Reference is made to the
indenture for a full disclosure of all defined terms used therein, as well as any other capitalized
terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
100 Maple LLC means 100 Maple LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
ABL Lender has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.
Accelerated Note Conversion means the conversion in advance of the scheduled conversion by
their terms of any convertible debt securities issued by the Company that are held by Affiliates of
the Company, in exchange for the payment by the Company to such Affiliates of accrued interest and
additional Equity Interests in the Company (other than Disqualified Stock).
Acquired Debt means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged
with or into or became a Guarantor of such specified Person, whether or not such
Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person
merging with or into, or becoming a Guarantor of, such specified Person; and
(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified
Person.
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For
purposes of this definition, control, as used with respect to any Person, means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies
of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to
be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms controlling, controlled by and under
common control with have correlative meanings.
Applicable Premium means with respect to any note on any redemption date, as determined by
the Company, the greater of:
(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of the note; or
(2) the excess of:
(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of
the note at August 15, 2011 (such redemption price being set forth in the table
appearing above under the caption Optional Redemption) plus (ii) all required
interest payments due on the note through August 15, 2011 (excluding accrued but
unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the
Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over
65
(b) the principal amount of the note.
Asset Sale means:
(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights; provided
that the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company and the Guarantors taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions
of the indenture described above under the caption Repurchase at the Option of Holders
Change of Control and/or the provisions described above under the caption Certain
Covenants Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets and not by the provisions of the Asset
Sale covenant; and
(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests in any of the Guarantors.
Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:
(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets
having a Fair Market Value of less than $3.0 million;
(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Company and the Guarantors;
(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Guarantor to the Company or to another
Guarantor;
(4) the sale, lease, sublease, license, sublicense, conveyance or other disposition of
products, services, inventory, or accounts receivable and related assets (including
participations therein) in the ordinary course of business, including leases with respect to
facilities that are temporarily not in use or pending their disposition, and any sale or
other disposition of damaged, worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business
or any other property that is uneconomic or no longer useful to the conduct of the business
of the Company or the Guarantors;
(5) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents or Investments that are
Permitted Investments;
(6) a Restricted Payment that does not violate the covenant described above under the
caption Certain Covenants Restricted Payments or a Permitted Investment.
(7) the licensing of intellectual property to third Persons on customary terms as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company;
(8) to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon) for use in the business of the
Company or its Subsidiaries;
(9) transfers of property subject to casualty or condemnation proceedings; and
(10) the granting of Permitted Liens.
Asset Sale Offer has the meaning assigned to that term in the indenture governing the notes.
Attributable Debt in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of
determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the
remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period
for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such
present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in
such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that if such sale and
leaseback transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Indebtedness represented
thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of Capital Lease Obligation.
66
Beneficial Owner has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under
the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular person
(as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such person will be deemed to
have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire by
conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is
exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms Beneficially Owns and Beneficially Owned
have a corresponding meaning.
Board of Directors means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any
committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the
partnership;
(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any
controlling committee of managing members thereof; and
(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a
similar function.
Capital Lease Obligation means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of
the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized
on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the
date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date
upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.
Capital Stock means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests
(whether general or limited) or membership interests; and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a
share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but
excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock,
whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.
Cash Equivalents means:
(1) United States dollars and, solely for purposes of the definition of Permitted
Investments, any national currency of any other country in which the Company or its
Guarantors do business;
(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States
government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that
the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities)
having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;
(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities
of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers acceptances with maturities not
exceeding one year and
67
overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank or commercial
banking institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having capital and
surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of B or better;
(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying
securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above or (7) below entered into
with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above or
(7) below;
(5) commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moodys or
S&P and, in each case, maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;
(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents
of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition; and
(7) marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States or any
political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing
within one year of the date of acquisition and at the time of acquisition having one of the
two highest ratings obtainable from S&P or Moodys.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) any sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition (in one transaction or a
series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the Companys property or
assets to any person or group of related persons (other than to any of the Companys
wholly-owned subsidiaries) as defined as Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act,
including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of
securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, other than any
sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition in which (x) persons who, directly or
indirectly, are beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the
Companys voting stock immediately prior to such transaction, beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, immediately after such transaction at least a majority of the total voting power
of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or entity purchasing such properties or
assets in such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition and (y) persons who, directly or
indirectly, are beneficial owners of the Companys voting stock immediately prior to such
transaction, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, immediately
after such transaction shares of common stock of the corporation or entity purchasing such properties or assets in
such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition in a proportion that does not, on the
whole, materially differ from such ownership immediately prior to the transaction;
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(3) if any person or group (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than Bennett S. LeBow or his immediate family, any
beneficiary of the estate of Bennett S. LeBow or his immediate family or any trust or
partnership controlled by any of the foregoing (the LeBow Persons)) is or shall become the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the Companys
issued and outstanding stock;
(4) if at any time Bennett S. LeBow and/or any LeBow Person is or shall become the
beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) either individually or
collectively, directly or indirectly, of 65% of the aggregate ordinary voting power
represented by the Companys issued and outstanding voting stock; or
(5) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, another person or any person
consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, other than any consolidation or
merger in which (x) persons who, directly or indirectly, are beneficial owners (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the Companys voting stock immediately prior to
such transaction, beneficially own, directly or
68
indirectly, immediately after such transaction at least a majority of the voting power
of the outstanding voting stock of the continuing or surviving corporation or entity and (y)
persons who, directly or indirectly, are beneficial owners of the Companys voting stock
immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, immediately
after such transaction shares of common stock of the continuing or surviving corporation or
entity in a proportion that does not, on the whole, materially differ from such ownership
immediately prior to the transaction.
Change of Control Offer has the meaning assigned to that term in the indenture governing the
notes.
Collateral means the Pledged Securities and the properties and assets at any time owned or
acquired by any of the Pledgors as provided in the Collateral Documents and the indenture other
than the Excluded Assets and except:
(1) any properties and assets in which the Collateral Agent is required to release its
Liens pursuant to the provisions described above under the caption Intercreditor
Agreement Release of Liens; and
(2) any properties and assets that no longer secure the Note Guarantees or any
Obligations in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions described above under the caption
Collateral Documents,
provided that, if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale, transfer or other
disposition of any properties or assets of any of the Guarantors, such assets or properties will
cease to be excluded from the Collateral if any of the Guarantors thereafter acquires or reacquires
such assets or properties.
Collateral Agent means U.S. Bank National Association, in its capacity as collateral agent
under the indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Documents, together with its
successors in such capacity.
Collateral Documents means all security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral
assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust, collateral agency agreements or other grants or transfers
for security executed and delivered by any Guarantor creating (or purporting to create) a Parity
Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed,
restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time.
Consolidated EBITDA means for any period the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for such
period, after giving pro forma effect to any Investment or acquisition or disposition of a business
permitted under the Indenture as if such acquisition or disposition occurred on the first day of
the relevant period, in accordance with Regulation S-X, plus, without duplication:
(1) provision for taxes based on income or profits or capital, including, without
limitation, state, city and county income, franchise and similar taxes, foreign withholding
taxes and foreign unreimbursed value added taxes of the Company and the Guarantors for such
period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(2) the Fixed Charges of the Company and the Guarantors (including amortization of
deferred financing fees and changes in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible
debt) for such period, to the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding
amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash
expenses (excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of
or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense
that was paid in a prior period) of the Company and the Guarantors for such period to the
extent that such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
69
(4) any other non-cash charges (including impairment charges, write-offs of assets and
the impact of purchase accounting but excluding any such charge that represents an accrual
or reserve for a cash expenditure for a future period), to the extent that such non-cash
charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(5) any one-time, non-recurring expenses or charges related to any Equity Offering,
Permitted Investment, acquisition, recapitalization or incurrence of Indebtedness permitted
to be incurred under the indenture (including a refinancing thereof), whether or not
consummated, in each case to the extent such expenses or charges were deducted in computing
Consolidated Net Income; minus
(6) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than
(a) the accrual of revenue in the ordinary course of business and (b) reversals of prior
accruals or reserves for non-cash items previously excluded from the definition of
Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clause (3) above, in each case, on a consolidated basis and
determined in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Net Income means for any period the aggregate of the Net Income of the Company
and the Guarantors for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP;
provided that:
(1) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Guarantor or that is
accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only to the extent of the
amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the Company or a Guarantor;
(2) the Net Income of any Guarantor will be excluded to the extent that the declaration
or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Guarantor of that Net Income is not
at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not
been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its charter or any
agreement or instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation
applicable to that Guarantor or its stockholders (except to the extent of the amount of
dividends or similar distributions paid in cash to the Company or a Guarantor during such
period);
(3) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;
(4) any restructuring charge or reserve to the extent that such expenses or charges
were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income, including any restructuring costs
incurred in connection with acquisitions after the date of issuance of the notes and costs
related to the closure and/or consolidation of facilities or work force reduction and
severance and relocation costs incurred in connection therewith, will be excluded;
(5) any unrealized gains and losses due solely to fluctuations in currency values, the
value of Investment Securities or the value of Long Term Investments, and the related tax
effects according to GAAP will be excluded;
(6) non-cash compensation recorded from grants of stock appreciation or similar rights,
stock options, restricted stock or other rights will be excluded;
(7) after-tax gains and losses attributable to discontinued operations will be
excluded;
(8) the after-tax effect of extraordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains or losses
(less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses, severance costs and curtailments
or modifications or terminations to pension and post-retirement benefit plans will be
excluded;
(9) any impairment charge or asset write-off, in each case pursuant to GAAP and the
amortization of intangibles arising pursuant to GAAP will be excluded; and
70
(10) any deferred financing costs written off and premiums paid in connection with any
early extinguishment of Indebtedness will be excluded.
Core Investments means investments, whether as a long or short position, in equity, debt or
derivative securities, including, without limitation, puts, options, warrants or calls, of any
Person, including hedge funds, private equity funds or other investment entities, in the ordinary
course of the Companys or any Guarantors business, but excluding any investment in (i) any
Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) any joint venture to which the Company, any
Guarantor or any Unrestricted Subsidiary is a party.
Credit Agreement Agent means, at any time, the Person serving at such time as the Agent or
Administrative Agent under the Liggett Credit Agreement or any other representative then most
recently designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Liggett Credit Agreement,
together with its successors in such capacity.
Credit Facilities means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the
Liggett Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks or other
institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing
(including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to
borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended,
restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or
refinanced (including by means of sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or
in part from time to time.
Default means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both
would be, an Event of Default.
Disqualified Stock means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any
security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option
of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the
holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the
date on which the notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that
would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right
to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control
or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide
that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions
unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the covenant described above under the caption
Certain Covenants Restricted Payments. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be
outstanding at any time for purposes of the indenture will be the maximum amount that the Company
and the Guarantors may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory
redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock, exclusive of accrued dividends.
Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of
the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia or that guarantees
or otherwise provides direct credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company.
Equity Interests means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire
Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for,
Capital Stock).
Equity Offering means any public or private sale of common stock or Preferred Stock of the
Company (excluding Disqualified Stock) or contribution to the capital of the Company, other than:
(1) public offerings with respect to any such Persons common stock registered on Form
S-8; and
(2) issuances to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
Eve means Eve Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.
71
Existing Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors (other than
Indebtedness under the Liggett Credit Agreement) in existence on the date of the indenture, until
such amounts are repaid.
Fair Market Value means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated
willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (unless otherwise provided in the indenture).
First Priority Debt has the meaning set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement as in effect on
the date of the indenture.
First Priority Lien means a Lien to the extent it secures First Priority Debt.
Fixed Charges means, with respect to the Company and the Guarantors for any period, the sum,
without duplication, of:
(1) the consolidated interest expense of the Company and the Guarantors for such
period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, amortization of debt
issuance costs, beneficial conversion features, derivatives embedded within convertible debt
and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any
deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital
Lease Obligations, imputed interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers
acceptance financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to
Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates; plus
(2) the consolidated interest expense of the Company and the Guarantors that was
capitalized during such period; plus
(3) any interest on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by the Company or
any of the Guarantors or secured by a Lien on assets of the Company or any of the
Guarantors, whether or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus
(4) the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in
cash, on any series of preferred stock of the Company or any of the Guarantors, other than
dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company (other than
Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a Guarantor, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of
which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined federal,
state and local statutory tax rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, in each case,
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in
such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession, which are in effect on the date of the indenture.
Guarantee means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for
collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without
limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements
in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of
partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or
services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise).
Guarantors means each of:
(1) the Liggett Guarantors;
72
(2) the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company on the date of the indenture, other than
the New Valley Subsidiaries; and
(3) any other Subsidiary of the Company that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance
with the provisions of the indenture,
and their respective successors and assigns, in each case, until the Note Guarantee of such Person
has been released in accordance with the provisions of the indenture.
Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such
Person under:
(1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to
fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;
(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate
risk; and
(3) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against
fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person
(excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:
(1) in respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit
(or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(3) in respect of bankers acceptances;
(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations or Attributable Debt in respect of sale and
leaseback transactions;
(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property
or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are
completed, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable
arising in the ordinary course of business and not overdue by more than 90 days; or
(6) representing any Hedging Obligations,
if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit, Attributable Debt
and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person
prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term Indebtedness includes all Indebtedness
of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness
is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the
specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.
Intercreditor Agreement means that certain Intercreditor and Lien Subordination Agreement by
and among Wachovia Bank National Association, as ABL Lender, U.S. Bank National Association, as
Collateral Agent, Liggett Group LLC, as Borrower, and 100 Maple LLC, as Loan Party, dated of even
date with the indenture.
Investments means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such
Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including Guarantees or other
obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances
to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions
for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items
that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in
73
accordance with GAAP. Except as otherwise provided in the indenture, the amount of an
Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to
subsequent changes in value.
Investment Securities means investment securities classified as such under GAAP.
Leverage Ratio means the ratio of (i) the sum of (A) the aggregate outstanding amount of
Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal
quarter for which financial statements are internally available as of the date of calculation on a
combined consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, less cash, cash equivalents, the Fair Market
Value of Investment Securities and the Fair Market Value of Long Term Investments of the Company
and the Guarantors, plus (B) the aggregate outstanding amount of Indebtedness incurred in
connection with margining of Core Investments (to the extent not included in Indebtedness under
clause (i)(A) above), plus (C) the aggregate liquidation preference of all outstanding Disqualified
Stock of the Company as of the last day of such fiscal quarter to (ii) the aggregate Consolidated
EBITDA of the Company for the last four full fiscal quarters for which financial statements are
internally available ending on or prior to the date of determination. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, to the extent that Douglas Elliman Realty LLC, or any successor thereto, is classified
on the Companys or any Guarantors balance sheet as a Long Term Investment, then the book value,
rather than the Fair Market Value, of such Long Term Investment will be used for purposes of the
foregoing calculation.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest
or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise
perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement,
any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest
in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code
(or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.
Liggett Credit Agreement means that certain Amended and Restated Loan and Security
Agreement, dated as of April 14, 2004, as amended, by and between Wachovia Bank, National
Association, successor by merger to Congress Financial Corporation, Liggett Group LLC, as successor
to Liggett Group, Inc., and 100 Maple LLC providing for revolving credit borrowings and term loans,
including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed
in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded,
replaced (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of
sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in part from time to time.
Liggett Group LLC means Liggett Group LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Liggett Guarantors means each of Liggett Group LLC, and 100 Maple LLC.
Liggett Vector Brands means Liggett Vector Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Liquidated Damages means all liquidated damages then owing pursuant to the registration
rights agreement.
Long Term Investments means long term investments classified as such under GAAP.
Mebane Facility means that certain real property located in Mebane, North Carolina and owned
by 100 Maple LLC.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Net Income means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such
Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock
dividends, excluding, however:
(1) any gain or loss, together with all fees and expenses related thereto and any
related provision for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with: (a) any Asset
Sale; or (b) the
74
disposition of any securities or Investments by such Person or any of the Guarantors or
the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of the Guarantors; and
(2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any related provision for taxes on
such extraordinary gain or loss.
Net Proceeds means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of the
Guarantors in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the
sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of the
direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and
investment banking fees, and sales commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of
the Asset Sale, taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking
into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, and amounts
required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness under a Credit
Facility, secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale and any
reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets established in
accordance with GAAP.
New Valley Subsidiaries means New Valley LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its
Subsidiaries.
Note Guarantee means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Companys obligations under the
indenture and the notes, executed pursuant to the provisions of the indenture.
Obligations means any principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters
of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to the extent legally permitted, all interest
accrued thereon after the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding at the rate,
including any applicable post-default rate, even if such interest is not enforceable, allowable or
allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements,
expenses and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
Parity Lien means a Lien granted under a Collateral Document to the Collateral Agent, at any
time, upon any property of any Guarantor providing security to secure Parity Lien Obligations.
Parity Lien Debt means:
(1) the notes issued on the date of the indenture (including any related exchange
notes); and
(2) any other Indebtedness of the Company pursuant to additional notes issued and
permitted to be incurred under the indenture.
Parity Lien Obligations means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations in respect thereof.
Permitted Investments means:
(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Guarantor;
(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(3) any Investment by the Company or any Guarantor in a Person, if as a result of such
Investment:
(a) such Person becomes a Guarantor; or
(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or
transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the
Company or a Guarantor;
75
(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an
Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described above
under the caption Repurchase at the Option of Holders Asset Sales;
(5) any acquisition of assets or Capital Stock solely in exchange for the issuance of
Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
(6) any Investments received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade
creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company
or any Guarantor, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement
upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer; or (B) litigation,
arbitration or other disputes with Persons who are not Affiliates;
(7) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of the
Company or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1.0 million at any
one time outstanding;
(8) repurchases of the notes;
(9) any Investment by the Company or any Guarantor in Core Investments;
(10) Investments represented by Hedging Obligations;
(11) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies,
material or equipment in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice;
(12) other Investments in any Person having an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on
the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in
value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (12)
that are at the time outstanding, not to exceed $10.0 million.
Permitted Liens means:
(1) Liens in favor of the ABL Lender securing First Priority Debt;
(2) Liens held by the Collateral Agent equally and ratably securing the notes to be
issued on the date of the indenture and all future Parity Lien Debt and other Parity Lien
Obligations;
(3) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;
(4) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or
into or consolidated with the Company or any Guarantor; provided that such Liens were in
existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to
any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or
the Guarantor;
(5) Liens on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of
the property by the Company or any Guarantor; provided that such Liens were in existence
prior to, and not incurred in contemplation of, such acquisition;
(6) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations (including obligations
under workers compensation, unemployment insurance or similar legislation), surety or
appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the
ordinary course of business, as well as obligations under the trade contracts and leases
(exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money) and cash deposits in connection
with acquisitions otherwise permitted under the indenture;
(7) Liens existing on the date of the indenture;
76
(8) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet
delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly
instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate
provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;
(9) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers, warehousemens, landlords and mechanics
Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(10) survey exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for,
licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other
similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property that were
not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the aggregate materially
adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the
operation of the business of such Person;
(11) Liens created for the benefit of (or to secure) the notes (or the Note
Guarantees);
(12) Liens to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred
under the indenture; provided, however, that:
(a) the new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and
assets that secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original
Lien arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to,
such property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and
(b) the Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount
greater than the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater,
committed amount, of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount
necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal,
refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;
(13) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) permitted by
clause (10) of the second paragraph of the covenant entitled Certain Covenants
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock covering only the assets
acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;
(14) Liens arising by reason of any judgment, decree or order not giving rise to an
Event of Default so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any appropriate legal
proceedings which may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment shall not
have been finally terminated or the period within such proceedings may be initiated shall
not have expired; and
(15) Liens to secure obligations permitted by clause (14) of the second paragraph of
the covenant entitled Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock, provided that such liens do not comprise any of the Collateral.
Permitted Prior Liens means:
(1) Liens described in clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Liens;
(2) Liens described in clauses (4), (5) (7) or (13) of the definition of Permitted
Liens; and
(3) Permitted Liens that arise by operation of law and are not voluntarily granted, to
the extent entitled by law to priority over the Liens created by the Collateral Documents.
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor
issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to renew, refund, refinance, replace,
defease or discharge other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor (other than intercompany
Indebtedness); provided that:
77
(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if
applicable) of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or
discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all fees and
expenses, including premiums, incurred in connection therewith);
(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the
final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than
the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded,
refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged;
(3) if the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or
discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the notes, such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is
subordinated in right of payment to, the notes on terms at least as favorable to the holders
of notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed,
refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; and
(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Guarantor who is the
obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or
discharged.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or
other entity.
Pledged Securities means all of the Capital Stock of each of Liggett Group LLC and Vector
Tobacco.
Pledgor means each of the Liggett Guarantors and Vector Tobacco and any successor thereto
who is required to assume their obligations under the indenture or the Collateral Documents.
Restricted Investment means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Group.
Sale of Collateral means any Asset Sale involving a sale or other disposition of Collateral.
Secured Indebtedness means all Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors that is
secured by Liens on any of their assets, including, but not limited to, Indebtedness pursuant to
the Liggett Credit Agreement.
Secured Leverage Ratio means the ratio calculated in accordance with the definition herein
of Leverage Ratio except that Secured Indebtedness shall be substituted for all occurrences of
Indebtedness in such definition.
Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as
defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as
such Regulation is in effect on the date of the indenture.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any
series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be
paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness as of the date of the indenture, and will not
include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal
prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the
total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency and
78
after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders agreement that effectively
transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the
corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that
Person (or a combination thereof); and
(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of
which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of
which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination
thereof).
Treasury Rate means, as of any redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption
date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in
the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available
at least two business days prior to the redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no
longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the
period from the redemption date to August 15, 2011; provided, however, that if the period from the
redemption date to August 15, 2011 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually
traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Company other than any Subsidiary that
is a Guarantor and other than any Subsidiary owning or operating the business currently operated by
Liggett Group LLC.
Vector Tobacco means Vector Tobacco Inc., a Virginia corporation.
VGR Holding means VGR Holding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Voting Stock of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person
that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the
number of years obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then
remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date
and the making of such payment; by
(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
79
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations and, in the
case of non-U.S. holders (as defined below), certain estate tax considerations, relevant to the
exchange of Original Notes for New Notes and the ownership and disposition of the notes by the
beneficial owners thereof, or the holders. This summary is generally limited to holders of New
Notes who acquire the New Notes in exchange for Original Notes that were acquired at the issue
price as defined in Section 1273 of the Code (which, for purposes of this summary, is generally
the first price at which a substantial amount of the Original Notes is sold to the public for
money, excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons acting in the capacity of
underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) and hold the notes as capital assets within the
meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment) for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. This discussion does not address the tax consequences to holders who acquire
their New Notes in exchange for subsequently purchased Original Notes or to subsequent purchasers
of New Notes.
This discussion does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may
be relevant to the exchange of New Notes for Original Notes or the ownership and disposition of the
notes, nor does this summary address the tax consequences arising under any state, local or foreign
law, or that may be relevant to a holder in light of its particular circumstances or to holders
subject to special rules, including, without limitation, holders subject to the U.S. federal
alternative minimum tax, dealers in securities or currencies, financial institutions, insurance
companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt entities, certain former citizens or
residents of the United States, partnerships or other entities taxable as partnerships for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, S corporations or other pass-through entities, controlled foreign
corporations, passive foreign investment companies, U.S. holders (as defined below) whose
functional currency is not the U.S. dollar and persons that hold the notes in connection with a
straddle, hedging, conversion or other risk reduction transaction. Furthermore, this summary does
not consider the effect of the U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws (except as set forth below with
respect to certain U.S. federal estate tax consequences to non-U.S. holders).
The U.S. federal income tax considerations set forth below are based upon the Code, Treasury
regulations promulgated thereunder, court decisions and rulings and pronouncements of the Internal
Revenue Service, or the IRS, all as in effect on the date hereof and all of which are subject to
change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and to differing interpretations, so as to result in U.S.
federal income tax considerations different from those summarized below. We have not sought any
ruling from the IRS with respect to statements made and conclusions reached in this summary, and
there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions.
As used herein, the term U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of a note that is for U.S.
federal income tax purposes:
|
|
|
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
|
|
|
|
a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any
political subdivision thereof; |
|
|
|
|
an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of
its source; or |
|
|
|
|
a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction
over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of
its substantial decisions, or if the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable
Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
As used herein, the term non-U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of a note (other than a
partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is
not a U.S. holder.
If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax
purposes) is a beneficial owner of a note, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership
generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A
beneficial owner that is a partnership and partners in such a
80
partnership are urged to consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes.
Investors considering the acquisition of the New Notes are urged to consult their own tax
advisors with respect to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular
situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the U.S. federal estate or gift tax rules
or under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax
treaty.
Certain Tax Consequences to Us
If (i) the yield to maturity of the notes equals or exceeds the applicable federal rate
(AFR) plus five (5) percentage points, (ii) the maturity date of the notes is more than five (5)
years from the date of issue and (iii) the notes have significant original issue discount, the
notes will be considered applicable high yield discount obligations (AHYDOs) for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. In such case, any interest deductions with respect to the original issue
discount (OID) relating to the notes generally will be deferred until paid in cash or other
permissible property, and will be disallowed to the extent the yield to maturity of the notes
exceeds the AFR plus six (6) percentage points (regardless of whether we actually pay such OID in
cash or other permissible property).
We intend to treat the New Notes, for these purposes, as having the same date of issue and
yield to maturity as the Original Notes. The yield to maturity of the notes is expected to exceed
the AFR plus six (6) percentage points and the maturity date on the notes is more than five (5)
years from the date of issue. However, we do not expect that the notes will have significant OID,
and therefore we anticipate that the AHYDO restrictions will not apply to limit our OID deductions
on the notes.
U.S. Holders
Payments of Interest
Subject to an election described below under Original Issue Discount, stated interest on a
note generally will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary income from domestic sources at the
time it is paid or accrued in accordance with the U.S. holders method of accounting for tax
purposes.
Original Issue Discount
U.S. holders of notes issued with more than a de minimis amount of OID are subject to
special tax accounting rules, as described in greater detail below. U.S. holders of such notes
should be aware that they generally must include such OID in gross income in advance of the receipt
of cash attributable to that income. The amount of such OID will equal the difference between (i)
the sum of all amounts payable on the notes other than stated interest and (ii) the issue price of
the notes (determined as described above).
The amount of OID includible in income by a U.S. holder of a note is the sum of the daily
portions of OID with respect to the note for each day during the taxable year or portion of the
taxable year in which such U.S. holder held such note (accrued OID). The daily portion is
determined by allocating to each day in any accrual period a pro rata portion of the OID allocable
to that accrual period. The amount of OID allocable to any accrual period is an amount equal to
the excess, if any, of (i) the product of the notes adjusted issue price at the beginning of such
accrual period and its yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of
each accrual period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period) over (ii) the sum
of any stated interest allocable to the accrual period. OID allocable to a final accrual period is
the difference between the amount payable at maturity (other than a payment of stated interest) and
the adjusted issue price at the beginning of the final accrual period. The adjusted issue price
of a note at the beginning of any accrual period is equal to its issue price increased by the
accrued OID for each prior accrual period reduced by any payments made on such note (other than
stated interest) on or before the first day of the accrual period. Under these rules, a U.S.
holder will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID in successive accrual
periods. We are required to provide information returns stating the amount of OID accrued on notes
held of record by persons other than corporations and other exempt holders.
81
U.S. holders may elect to treat all interest on a note as OID and calculate the amount
includible in gross income under the constant yield method described above. For purposes of this
election, interest includes stated interest, acquisition discount, OID, de minimis OID and unstated
interest. The election is to be made for the taxable year in which the U.S. holder acquired the
note, and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. U.S. holders should consult with
their own tax advisors about this election.
Applicable High Yield Discount Obligations
For purposes of the dividends-received deduction, in the event the notes are treated, for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, as subject to the AHYDO rules (described above), the portion of any
interest for which the deduction is denied may be treated as a dividend to the extent it is deemed
to have been paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Accordingly, a U.S.
holder of notes that is a corporation may be entitled, subject to applicable limitations, to take a
dividends-received deduction with respect to such amounts. However, as described above, we do not
anticipate that the notes will be subject to the AHYDO rules, and therefore we do not expect that
this treatment will apply.
Exchange Offer
The exchange of an Original Note for a New Note pursuant to the Exchange Offer generally will
not constitute a taxable event to the exchanging holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In
such case, an exchanging holder:
|
|
|
will not recognize any gain or loss on the receipt of the New Note; |
|
|
|
|
will have a holding period for the New Note that includes the holding period for the
Original Note exchanged therefor; |
|
|
|
|
will have an adjusted tax basis in the New Note equal to its adjusted tax basis in the
Original Note exchanged therefor; and |
|
|
|
|
will experience tax consequences upon a sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable
disposition of a New Note as described below. |
The Exchange Offer is not expected to result in any material U.S. federal income tax
consequences to a non-exchanging holder.
Sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of notes
Except as described above under Exchange Offer, a U.S. holder generally will recognize
capital gain or loss on the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of a note. In
such case, the U.S. holders gain or loss will equal the difference between the proceeds received
by the holder (other than proceeds received that are attributable to accrued but unpaid interest
not previously included in the U.S. holders income) and the holders adjusted tax basis in the
note. The proceeds received by a U.S. holder will include the amount of any cash and the fair
market value of any other property received for the note. The U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in
a note is generally the U.S. holders cost for the note, increased by OID previously included in
income by the holder with respect to the note and reduced by any cash payments on the note other
than stated interest. The portion of any proceeds received that is attributable to accrued but
unpaid interest will not be taken into account in computing the U.S. holders capital gain or loss.
Instead, that portion will be recognized as ordinary interest income to the extent that the U.S.
holder has not previously included the accrued interest in income.
The capital gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder on a disposition of the note will be
long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of such sale, redemption, exchange, or other taxable
disposition, the holder held the note for more than one year. Under current U.S. federal income
tax law, net long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. holders (including individuals) are
generally eligible for taxation at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is
subject to limitations.
82
Liquidated damages
We intend to take the position that any liquidated damages payable on a failure to timely meet
our registration obligations will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary income when received or
accrued in accordance with the U.S. holders regular method of accounting. This position is based
in part on the assumption that, as of the date of issuance of the notes, the possibility that
liquidated damages will have to be paid is a remote or incidental contingency within the
meaning of applicable Treasury regulations. We also intend to take the position that the purchase
and sale options that belong to us and the holders do not affect the accrual of income with respect
to the notes until such time, if any, as such options are exercised. Our determinations in these
regards are binding on a U.S. holder, unless such holder explicitly discloses that such holder is
taking a different position to the IRS on such holders tax return for the year during which the
note is acquired. The IRS, however, may take a different position, which could affect the amount,
timing and character of income and gain with respect to the notes.
Information reporting and backup withholding
Generally, U.S. holders will be subject to information reporting on payments of interest and
OID on the notes and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the notes. Unless a U.S.
holder is an exempt recipient backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%) may apply to such
payments if the U.S. holder:
|
|
|
fails to furnish a taxpayer identification number (TIN) within a reasonable time after
a request therefor; |
|
|
|
|
furnishes an incorrect TIN; |
|
|
|
|
is notified by the IRS that the U.S. holder has failed to report interest or dividends
properly; |
|
|
|
|
fails, under certain circumstances, to provide a certified statement, signed under
penalty of perjury, that the TIN provided is correct and that such U.S. holder is not
subject to backup withholding; or |
|
|
|
|
otherwise fails to comply with backup withholding rules. |
A U.S. holder will generally not be subject to backup withholding if it provides a properly
completed IRS Form W-9 to the applicable payor.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld from a payment to a U.S.
holder under these rules will be allowed as a credit against such holders U.S. federal income tax
liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is
furnished timely to the IRS.
New Legislation
Newly enacted legislation requires certain U.S. holders who are individuals, estates or trusts to
pay an additional 3.8% tax on, among other things, interest on and capital gains from the sale or
other disposition of notes for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. U.S. holders
should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this legislation on their
ownership and disposition of the notes.
Non-U.S. Holders
Payments of interest
Interest income (including OID) paid on a note by us or our agent to a non-U.S. holder will
qualify for the portfolio interest exemption and will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax
or withholding tax, provided that such interest income is not effectively connected with a U.S.
trade or business of the non-U.S. holder (and, if a tax treaty applies, is not attributable to a
U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the United
States) and provided that the non-U.S. holder:
83
|
|
|
does not, actually or by attribution own, 10% or more of the total combined voting power
of all classes of our stock entitled to vote; |
|
|
|
|
is not, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a controlled foreign corporation that is
related to us actually or by attribution through stock ownership within the meaning of the
Code; |
|
|
|
|
is not a bank that acquired the notes in consideration for an extension of credit made
pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, and either
(a) provides an IRS Form W-8BEN (or a suitable substitute form) signed under penalties of
perjury that includes the non-U.S. holders name and address and certifies as to non-U.S.
status in compliance with applicable law and regulations, or (b) is a securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers securities in the
ordinary course of its trade or business and provides a statement to us or our agent under
penalties of perjury in which it certifies that such a Form W-8 (or a suitable substitute
form) has been received by it from the beneficial owner and furnishes us or our agent with
a copy. The Treasury regulations provide special certification rules for notes held by a
foreign partnership and other intermediaries. |
If such non-U.S. holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest
(including payments of OID) made to the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal
withholding tax, unless such holder provides us with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN claiming
an exemption from (or a reduction of) withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax
treaty or, as described below, a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI claiming that the interest is
effectively connected with the non-U.S. holders conduct of a trade or business in the United
States.
In the event that we are required to pay liquidated damages on the notes, as described above
in U.S. Holders Liquidated damages, we intend to treat such payment the same as other interest
payments received by a non-U.S. holder. However, the IRS may treat such payments as other than
interest, in which case they would be subject to U.S. withholding at a rate of 30%, unless the
holder qualifies for a reduced rate of tax or an exemption under an applicable U.S. income tax
treaty.
If interest (including OID) on a note is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S.
trade or business by a non-U.S. holder and, if a tax treaty applies, is attributable to a U.S.
permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the United States,
the non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to withholding if the non-U.S. holder complies
with applicable IRS certification requirements (i.e., by delivering a properly executed IRS Form
W-8ECI) and generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at regular
graduated rates in the same manner as if the holder were a U.S. holder. In the case of a non-U.S.
holder that is a corporation, such effectively connected income also may be subject to the
additional branch profits tax, which generally is imposed on a foreign corporation on the deemed
repatriation from the United States of effectively connected earnings and profits at a 30% rate (or
such lower rate as may be prescribed by an applicable tax treaty).
Exchange Offer
The exchange of an Original Note for a New Note pursuant to the Exchange Offer generally will
not constitute a taxable event to the exchanging holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In
such case, an exchanging holder:
|
|
|
will not recognize any gain or loss on the receipt of the New Note; |
|
|
|
|
will have a holding period for the New Note that includes the holding period for the
Original Note exchanged therefor; |
|
|
|
|
will have an adjusted tax basis in the New Note equal to its adjusted tax basis in the
Original Note exchanged therefor; and |
|
|
|
|
will experience tax consequences upon a sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable
disposition of a New Note as described below. |
84
The Exchange Offer is not expected to result in any material U.S. federal income tax
consequences to a non-exchanging holder.
Sale, redemption, exchange or other disposition of notes
A non-U.S. holder of a note generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain
realized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of a note, unless:
|
|
|
the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the U
nited
States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other
conditions are met; or |
|
|
|
|
the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business by the
non-U.S. holder, and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the gain is
attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base of the non-U.S. holder. |
Information reporting and backup withholding
Regardless of whether any withholding was required, the payment of interest (including OID) to
a non-U.S. holder, and the U.S. federal tax withheld, if any, with respect to such interest, must
be reported annually to the IRS and to such non-U.S. holder. This information may also be made
available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides under the
provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or other agreement.
In general, non-U.S. holders will not be subject to backup withholding (currently at a rate of
28%) with respect to payments of principal and interest (including OID) or the proceeds from the
sale or other disposition of the notes, provided that (i) the applicable payor does not have actual
knowledge that such non-U.S. holder is a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes and (ii)
such non-U.S. holder certifies as to its non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury (i.e., by
providing the statement described in the last bullet point under Non-U.S. Holders¯Payments of
interest) or otherwise establishes an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld from a payment to a non-U.S.
holder under these rules will be allowed as a credit against such holders U.S. federal income tax
liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is
furnished timely to the IRS.
U.S. Estate Tax
Notes held, or treated as held, by an individual who is not a citizen or resident of the
United States, as specifically defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, at the time of death
will not be included in the decedents gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, provided
that, at the time of death, the interest on the notes qualifies for the portfolio interest
exemption from U.S. federal income tax without regard to certain certification requirements, and
provided that, at the time of death, payments with respect to such notes would not have been
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by such
non-U.S. holder. Under current law, no U.S. federal estate tax shall be imposed with respect to a
death that occurs in 2010.
THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX SUMMARY SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND
MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION. YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR OWN
TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION
OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE
POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
85
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer
must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes
during the 180 days after the expiration date. This prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New
Notes received in exchange for Original Notes where such Original Notes were acquired as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of not
less than 180 days after the expiration date, we will make this prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale.
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Notes by broker-dealers. New Notes
received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from
time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the New Notes or a combination of such methods of
resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing
market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or
through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions
from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Notes. Any broker-dealer that
resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and
any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Notes may be deemed to be an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit from any such resale of New
Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be
underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be
deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the expiration date, we will promptly send additional copies of
this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that
requests such documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all of our expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (and the reasonable fees and disbursements in an amount not to
exceed $10,000 of one counsel for the holders of the Original Notes). We will indemnify the
holders of the Original Notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
VALIDITY OF THE NEW NOTES
The validity of the New Notes will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston,
Massachusetts.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting (which is included in Managements Report on Internal Control over
Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Vector Group Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered certified public accounting
firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The financial statements of Liggett Group, LLC incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to
the Vector Group Ltd. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been so
incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The financial statements of Vector Tobacco Inc. incorporated in this Prospectus by reference
to the Vector Group Ltd. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been
so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
86
The audited financial statements of Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2009 incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Vector Group Ltd. Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 have been so incorporated in reliance on
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given
on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
87
VECTOR GROUP LTD.
Exchange Offer for
Up to $85,000,000 Principal Amount Outstanding of
11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015
for
a Like Principal Amount of
Registered 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2015
PROSPECTUS
May 6, 2010